Fred Ryedale's Dainty Little Ladies

I haven't been able to find out any further information about this group.  I assume they were touring performers, possibly in the late 1910s or early 1920s.

Joubert Park, Johannesburg, 1909

Posted April 26th 1909 to Miss R.A. Dunn, Goodwood, Chichester, Sussex.

'Dear Cousin,

This is a very pretty park and some of the flowers and walks are magnificent.  We are just commencing our winter now.  Your affect. Cousin Will.'

Coded Message No. 3

A postcard posted in 1903 from Peckham.  Only part of the message is coded; I believe it's Morse Code, but suggestions and further clarification would be gratefully received.

Face of the card.

Reverse.

Home Sweet Home: Edwardians

The little boy is wearing quite an outfit!  The sign in the window says 'Howay Pianoforte Tuning Expert and Musical Instrument Repairer'.  Posted from Pulham in December 1908 to: Miss E.E. Holt, Woodlands, High St, Lowestoft, Suffolk.

The message reads:

'Dear E,

There is just a photo of our house with Pop standing at the gate.  How are you all fond love to Aunt and Uncle. Yours Jessie.'

The girls' dresses vary in their fanciness according to age - assuming that they are from the same family.  Note the female servant standing in the doorway.

The lady pictured is possibly 'E. Anderson' who has signed the reverse and has written: 

'To dear Clarrie with love and best wishes.

Each cloud has a silver lining,

Though we may not see its light;

The sun has not ceased its shining,

Though hidden awhile from our sight.'

The Perfect Figure: Corsets, Girdles and Rupture Belts

All adverts from Lancashire Life Magazine, Vol IV, Number 5, June, 1956.

This last product, in particular, looks extremely uncomfortable. 

Blackpool No. 2

Carnival, Tower Ballroom, Blackpool

Posted on 28th September 1926 with a large 'Say It By Telephone' postmark to: Miss Ivy Casson, 28 Hutchinson St, Stockton on Tees.

The message reads:

'Dear Ivy,

We are having a good time and it is nice weather.  We were in this place and saw some kiddies you would have liked it remember me to you [sic] Mother with Best Love Doris xxx from Anne'

Pre-1914 postcard.  A closer view of Maxim's Flying Machine is in this previous post.

Posted 19th July 1936 to: Master D. Wheway, Stanley House School, Bristol Rd, Birmingham.

The message reads:

'Arrived 11 o/c.  Leaving 12. tonight so shall have a good day.  Very blowy.  Much love M + D.'

I don't remember a lake like this in the 1980s, when we went to Blackpool for days out, but I do remember going on a ride called 'The Rafts' or something similar, which could have been constructed within the former lake.  

A photograph originally taken during daylight which has been doctored to present a night scene.  I'm not sure that all of the 'illuminations' added in were actually real, e.g. the spaces between the balustrade in the foreground.  Also, if you look at the 'illuminated trams' shaped like boats, it's obvious from the scale of the people standing right next to them that they are actually cars underneath the added paint!

In Remembrance

The people who are depicted in these photographs and who are the authors of these postcards are not connected to each other, that I know of.  This is some of my collection and unfortunately I don't know full identities or what happened to them.  I have put this group together so that the semi-official photographs can be viewed with the personal messages sent to loved ones.  

I would love to know which regiment this group belonged to; the presence of at least two tam-o-shanters suggests a Scottish connection.  I don't know if "G.B. 1146" refers to a division or simply the photographer's numbering system.  All that is printed on the reverse is "Voto...." and the rest of the word / brand is hard to make out.  It suggests that this was taken abroad.

Taken by A. Leslie, Pier Studio, Felixtowe.

Front of card...

Reverse

Passed by Censor No. 607.  Written September 30th, 1918 and posted at the Field Post Office, 1st October.

The message reads:

Dear Gordon,

Just a few lines hoping Mother and yourself have a good time.  Kind regards to Mister Holdsworth.

With love

From Dad

xxxx

Possibly taken in Wermelskirchen, Germany, to be sent to France.  Printed on the reverse is 'Control Post, Date...... Wermelskirchen' and someone has pencilled 'TOUT'.  Any suggestions for identifying the uniform, especially the badge on his cap, gratefully received.

Posted 17th July 1916 from Bedlington to Miss M. Hudson, "The Swallows", Lissett, Lowthorpe, Driffield, E. Yorks.

The message reads:

Dear Mad,

We leave here for France tonight at 10pm.  I am going out at last as I am just ready for a nice sail across the pond.  You would receive my letter, so if not written back wait till here [sic] from me again.  I shall go in for a V.C. 

So Good Bye Madeline

From Walter