february 2nd 1916 amelia gertrude whayman to gertrude margaret whayman

ipswich, suffolk

0 miles

the message

“Boscmbe

2.2.16

Dear Gertie

Will you come up tomorrow afternoon & stop to tea. I have had a letter from Stanley & he is quite allright. Will tell you more news when see you so hope you will come. This is all just now, so Bye bye.

Love to all & yourself

Millie XXXX”

the sender

Amelia Gertrude Whatman (1897-1994) was the daughter of William Jacob Whayman (1866-1957) and Elizabeth Ann Francis (1866-1939). William was a labourer.

In 1911 Amelia was working as a domestic servant. In 1920 she married Stanley Oliver Shipp (1894-1982). Stanley worked in the ironmongery trade. At the time that this card was sent Stanley was serving in the Suffolk Regiment in WWI.

the recipient

Gertrude Margaret Whayman (1894-1986) was the elder sister of the sender, Amelia. In 1911 Gertrude was working as a parlour maid in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

In 1920 she married Alfred George Appleby (1894-1948). In 1911 Alfred was listed as a fisherman. He then served in WWi. In 1939 he is a Grocer and Bicycle retailer.

See also

the tree

the places

Ipswich, Suffolk


what the card says to us

The picture show a view of Felixstowe, Suffolk which is not far from Ipswich.

The message starts with “Boscombe” and the first assumption is that this refers to the town of the same name in Hampshire. Instead it refers to Boscombe House in Ipswich and presumably in 1916 Amelia is working there.

This is a happy story about WWi. Amelia refers to Stanley and this is her future husband Stanley Shipp. The good news is that he has written from active service and he is OK. Stanley survived the war and both Amelia and Gertrude married in 1920.