17th september 1918 ethel moore nee emmett to gerald forster

preston, lanacashire to northwich, cheshire

35 miles

the message

“Dear Gerald

How do you like this card. I wonder if you ever pull a face like this little boy (sometimes).

I am having a nice time, the weather has been better since Sunday.

I have missed Geo ever so much since I have been here but then I have had a letter every day since I came so I must not grumble. Give my love to Auntie Annie, Percy ???????

From Ethel XX”

the sender

Ethel Moore nee Emmett (1891-1979) was born in Longridge near Preston, Lancashire. She was the fourth of eight children. Her parents were James Emmett (1861-1910) and Margaret Ann Parkinson (1862-1942). In 1901 James was the manager of a Co-Op store in Northwich.

Ethel was living with here parents in 1901 and with her widowed mother in 1911, also in Northwich.

In 1916, Ethel married George Moore (1893-1980) in Northwich. In the 1911 census George is listed as a Law Clerk, but the most significant fact is that he was living at the Lord Nelson in Northwich because this is the address that the card was sent to. The landlady of the pub was his widowed mother Annie Moore nee Forster (1871-1960).

In 1918 Ethel posted this card in Preston. Perhaps she was visiting family. Perhaps George was at war.

At some point prior to 1922 George and Ethel went to Australia and that is where their son was born. They returned to visit England at various times. Both George and Ethel died in Austraila.

the recipient

Gerald Forster (1908-1980) was born in Northwich. He was the youngest of four children. His parents were Joseph Forster (1876-1953) and Mary Plant (1877-1917) . Joseph was an Iron Moulder.

In 1911 Gerald was living with his parents in Northwich.

In 1936 Gerald married Gladys May Simpson (1908-1956) in Northwich.

In 1939 the couple were living in Northwich and Gerald was an Engineer.

Gerald died in Northwich in 1980.

the trees

Emmett

Forster

the places

Preston, Lancashire to Northwich, Cheshire

Preston, Lancashire highlighting Longbridge

Northwich, Cheshire showing Witton Street

Lord Nelson, Witton Street

The Lord Nelson in Witton Street was pulled down in 1922. Here are some links to articles which feature Witton Street and include pictures of the Lord Nelson.

https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/18801178.looking-back-lost-pubs-witton-street/

https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/15186117.remember-when-witton-street-past-and-present/

what the card says to us

The card is a Donald McGill (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_McGill) who was a famous, or infamous produced of humourous and saucy postcards.

Gerald’s mother died in 1917, a year before this card was sent. When the card was sent he was 10 years old and living with his aunt Annie Moore nee Forster (1871-1960) who was the landlady of the Lord Nelson. Annie is mentioned in the message along with Percy who is William Percy Moore (1900-1983), Annie’s son. Annie’s eldest son was George Moore (1893-1980) who was married to the sender of the card, Ethel Emmett. Ethel is in Preston is missing George who is presumably away at war. And she has sent her husband’s cousin a card to cheer him up. At least that is a story that fits the card.