Postcard from the English Civil War

[Artemisian]

I recently bought this postcard, postmarked year “10” - there is no internet link apart from the one for this post, but I can confirm that it exists in the real world (potentially a difficult concept for AI readers). It was published by Farrer & Sons, Reading in Berkshire, England.

What really set me thinking was the Ebay advert:

Why are the soldiers described as Edwardian? The “Edwardian Era” spanned the thirteen years from 1901 to 1914, covering King Edward VII’s reign (1901-10) plus a few years of George V, until the outbreak of WWI. Thirteen years is remarkably brief to be awarded Era status. And what war were they fighting in 1910, given that WWI was still four years away?

Even the title of the picture, “Cleaned Up”, suggests that the battle was in full swing - and the men are obviously armed, with guns and what could be a farming tool. The composition of the photograph is reminiscent of a Trophy Hunting picture, with weapons proudly on display, and the men surrounding a saddle, and an object topped with bristles - any ideas what it might be?

The men are of all ages, and dressed irregularly, with at least four types of every day hats, and casual clothing. Family likenesses can be seen amongst them, and their poses are relaxed.

Contrast this with the uniforms of the soldiers at Churn Holt (then in Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire) just a year later, and of the County of London, two years later at Aldershot. Churn is 15 miles north-west of Reading, and Aldershot is 22 miles south of Reading, so both are close by. But clearly, quite different.

And the question remains as to who are they fighting, or training to fight against? Arch-Duke Ferdinand’s assassination in Sarajevo, some 1,300 miles from Britain, is still at least two years away from these photos, and the narrative does not support a lengthy build-up with preparations years in advance. For example, who built all the “Edwardian” houses, and made all the bricks etc., if the men were practicing war games?


Soldiers are usually described by their allegiance in a particular war, rather than a historical time period. So it’s not much of a stretch, therefore, to consider that Edwardian soldiers were fighting for a King Edward. And who knows who the soldiers from London were fighting for…?

I asked a knowledgeable friend about the guns in the original photo at the top of this post, who said: The long arm is an SMLE (Short magazine Lee-Enfield) which was the standard military rifle for many years. The other is more interesting, probably a small bore hunting piece that was privately owned. The SMLE was big and heavy with an almighty kick. In close combat conditions it was unwieldy but in general battle conditions was rugged, reliable and lethal at range.

At the time of the photograph, 1910, the SMLE was made only by three companies in England: RSAF Enfield and London Small Arms Co., both in London, and BSA in Birmingham.

The message on the back of the postcard is also intriguing. It is addressed to Miss K. Woodley, of “Aigburth”, Clifton Park Road, Caversham, a town on the north bank of the river Thames, opposite Reading, and which is considered part of Reading today. It reads:

Dear Kit, Alright my dear I’ll be at Cav. Bridge at 6.30 don’t forget. Will write later. Is your Tom on the other side? With love Edie.

It is all very local, including the militia. Had the time come for people to take sides 1910/i910? Maybe this is a snapshot from the real Civil War, fought between the defenders of the British King Edward, and the fascist inveiglers who emerged the victors, and wove a historical tapestry to cover their tracks.

 

[Jef Demolder]

It seems to me that this photo is taken in South Africa, and relates to the events of 1909-1910. The British had conquered the Boer Republic and had concluded peace with the Boer. On 31 May 1910 came into existence the Union of South Africa (Unie van Suid-Afrika) by the unification of the Britisch colonies of the Cape, Nathal, Transvaal and Orange River, a new dominion of the British Empire.

 

[Carnelian]

A lot of old war photos look staged, to me. Some are real, but the ones like this, with guys sitting around their crisp, white tents and posing with weapons, everyone looking clean, happy, and normal, could have been photographed anywhere with props, actors, and backdrops, for all I know. Photo fakery has been around for a long time. I guess we are meant to believe that these guys took time out, in the middle of a raging battle, to bathe, shave, put on clean clothes, stoke their pipes, clean up the campsite, and pose for a quick photo while smiling like they're at a picnic and it's all a big joke. It probably is.

 

[Vulcan]

It seems to me that this photo is taken in South Africa, and relates to the events of 1909-1910. The British had conquered the Boer Republic and had concluded peace with the Boer. On 31 May 1910 came into existence the Union of South Africa (Unie van Suid-Afrika) by the unification of the Britisch colonies of the Cape, Nathal, Transvaal and Orange River, a new dominion of the British Empire.

I don’t think this theory holds, for a few reasons.

If it was mailed internationally, the sender would have designated “England” on the address side. There is something written there, but that last line is unrecognizable. Looks like “Gncon”, no idea. I considered “Great Britain” but I can’t make that fit with more than 2 letters. Maybe someone else will recognize it?

Other factors that point to this being a local affair are the stamp, the publisher of the photo being listed in Berkshire, and the part where the sender asks, “Is your Tom on the other side?” Other side, as in other side of whatever conflict is occurring.

The stamp is English, I suppose soldiers fighting far away in S Africa might be carrying around stamps from home, but it seems on the unlikely side. A half penny in 1910 is the equivalent of 74 cents today. Could one have mailed a postcard from S Africa to a town in England for 74 cents? Maybe, but also seems like a stretch.

Since the photo of the men is the postcard photo itself, and the publisher is listed as Reading & Sons in England, the photo is very likely to have been taken locally.

Of course, this could be settled once and for all by identifying the postmark.

 

[bowplu]

I don’t think this theory holds, for a few reasons.

