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Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I've been down in Shropshire for a Guest family funeral.

Yes, it is Gertrude in the photograph, with her husband William Guest sitting next to her.

I've attached William's obituary which may be of interest to you. I haven't found Gertrude's as yet.

I popped to St. Peter's churchyard in Priorslee to see if I could find a grave for William and Gertrude but I didn't see anything. I did, however, get a photograph of a Callear memorial stone and I'll post it on here when I download it from my camera.

I haven't had chance to look at your FB group yet, but I certainly shall.

Kind regards

Chris

Hi Si.

Many thanks for your message.

I think it's the same Gertrude, b 1904 (or thereabouts) d 1984. Parents Isaiah Callear and Sarah Ann Wall. Married to William Guest 1923. Sister to Albert and Emily Louisa.

When William died in 1962 they were living at 9 Priorslee Road, Snedshill.

William Guest was my partner's half uncle.

I haven't gone any further back than Isaiah and Sarah but if I fine anything of interest I'll let you know.

Kind regards

Chris.

I have read that some military regiments were billeted at the Raven Hall Hotel at Ravenscar in North Yorkshire and that it may have been used as a training establishment during WW2. But I have also found what appears to be some WW1 era graffiti carved into some of the walls in the grounds.

Can anyone shed any light on this please?

I've been doing some research on the USAF when it was based at RAF Sturgate in Lincolnshire in the 1950s and I'm hoping that some Roots Chat members might be able to help.

The base had its own newspaper which I believe was called "Sturgate Farm News". The base had the nickname "Sturgate on the Farm" because of its rural location.

I've never been able to find any copies of the newspaper so I have no idea what it looked like, what form it took, what it covered etc., and I was wondering if anyone out there might be able to help.

Fingers crossed.

Many thanks.

Chris.

Chris,
Yes I noticed the Somme spelling and thought of a coded message but then I noticed he spelt THINCK incorrectly, but not bad for 2nd language.
He seems to write that he will go to Anvours, ? and then onto the front again. At first I thought he meant Anvers (Antwerp) but my wife, who is a French speaking Belgian thinks it isnt'.  Anvers is a distance from Calais and then back to the front?
His army details/address seems to be listed between the lines but I am not knowledgeable about them.
Do you think Jacques was originally a Belgian refugee in this country before he enlisted and went back? This may be how he met Mollie.
I attach the front of the card.
Peter

Hello Peter

Sadly we don't have anymore information about "Jacques". Apparently Mollie's parents liked him a lot which makes us think that they must have known him for a while. There is one family member who might know something but it's a long shot. I'll let you know if anything comes of it.

It's strange that the sender of the card was writing to Mollie like this. As I said before, it doesn't seem like a message from boyfriend to girlfriend. It lacks emotion. I would have thought that he would have written to Sarah (that is, if they did have a relationship) or perhaps their parents. I wouldn't have thought that he would have sent a card to each individual.

We are still trying to decipher the full message. It might be our imagination but does it say Dieppe after "Anvours"?  He goes on to say "and so back to the front" but I haven't had chance to check up on where the front lines were at that time.

Kind regards.

Chris.