Help reading writing on post card.

[shred]

I beleive ths postcard is from one of the men inscribed on the Regent Square Memorial and would like help on reading what is written. I can read 75% but strugglin to make sense of it all.

Also, do the postmarks tell us aything?

Many thanks in advance.

Edit: A larger/clearer pic can be viewed HERE

Regards,

Garry

[Pebble]

Just a PC saying that I am still in the pink.Saturday Oct 18th was the day I got a letter. I got a PC on the 15. Just because I am waiting anxious by for news it gets ? ? It is simply a ? the way the mail is given this the next ? From your devoted Husband Frank ? ?

Sorry, that's the best I can do!

[DDP1955]

I beleive ths postcard is from one of the men inscribed on the Regent Square Memorial and would like help on reading what is written. I can read 75% but strugglin to make sense of it all. Also, do the postmarks tell us aything?

The first bit says ' Just a postcard saying that I am still in the finish. Saturday was the day I got a letter. I got a postcard on the 15th. Just becuse I am waiting anxious for the news' I think I'll need a magnifying glass for the rest, but will look again at the second part

Dianne

[CGM]

just because I am waiting anxious for the news it...gets delayed (?).

[shred]

Thanks for your efforts, becoming cleare already.

Anyone decipher Dear ????

Garry

[DDP1955]

Thanks for your efforts, becoming cleare already. Anyone decipher Dear ????

Possibly Enid!

[shred]

To recap (with all you kind help).

I now get....

Dear ????

Just a PC saying that I am still in the pink. Saturday Oct 18(th) was the day I got a letter. I got a PC on the 15(th). Just because I am waiting anxiously by for the news it gets delayed. It is simply a ????? the way the mail is, *give this Fiona* From your devoted husband Frank.

*best i an read*

Cheers

Garry

[phil@basildon]

The first bit says ' Just a postcard saying that I am still in the finish. Saturday was the day I got a letter. I got a postcard on the 15th. Just becuse I am waiting anxious for the news' I think I'll need a magnifying glass for the rest, but will look again at the second part

Dianne

"Just a postcard saying that I am still in the pink. Saturday Oct 18 was the day I got a letter. I got a postcard on the 15th. Just because I am waiting anxiously for news it gets delayed. It is simply a devil the way the mail is going this recent phase. From your devoted husband Frank ????? Taylor?

I have taken the surname from the address as obviously he is writing to his wife. The last two words of the message are written underneath the previouse two words to make way for the signing off message.

[Tom Morgan]

I think the last two words, written underneath the main part, are "Cheer Oh".

Tom

[Tom Morgan]

I think the whole card was written like this:

Just a P.C. saying that I am still in the pink. Saturday Oct 13 was the day I got a letter. I got a P. C. on the 11th (or may be 15th).

Just because I am waiting anxiously for news it gets delayed. It is simply a devil the way the mail is

From your Devoted Husband Frank Then some kisses, and over to the right, yours I am

The writer then remembered something else he wanted to say so squeezed a little more into the left-hand corner:

Give this the nut.

Cheer oh.

[shred]

Once again, thank you all.

How the lingo changes, I could never imagine anyone from Salford today saying "in the pink" or "simply a devil".

Give this the nut.

Can see this, wonder who the nut was?? Or is this an old saying?

As always the answers raise more questions...

Cheers,

Garry

[Tom Morgan]

Garry - "nut" or "knut" was a popular phrase at the time, meaning "a good chap". I thought the writer might have been referring to his little boy. Perhaps he thought "the nut" might like the picture on the other side of the card.

Tom

[Pebble]

Just had a quick look on the 1911 census just in case. The only Taylors in Gloucester St off Regent st were an older couple who han not had any children at no 46.

[shred]

Tom,

You could be right as the picture is off a dog headed with the words "Is That Masters Voice"

Thank you.

Pebble,

Also did the same search and found Mary Ann and John Taylor, checked the 1901 census but no Frank. Will keep looking.

Thank you,

Garry

[nhclark]

Frank wrote the card on Wednesday October 17th 1917, and it was posted the next day.

A look at the perpetual calendar indicates that "Saturday Oct 13 was the day I got a letter."

I wonder whether his wife's name is a nickname? Possibly "Flick" for Felicity? "Flick" is certainly in line with "in the pink" and "simply a devil." Very 1910-1920. Unfortunately, though, I can't find a marriage between a Frank or Francis Taylor and a Felicity.

Noel

[phil@basildon]

It seems to start as "Dear F? . A" with a full stop before the "A". Could the A refer to a child?

Has anyone tried looking at the absent voters list?

[KevinBattle]

For my little comment, I agree about the dates being 13th as posted on 18th and dated Wed 17th Oct 1917.

