The Whitehead Family in the Great War
This is the story of the Whitehead Family during WW1.
We have found two separate postcards that appear to be addressed to the same woman Mrs B Whitehead. The first postcard we acquired was written by ‘Len’ and the second by ‘Leslie’. In the second card, Leslie mentions seeing Len in Maidstone, perhaps they were brothers.
1. A postcard from Les to Mrs Whitehead 1915
From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Whitehead Family: ‘Les To His Mother’: Courtesy of D Price
We have had submitted another card from what appears to be the same family as 72ROM & 73SAN. The previous card is written from Len to Mrs Whitehead and here Les mentions he has seen Len recently. We believe the two are brothers. This card was sent 19th July 1915
The transcribed text reads:
‘Dear Ma Just a line to let you know I arrived home quite safely. Got here about 7.30 when they shouted fall in this morning at 7 there was none of us up so we had to scratch out. I went to see Aunt Holly and saw Len in Maidstone. Love from Lesly.’
‘Mrs B Whitehead, The shop, St Marys, Nr New Romney, Kent’
Courtesy of D Price
2. A postcard from Len to Mrs Whitehead 1917
From our ‘Family histories’ section: The Whitehead Family: ‘Len To His Mother’: Courtesy of D Price
A postcard sent from Sandwich to Len Whitehead’s mother in St Mary in the Marsh near Romney in 1917. Len is temporarily billeted in Sandwich whilst he attends a firing course before moving on to Canterbury. He mentions having marched 14 miles the day before. We have been unable to discover any further information concerning Len, but we believe his brother was Archibald Sidney Whitehead who was KIA on 7th January 1916, whilst serving with the Buffs. This postcard was sent in 1917
(See also 73SAN for more information about 'The Old House' & 214ROM for more information on the Whitehead family)
The transcribed text reads:
"Dear Mother, Just a line to let you know I have shifted again. I'm shall only be here for a week or ten days for a course of firing and then going into Canterbury, had fourteen miles to march today. You can send letter to same address as before.
Love from Len."
'Mrs B Whitehead, Geneva Cottages, St Mary’s, Nr New Romney, Kent'
*Further information received: We have now received another card which is from ‘Les’ to Mrs Whitehead in which he also refers to her as Ma and also mentions Len. (See 214ROM)
From the collection of D.Price.