“Have now been a soldier for a week ... I do hope the war will be over before you can enlist” .....

The message on the postcard is simple enough but is still a powerful reminder of the fears and anxieties of those of those caught up in the Great War.

The full message runs, “Dear Leonard, Have now been a soldier for a week, and sincerely hope, for several reasons that the war will be over before you can enlist.  

Best wishes , 

Youe affectionate cousin Herbert”

It was sent to an address on Ayres Road in Old Trafford, and in the fullness of time I will go looking for the person who the card was addressed to and that might in turn lead me to Herbert.

For now I am left with the image on the front which is of the River Ouse at York and wonder why Herbert chose that picture postcard from the rack on the counter at the YMCA in York where he wrote the message.

It may simply have caught his fancy or perhaps it reminded him of a more happy time.

And that just leaves me to reflect on the very many other personal items contained in the book Manchester Remembering 1914-18 which was published in 2017.*

It tells the story of those who lived through the Great War and much of the material was supplied by David Harrop who shared this card with me.

Location; York

Picture; On the Ouse at York circa 1914-1916 from the collection of David Harrop

*Manchester Remembering 1914-18, Andrew Simpson, 2017, the History Press