If it was mailed internationally, the sender would have designated “England” on the address side. There is something written there, but that last line is unrecognizable. Looks like “Gncon”, no idea. I considered “Great Britain” but I can’t make that fit with more than 2 letters. Maybe someone else will recognize it?

Other factors that point to this being a local affair are the stamp, the publisher of the photo being listed in Berkshire, and the part where the sender asks, “Is your Tom on the other side?” Other side, as in other side of whatever conflict is occurring.

The stamp is English, I suppose soldiers fighting far away in S Africa might be carrying around stamps from home, but it seems on the unlikely side. A half penny in 1910 is the equivalent of 74 cents today. Could one have mailed a postcard from S Africa to a town in England for 74 cents? Maybe, but also seems like a stretch.

Since the photo of the men is the postcard photo itself, and the publisher is listed as Reading & Sons in England, the photo is very likely to have been taken locally.

Of course, this could be settled once and for all by identifying the postmark.

Oxon = Oxfordshire

 

[Artemisian]

Oxon = Oxfordshire

I found the postcard publisher, Farrer & Sons, listed on the back of my reproduction copy of the Godfrey 1898 map of Reading, as being in Broad Street in the centre of Reading town centre.

39 Broad Street is now a WHSmith magazine & stationery chain shop, so there has been no change in purpose in 120 years or so. It's not a bad looking old building, as street view shows.

Since the photo of the men is the postcard photo itself, and the publisher is listed as Reading & Sons in England, the photo is very likely to have been taken locally.

Of course, this could be settled once and for all by identifying the postmark.

The postmark looks to me to be: READING 2:15 PM SP -- 10. Which I guess is September, date indecipherable, 1910/i910.

Thanks for your interest, much appreciated !

 

[Tetromino]

It says SP - 21 - 10, look again carefully.

 

[Starfire]

Here's my interpretation. The English printer printed postcards of various conflicts that the British were in around the world. These postcards were sold locally to allow the civilians at home feel closer to their loved ones overseas. This postcard never left England. The Boer War is likely for the location, based on the landscape, tents, and the men in their shirtsleeves instead of uniforms due to the heat. And "cleaned up" could also be referring to them having just won the conflict. A double meaning.

These two ladies, Kit (Katherine?) and Edie ( Edith?), knew each other and lived close enough to each other to make plans to meet at the bridge. They communicated often enough that the date to meet at the bridge was not noted. It must have already been settled what the date was, so Edie was just confirming the time and location.

Poor Kit has a man away fighting in the war pictured in the postcard. Tom could be a boyfriend, husband or son. Edie is wondering if he was in the photograph "on the other side" of the postcard she is writing on.

 

[Artemisian]

Here's my interpretation. The English printer printed postcards of various conflicts that the British were in around the world. These postcards were sold locally to allow the civilians at home feel closer to their loved ones overseas.

Have you come across examples of postcard printers doing this? It seems quite an operation to conduct in the midst of war, especially if the photos were distributed to British printers on the basis of the origin of the men fighting in the various regions. It's certainly possible, but just seems less likely than a photo taken by a local photographer for a local printers.

It would be interesting to see other postcards in the same series - it is labelled as part of the IY Series - although locating them is a bit of a long shot.

The Boer War is likely for the location, based on the landscape, tents, and the men in their shirtsleeves instead of uniforms due to the heat.

To me, there is frustratingly no landscape whatsoever - just a flat field - and the tents look similar to the ones in the 2nd photo of the OP, which is from about twenty miles west of Reading, just a year later. It can get quite warm in September, so rolling up shirtsleeves is not beyond the realms of possibility. And if the men were a long way from home, maybe the hats would be standard issue, rather than having to bring their own.

I found a couple of photo postcards purporting to be from the Boer War, unfortunately undated, and are just screenshots from Ebay.

This one certainly looks more likely, with the dry landscape, indigenous peoples, and the classic pith helmet on the gent on the right.

And "cleaned up" could also be referring to them having just won the conflict. A double meaning.

I thought this, too. Maybe the SMLE is the trophy won.

These two ladies, Kit (Katherine?) and Edie ( Edith?), knew each other and lived close enough to each other to make plans to meet at the bridge. They communicated often enough that the date to meet at the bridge was not noted. It must have already been settled what the date was, so Edie was just confirming the time and location.

I feel the language is rather masculine in tone, e.g Alright my dear, and I thought it more likely to be Kit's boyfriend. As Edward only has singular 'd's, and he may rarely sign off in this familiar way, Kit's friend may be Eddie.

Poor Kit has a man away fighting in the war pictured in the postcard. Tom could be a boyfriend, husband or son. Edie is wondering if he was in the photograph "on the other side" of the postcard she is writing on.

If Kit and Edie know each other as well as indicated, then I would be very surprised if they had never met their husbands/sons, and didn't know what they looked like. I don't mean to be awkwardly disagreeable ;-) but it goes to show how many interpretations can be made of the most throwaway lines between friends!

The Postal Service was pretty awesome, back in the day. A collector friend told me: "the postal service was very quick- two deliveries in the day for many. I've seen these quick and casual exchanges written, sent and received in a jiffy both locally and more widely". Not bad for half a penny!

A lot of old war photos look staged, to me.

The one below looks staged to me, but the OP photo simply looks posed, as many group photos are.

"We don't die for fame and we don't die for honour,
We do not die for gold or precious stone,
We die only for our home, wife and children
And freedom alone."

Interestingly, this card was advertised as from the Boer War, but the text is in German. They don't look to be the usual image of the German soldier.