Towards the end of the First World War, my grandfather, William Danson, sent sentimental cards to his wife and children back home in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.
"Dear Alice, received your letter alright. I have landed back at the Batt and am in the pink. I have had a letter from Jennie [sister] and am glad they have heard from Tom [brother]. Your loving husband Billy xxx"
Written
in pencil with the writing now faded, and the censor's stamp
unhelpfully across the message, the card was sent from the Field Post
Office 7th February 1918 to Mrs W. Danson, 20 Bull Street,
Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, Blighty,
The "In the pink" phrase seemed to be a favourite term that William used in other messages as well.
"Batt" I take it to mean the battalion.
"Batt" I take it to mean the battalion.
"Blighty" in
the address was used as a nickname for Britain, or often specifically
England. It was first used by soldiers in the Indian army in the 19th
century and popularised in the First World War. According
to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word derives from "bilayati", a
regional variant of the Urdu word " meaning "foreign", "British",
"English" or "European." or "Anglo-Indian".
A "blighty wound" was a wound serious enough to require recuperation away from the trenches, but not serious enough to kill or maim the victim - it was hoped for by many, and sometimes self-inflicted.
Grandad (William Danson) was a
labourer, a taciturn country man. He never spoke about the war and would never have put into
words the sentiments expressed (sometimes in French) in the cards he sent to his
wife Alice.
Grandad's messages were very prosaic, compared with the images.
"Dear Alice, Just a line to let you know I am in the pink and hope all at home are the same. There is nothing that I want. I will write again shortly. Your loving Billy xxx". Sent 29th April 1918.
Alice with their children - my aunt Edith, my mother Kathleen
and uncles Harry and baby Billy.
Below - A postcard to my mother, Kathleen. The
postmark is 2nd September 2nd 1917, and her 9th birthday would be on September
8th. Written in feint pencil, the message is now rather difficult to decipher.
"Dear Kathleen, I got your card, all right and am in the pink and hope you like this card. I have had a letter from Jennie [his sister] and she says all's well at home. No more this time. From her Dad xxx." Sent 29th April 1918.
"Dear Edith. I am all right and hope all at home are well. I will try and send you a nice card for your birthday and will send it in a day or two. From Your Dad. xxx"
Sent 3rd September 1917. Two months earlier, William had been fighting in the mud bath that was the Battle of Passchendaele.
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On 9th April 1918 William was awarded the Military Medal for "conspicuous gallantry and determined devotion to duty in action"
William served in
the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. and I wrote to the regimental
museum at Lancaster Castle for more information I was sent a copy of an extract from the Regimental War Diary. The full citation (a poor typed copy) reads:
9th April was five days after Granddad's 33rd birthday."For conspicuous gallantry in action at GIVENCHY on 9th April 1918, this N.C.O commanded a Lewis Gun section...He did good work with his gun during the attack inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. When the other N.C.O. in command of the other Lewis Gun was wounded, he took over the gun and controlled the line of fire.
Amongst the horrors of that war, these cards, kept for nigh on 100 years
stand out as a symbol of beauty and love for Grandad's family back home.
Adapted from a post first written in 2012.
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I enjoyed this post. Those postcards definitely are to be preserved and treasured.The last two are particularly sweet.
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ReplyDeleteHow really beautiful these cards and his rather manly comments are, compared to the real life of a fighting soldier getting medals for serving (and killing for) his country. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, how sweet love for family is what the soldiers would think about when they had time, how it motivated them to protect their loves in the only way open to them.
ReplyDeleteI love this blog post. What a wonderful history and the fact that you have these remarkable cards that give you insight into their lives. It's just awesome!
ReplyDeleteI very much appreciated your comments - thank you all very much.
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