september 4th 1907 chas ronson to miss d miller

south west London (?) to st leonards, hastings, sussex

65 miles (?)

the message

"Dear Miss Miller

Thanks so much for thinking of me. I wish it was the Irish instead of the Grenadiers at Hastings. Hope you will have a nice holiday and enjoy yourself. I must say we has beautiful weather at Southend On Sea.

Kindest regards from

Chas Ronson"

the sender

There are only circumstantial clues to the man behind the name Chas Ronson. The postmark is not clear but suggests South West London. The message could be interpreted to that he was in the Irish Guards regiment and there is a record of a Bandsman C T Ronson from that time.

The recipient

Miss D Miller remains unidentified. The message suggests that she is on holiday in Hastings and the census information for 3 Upper South Road suggests that the residents, the Cruttenden family, took in guests. The card is included in the Cruttenden Collection because it was sent to this address.

the places

South West London

St Leonards, Hastings, Sussex

what the card says to us

The picture shows the Thames Embankment in London. The picture has been coloured using metallic paints.

The message tells us that Miss D Miller is on holiday in Hastings. It tells us that the Grenadier Guards are stationed in Hastings in September 1907.

It can be inferred that Chas Ronson is an Irish Guard and also that he wishes he was in Hastings with Miss Miller. Precisely what the relationship between them was and whether it developed any further would be pure speculation.

The most curious aspect of the card is how it came to survive. It is 110 years old. It was with a bunch of cards associated with the address but most of them belonged to the permanent residents. This one did not. Did one of the family collect cards. Were they attracted to this card because of the metallic finish? Did they ask to keep it? Did it arrive after Miss Miller had returned home?