November 13th 1906 John Willie Rolls to his parents Harry Rolls and Annie Marie Mahon

Portsmouth, hampshire to Audenshaw, Manchester

247 miles

The Message

"Dear Parents
I received your letter and card and was very pleased indeed and also my sisters. I am in good health hoping you all are at home and hope Father's back is better.
From your son J W
Will write later on
xxxxxxx"

The Sender

John Willie Rolls (1892-1962) was in the Royal Marines. In the 1911 census he was a gunner in the RM Artillery. John is the eldest of four children and was born in Audenshaw near Manchester. In 1918 he married Nellie Cooper (1886-1975). Their two children George Harry Sharp Cooper (1911-1973) and Arthur Noel Rolls (1921-1977) also had nautical careers.

The Recipient(s)

Harry (1861-1946) and Annie (1862-1945) were married in Audenshaw, Lancs in September 1882. Harry was a drayman.

The Places

Portsmouth

Audenshaw, Manchester

What the card says to us

John Willie Rolls is obviously a proud member of the Royal Marines. The picture on the card, unless that was the only sort of card available, tells us that. I have not found anything in the Audenshaw family that suggests a naval background, but I have no idea if this is unusual in the 1900s. I'm sure his parents were proud of him too. Needless to say John Willie served in WWI.