February 26th 1944 john albert hart to Sidney Arnold elson and Florence angela elson nee hart
raf down ampney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire to east ham, London
100 miles
the message
"1246795 LAC Hart J.A.
271 Squadron Orderly Room
R.A.F. Station
Down Ampney
NR Cirencester
Glos
26.2.44
Dear Flo & Arnold
I was so happy to speak to you tonight. As soon as I am able I will write to you fully. Meanwhile I shall look forward to seeing you sometime in March. I hope you are still O.K. My love to you both & Reg
Yours affectionately
Jack
XXX"
the sender
John Albert Hart (1913-2010) was the son of Percy John Hart (1880-1937) and Louisa Sarah Henderson (1882-1940). Percy was a coachmaker by trade. he was born in Bromley-By-Bow in London but in 1901 he was living and working in Gloucester. In 1901 he married Louisa who was from Rhyl in North Wales and by 1911 they were living in East Ham with Louisa's widowed mother Mary Florentia Babbage (1854-1947) and sister Florentia Louise Henderson (1886-1918). It is curious to understand how they met and married.
John (Jack) Albert Hart was born in West Ham. I 1939, at the outbreak of WWII he was working as a Civil Servant aged 26 and living with his widowed mother Louisa. At the time that the card was sent, Jack was on active service with the RAF at Down Ampney. This was February 1944, four months before D-Day and Down Ampney played a big part in the air support provided for the landings. Jack was not air crew. At the time of sending the card, Jack was 31 years old. From 1935 to 1985 he served as a Labour Councillor in Newham in London. He seems to have been well respected and well liked. In 1985 he was given the freedom of Newham having previously been awarded the MBE.
Here is a link to a short obituary http://www.johnslabourblog.org/2010/04/jack-hart-funeral-possession-outside.html
And here is a link to a photo of Jack. http://www.newhamphotos.com/p1025183398/h10CD4554#h10cd4554
And here are some more tributes http://www.yellowad.co.uk/article.cfm?id=1686&headline=Tributes%20paid%20to%20former%20councillor§ionIs=news&searchyear=2010
Jack never married.
the recipient
Sidney Arnold Elson (1902-1979) was the son of Albert Joseph Elson (1871-1948) and Irene Alice Florence Sophia Cracknell (1881-1957). Albert was a House and Ship Decorator. In 1939, Sidney was working as an Operating Theatre mechanic making and repairing surgical instruments. In 1925 Sidney married Florence Angela Hart (1901-1997), the elder sister of Jack. Sidney and Florence had one son called Reginald A Elson who was born in 1930 and may be still alive.
the places
Down Ampney, Gloucestershire
East Ham, London
Knaresborough, Yorkshire
what the card says to us
The picture shows the Dropping Well at Knaresborough in North Yorkshire. There is no apparent connection to the family.
The fact that the card was sent by someone on active service at an RAF base during World War II is fascinating. Especially when he had to put his name, rank and serial number at the top. The message contains no information about Jack Hart or his location or any of the activities there, and that is what you would expect.
The way that Sidney and Florence are addressed is interesting. It says "Mr Cllr + Mrs S. A. Elson". Being a councillor obviously meant a lot to this family. And Sidney obviously used his second name Arnold as a preference.
The Reg mentioned in the message is Sidney and Florence's son, Jack's nephew who would have been 14.
"Yours affectionately" seems quite unusual but perhaps that was normal in 1944.