Challenging address
Picture postcard sent to Bray by Corporal W Berry in December 1900
The address side of the postcard features a hand drawn map of England and Wales that formed part of the address on a picture postcard sent to Bray from a soldier serving in South Africa during the Second Boer War. Although the postmark is indistinct, the year (1900) can be made out and the Christmas greeting implies that it was probably posted in December.
Under the postmark is a manuscript docket stating that stamps were not obtainable (a common occurrence) and the number 1 indicates that the postage charge of 1d. had been paid.
Also shown is a letter from the same Corporal Berry sent to Bray in response to an earlier enquiry made by Bray. The personal nature of the message on the postcard indicates that they may well have known each other prior to Berry's posting to the war zone. Possibly Berry was a postman from Forest Hill who was familiar with Bray's postal antics.
