First World War: Postcards from the Front

I am absolutely delighted to say that my new book Postcards from the Front: 1914-1919 has been released today is available from places such as Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smiths etc.

Postcards from the Front - Copy

Postcards from the Front – Click the picture to purchase your copy from Amazon

This has been two years of painstaking research and writing so that I could retell the stories of a handful of men and women, in their own words and pictures, through their postcards home to their loved ones.

There are many stories in my book, all derived from the postcard collections sent by men (and women) from all over Britain. My book includes the story of two VADs, Clara Woolnough and Gertrude Unwin, who nursed at Number 25 General Hospital in Hardelot (Pas des Calais), told through the eyes of Clara’s postcards (along with the hospital’s war diaries) during the Battles of the Somme.

Postcard sent home by Clara during the Battles of the Somme

Postcards sent home by Clara during the Battles of the Somme

I have also written about two brothers; Reg and Charles Pullen. Reg fought during the Battles of the Somme; and sent home postcards from places such as the Battle of Albert during his rest periods. He was seriously injured during the first day of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge (part of the 3rd Battle of Ypres) and his heroic actions won him a Military Cross. His brother Charles, entered the Royal Flying Corp in 1917 and was shot down by the enemy during the Battle of Amiens in August 1918. Both brothers stories are told through their postcards home, along with accounts from various war diaries.

War Diaries - 1/5 Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment

Entry from 1/5 Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment’s war diaries, sent against a backdrop of the Pullen brothers’ postcards

My book also contains extensive appendices on how to research your own First World War postcards from your family, and how to discover your ancestor’s war through their postcards home. For example, how to identify postmarks, censor marks, censor signatures, and how to use First World War postcards as historical documents to squeeze as much info as possible out of them.

Page from the extensive appendices on how to analyse a postcard from the First World War

Page from the extensive appendices on how to analyse a postcard from the First World War

Postcards from the Front: 1914-1919

Postcards from the Front: 1914-1919

My first review on Amazon has called my book:

“A beautiful book. Evocative and eloquent,
but ultimately still relevant.”

If you are interested in the First World War, then this book will be of interest to you. I hope you enjoy it!

You may also be interested in my three other books:-

Sudbury, Long Melford and Lavenham Through Time by Kate Cole

Click on the picture to purchase my book

Bishop's Stortford Through Time by Kate Cole

Click on the picture to purchase my book

Saffron Walden and Around Through Time by Kate Cole

Click on the picture to purchase my book

Happy New Year 2016

Wishing all my readers a Happy New Year

1st January

You may also be interested in
– Christmas Advent Calendar 2015
– Christmas Advent Calendar 2014
– Christmas Greetings from the Trenches 1914-1918
– Louis Wain: Happy Christmas Greetings 2013
– Christmas in a Tudor Town: Plough Monday
– Christmas in a Tudor Town: Part 1
– Christmas in a Tudor Town: Part 2
– Christmas in a Tudor Town: Part 3
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Massacre of the Innocents
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Feast of St Stephen
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Nativity of Christ
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Shepherds
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Magi
– Medieval Christmas Stories: St Nicholas Eve

© Essex Voices Past 2016.

Christmas Advent Calendar: 12 December

To celebrate my forthcoming book, Postcards from the Front: 1914-1919 (due out next Spring), each day from now until Christmas, I will be posting on this blog, postcards from the First World War with their messages home.  Click on the picture to be taken to an external website which will be of First World War interest. Each day, the link will take you to a different website and, hopefully, help you discover resources new to you.  Just like a traditional advent calendar, you’ll not know what you’ve got until you’ve opened (or clicked) the door.

My Advent Calendar is my Christmas gift to you. Happy Christmas!

Postcards from the Front: 1914-1919

What’s behind the door?… Click on the picture above. When you’ve finished viewing the external website, come back to my blog and, in the comments, tell me what you think of the website you’ve just visited.

Postcards from the Front: 1914-1919

To Betty with fondest love from Allan

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This blog
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My books
You may be interested in purchasing my local history books. They make ideal Christmas presents!

Sudbury, Long Melford and Lavenham Through Time by Kate Cole

Click on the picture to purchase my book

Bishop's Stortford Through Time by Kate Cole

Click on the picture to purchase my book

Saffron Walden and Around Through Time by Kate Cole

Click on the picture to purchase my book

You may also be interested in
– Christmas Advent Calendar 2015
– Christmas Advent Calendar 2014
– Christmas Greetings from the Trenches 1914-1918
– Louis Wain: Happy Christmas Greetings 2013
– Christmas in a Tudor Town: Plough Monday
– Christmas in a Tudor Town: Part 1
– Christmas in a Tudor Town: Part 2
– Christmas in a Tudor Town: Part 3
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Massacre of the Innocents
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Feast of St Stephen
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Nativity of Christ
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Shepherds
– Medieval Christmas Stories: The Magi
– Medieval Christmas Stories: St Nicholas Eve

© Essex Voices Past 2015.