It is F.A.I. and my dear granny, I am thinking it could be their wedding photograph or at very least an engagement one.
Sunday, 30 December 2007
C1918
I have been rooting through all my papers and saved/scanned images and came across this.
It is F.A.I. and my dear granny, I am thinking it could be their wedding photograph or at very least an engagement one.
It is F.A.I. and my dear granny, I am thinking it could be their wedding photograph or at very least an engagement one.
Friday, 28 December 2007
72. 1919
Looking at F.A.I.’s service record obtained from the National Archives, it appears he was discharged from the Royal Naval Division on 26th May 1919. Against the date is WG 154972 A.G. 9b what ever that means? So what was he up to after that? I had no idea until I visited the National Archives at Kew with my Australian cousin for a very brief root around last month
(and I mean very brief, you have never seen two people copy images so fast with one of the curators saying ‘we are closing now’ ‘just one more please’ were our cries.)
(and I mean very brief, you have never seen two people copy images so fast with one of the curators saying ‘we are closing now’ ‘just one more please’ were our cries.)
I had been scrolling through Merchant sea records under the family surname looking at ID photos to see if there were any family resemblances. Suddenly I saw a chap that was definitely my family it was F.A.I’s eldest brother Edward. Surely it couldn’t be him as he had been in Australia since at least 1911? It was him! Edward Charles born London 1880. The records showed he had sailed on the Nestor as a steward on 17th May 1919.
The only explanation I can think of was he served over here in WW1 and was on his way back home to Australia. More research is needed on this one.
I carried on scrolling across and came across F.A.I. born 1886 (2 years out) in London.
It showed he had sailed twice on the same ship 131329 on the 11th September and 18th November 1919.
This is an excellent site for maritime shipping through it I found that he was back sailing on the Hildebrand, the ship he sailed on in 1911, I wonder if he went to Paraguay on these occasions too
The other event of 1919 was that his dear brother Arthur’s war medal was sent home to the address in Vincent Road in Croydon. His French Auntie Matilda was still living there until 1923 so she would have had receipt of them but where it ended up is anyones guess
71. 1918
1918 was a great year. Not only did it finally see the end of the ‘War to end all war’s’ in the November, it was the year F.A.I. married my dear granny.
F.A.I. must have had some shore leave and they wed in January at granny’s home in Duke Street, Edinburgh. I note from a clipping kept of the Edinburgh Evening News that many of the happy couples of that time also married at residential addresses. Maybe that was the done thing then with so many people wanting to get married at short notice.
On the wedding certificate F.A.I. is noted as a Gunner Royal Navy aged 32 (he was 33), granny is noted as a laundry maid aged 27. His date of birth was often mis-described. When he joined up to serve King and Country his year of birth was noted 1885 and later when he rejoined the merchant Seaman it was 1886, but his birth certificate says 1884.
As a family researcher I was glad they were married in Scotland as the Scottish Certificates give you mother’s maiden name, on birth certificates the time of birth and other information that is sadly lacking on English Certificates. Unfortunately this time as well as having F.A.I.’s age wrong, both mothers maiden names were also wrong. Luckily I already had this information, although with his mother Caroline, it did take an awful long time to discover the truth.
The marriage was carried out by the Rev Donald of Albany Street Church, Edinburgh, (sadly now a block of offices)
I would suspect that there wasn’t any proper honeymoon, as F.A.I. would have been called to Duty straight afterwards and certainly by his birthday in early February there is a Birthday card sent to him on the H.M.S. Settsu.
The next one is dated 26th April 1918 to granny
H.M.S. Settsu No650 this address is good
C/o Flagstaff
Devonport
26 April
Dear Wife
I had your letter of the 15th waiting for me this morning I was so pleased. There was one from Ethel and some letters from Mr Taylor and boys
The rest are going to leave tonight. Lovely weather – will write you all news so be happy as you understand me will send them all cards soon also May & Bella. Now dear take care of yourself till my next leave. All my love your F xxxxx
On the 1st May he received a postcard from a friend called Bill from Melrose. Melrose is where my dear granny was born.
Dear F
You will be thinking I am a fine one not letting you know I got your PC alright & was very please with them so & hope you will get this one also & I hope it won’t be long an you are back here again & was to tell you the chap was asking for you from your friend Bill
The other postcard I have of that year is one to his new bride. I wonder how often and how proud he was to address the person as Mrs F.A.I.
This was for granny's Birthday
F.A.I. must have had some shore leave and they wed in January at granny’s home in Duke Street, Edinburgh. I note from a clipping kept of the Edinburgh Evening News that many of the happy couples of that time also married at residential addresses. Maybe that was the done thing then with so many people wanting to get married at short notice.
On the wedding certificate F.A.I. is noted as a Gunner Royal Navy aged 32 (he was 33), granny is noted as a laundry maid aged 27. His date of birth was often mis-described. When he joined up to serve King and Country his year of birth was noted 1885 and later when he rejoined the merchant Seaman it was 1886, but his birth certificate says 1884.
As a family researcher I was glad they were married in Scotland as the Scottish Certificates give you mother’s maiden name, on birth certificates the time of birth and other information that is sadly lacking on English Certificates. Unfortunately this time as well as having F.A.I.’s age wrong, both mothers maiden names were also wrong. Luckily I already had this information, although with his mother Caroline, it did take an awful long time to discover the truth.
The marriage was carried out by the Rev Donald of Albany Street Church, Edinburgh, (sadly now a block of offices)
I would suspect that there wasn’t any proper honeymoon, as F.A.I. would have been called to Duty straight afterwards and certainly by his birthday in early February there is a Birthday card sent to him on the H.M.S. Settsu.
The next one is dated 26th April 1918 to granny
H.M.S. Settsu No650 this address is good
C/o Flagstaff
Devonport
26 April
Dear Wife
I had your letter of the 15th waiting for me this morning I was so pleased. There was one from Ethel and some letters from Mr Taylor and boys
The rest are going to leave tonight. Lovely weather – will write you all news so be happy as you understand me will send them all cards soon also May & Bella. Now dear take care of yourself till my next leave. All my love your F xxxxx
On the 1st May he received a postcard from a friend called Bill from Melrose. Melrose is where my dear granny was born.
Dear F
You will be thinking I am a fine one not letting you know I got your PC alright & was very please with them so & hope you will get this one also & I hope it won’t be long an you are back here again & was to tell you the chap was asking for you from your friend Bill
The other postcard I have of that year is one to his new bride. I wonder how often and how proud he was to address the person as Mrs F.A.I.
This was for granny's Birthday
To my Darling Wife Violet
with many happy returns of the day
And I hope your future days will never
be sad ones and may your path be one
Path of Roses from your ever loving husband F
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