I wonder if the "Dear..." is his wife's initial, perhaps Mum & Dad? such as

"Dear F, E & A"??? Just a Post Card saying I am in the pink. Saturday Oct 13 was the day I got a letter. I got a Post Card on the 15th. Just because I am waiting anxiously for the news it gets delayed. It simply is the devil the way the mail is goin(g)?? this the nut. From your devoted husband Frank (the nut??) Cheer oh"

I don't know if "the nut" should follow on from "the mail" as it would mean he intended to keep the right hand side mainly for the sign off. A bit too clever planning it would seem.

Are the words above The Postcard "On Active Service"?? It looks to be the same handwriting so is that the news he was waiting anxiously for? Or would that have been added by the Censors Dept (why??)

Sorry to intrude, such an ephemeral piece but it may have had vast significance ro his wife if that was the last she had of his handwriting....

I do hope there is NOT a CWGC entry for F Taylor after 18th Oct 1917..... anyone????

[shred]

Great news,

Bought this off ebay and the seller has put another of Frank's postcards (1918) up for sale with the address of 35 Derby Place, checked AVL and registered at 35 Derby Street, Regent, Salford is Frank Taylor, M2/046736, Cpl, 2nd G.H.A. Res., A.S.C. (memorial states A.S.C.). Result!!!!

If I am not being overly familiar "I love you lot".

Thanks for all your help.

I do hope there is NOT a CWGC entry for F Taylor after 18th Oct 1917..... anyone????

Kevin pretty sure he returned as he is not inscribed on the front of the memorial (only those beleived killed/died on front).

Thank you.

Now off to find some more info.

Garry

[shred]

Frank's MIC

[phil@basildon]

Great news,

Bought this off ebay and the seller has put another of Frank's postcards (1918) up for sale with the address of 35 Derby Place, checked AVL and registered at 35 Derby Street, Regent, Salford is Frank Taylor, M2/046736, Cpl, 2nd G.H.A. Res., A.S.C. (memorial states A.S.C.). Result!!!!

This is the problem with things like that purchased on e-bay. The providence gets lost when things are sold on.

I wonder what he was worried about, was his wife expecting a child? I wonder if there is any decendants around?

[shred]

Phil,

Thanks for you comments and agree.

Pretty sure wife is Maud(nee Summers)?? Married Sept 1916, Prestwich. For this to be true Frank must have been given leave.

Garry

[phil@basildon]

Phil,

Thanks for you comments and agree.

Pretty sure wife is Maud(nee Summers)?? Married Sept 1916, Prestwich. For this to be true Frank must have been given leave.

Garry

My maternal grandparents married in April 1915. My Grandfather married in his uniform, he had joined up only 6 months before and had not yet been sent to the front.

[nhclark]

There was a Frank Taylor, birth registered June quarter 1917, Prestwich registration district, mother's maiden name Summers.

No matching births (Taylor/Summers) in the Salford registration district, and no further ones (Taylor/Summers) in Prestwich either.

This confirms that there was issue of the Frank Taylor/Maud Summers marriage, but whether the marriage was of the Frank Taylor of the postcard is another matter.

The postcard is addressed to "Mrs. F. Taylor" and not Mrs. M. Taylor. Perhaps to his mother and not his wife?

The Frank of the postcard had gone overseas on 22nd July 1915. If he married Maud in 1916 then he must have been given home leave.

How long did letters and cards take to reach men in France? Frank was writing on 17th October, and the wording in no way suggests to me that he knew a baby had just been born. The wording is consistent with him knowing that his wife was pregnant, and that this was the news he was anxiously waiting for.

Noel

[angelab]

The postcard is addressed to "Mrs. F. Taylor" and not Mrs. M. Taylor. Perhaps to his mother and not his wife?

Frank would have been right to address correspondence to his wife as "Mrs F Taylor" (using her husband's intial); this is the correct form even today.

She would only be addressed as "Mrs M Taylor" (using her own initial) if she were a widow.

Angela

[nhclark]

Frank would have been right to address correspondence to his wife as "Mrs F Taylor" (using her husband's intial); this is the correct form even today.

She would only be addressed as "Mrs M Taylor" (using her own initial) if she were a widow.

Angela

Angela, yes, I realised that "Mrs. F. Taylor" would be quite in order, irrepective of his wife's name, shortly after I sent my message.

Not sure that I agree with your second sentence though, although let's not debate that here!

More importantly, here is the second postcard from e-bay:

It's the best picture that I can get. I'm quite certain that it starts "Dear Kid" (must have been his nickname for his wife) and goes on "Just a P.C to say that I am still in the pinkand I am/was trusting(?) you and the boy keep the same by the time you get this ??? will be home he as(sic) promised to call round and see you for me & if you have anything to say you may send it along with him." Looks like the same finish - "Cheer Oh" and "Your devoted husband Frank."

Noel