We have always counted ourselves lucky that all the members of our family who went off to fight in Great War came back from France.
Only my great grandfather who had served in the East York’s in the resign of the old Queen and went back into uniform in 1914 did not survive, but he died of a respiratory illness unconnected with the fighting.
All of which is to state the obvious, that while we think of the huge loss of life on all sides in that war, most came home.
And while some never came to terms with the horrors of what they encountered many more settled back as far as we know to a settled and peaceful life, with decades ahead of them.
Decades which were filled with happy productive lives, raising families, and contributing to their communities in a heap of different ways.
All of which is true of my family.
And it is worth remembering that when my generation were growing up in the 1950s, these men and women were still active with many years ahead of them, which is how I remember my granddad, his brothers and my two uncles.
All of which is an introduction to Joseph Eyre who was born in Hyde, grew up and lived in Failsworth to where he returned after the war.
He was a hatter by trade, married Martha Ellen in 1908 and they had one son who like his dad and grandfather worked in the hat industry.
In the early years after their marriage Mrs. Eyre worked as a “weaver on a power loom in a cotton factory”. I don’t know where each of them worked and unless I strike lucky, I guess I never will.
On his return he resumed his trade as hatter, and was still working as such in 1939, the year before he died.
Added to which in the years after 1911 the family moved just a short distance from 19 Francis Street in Failsworth around the corner to 191 Ashton Road West.
19 Francis Street was a two up two down property, but it and their final home are no more.
Their stretch of Francis Street is under an industrial estate, and 191 Ashton Road West is a car park.
So that just leaves me with the postcard sent in the October of 1915, from somewhere. Those more knowledgeable will be able to tell from the army postcard where Joseph was, but the fact that the picture postcard is French would suggest he was already overseas.
This fits with the deployment of some of the Pals Battalions to France in late 1915 but as yet just whether he had enlisted in 1914 or was a regular or reservist is as yet unknown as is his regiment.
And like countless others the message on the reverse is upbeat, hoping Martha Ellen is fine and that Joseph had sent a card to their son Joe.
Just where Mr. Eyre purchased the card is another lost search, but it was produced by Armand Noyer, who “was the proprietor of a large French photo studio and postcard publisher, at 22 Rue Ravignan, Paris.
Output included art and illustrations (Noyer was a member of the Salon), "Boudoir" cards and cards of children, first world war pictures and film stars (Les Vedettes de Cinema, around 1300 cards). There is a site cataloguing the latter at rosspostcards.com/AnParisImages.html. Early cards used the AN logo, some of the later ones (the "Fantaisies, bromure grand luxe") the A NOYER roundel.
During WW1 Noyer produced "patriotic" cards under the marque Patriotic and some others”.*
And that is it. Other than to say Armand Noyer's studio has also ceased to exist. Rue Ravignan is one of those typical narrow Parisan Streets but no 22 is occupied by a residential block of apartments.
And that is that.
Location; Failsworth
Picture; Picture postcard, circa 1915, from the collection of David Harrop
*Armand Noyer Paris, https://rthcards.co.uk/pclogos/data/AN/AN_01.html
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