august 6th 1929 edmund eric smallwood to dorothy martha smallwood

liverpool, lancashire to small heath, birmingham, warwickshire

the message

“Will you send Dad’s address / We have lost it”

Dear Doll

We have been to New Brighton today. Very crowded. We are getting nothing but rain since we arrived. I wish that you were here. Eric thinks that it is wonderful . We are all well. Give my love to Mother & tell her I will write to her tomorrow.

Love Eddie”

the sender

Edmund Eric Smallwood (1897-1963) was the son of Amos Orton Smallwood (1861-1935) and Annie Ellis (1869-1931). Amos was a printing Compositor.

In the 1939 Register, Edmund is described as a Fitter & Turner (Heavy Worker) and an ARP Warden. In 1918 Edmund married Blanche Alberta Mills (1895-1956).

the recipient

Dorothy Martha Smallwood (1892-1966) was the elder sister of Edmund Eric. The 1911 census records that Dorothy had suffered from spinal paralysis since birth. The 1939 Register records her as Incapacitated. A retired nurse companion is living at the same address. Dorothy did not marry.

the tree

the places

Liverpool to Small Heath, Birmingham

Liverpool

Small Heath, Birmingham

what the card says to us

The picture is a painting of Liverpool, featuring the Liver Building and a Ferry. Liverpool is where the card was posted.

The message tells us that the sender, Edmund, is on holiday with his family in Liverpool. The Eric referred to is his son Eric Edmund Smallwood (1919-1986) who was 10 years old when the card was sent. The weather in Liverpool in early August 1929 is rainy.

The census tells us that Dorothy is an invalid. She is asked to give Edmund’s love to their mother. He doesn’t seem to have his parent’s address and asks Dorothy to send it. But where to, unless he has already left a Liverpool forwarding address?