The life and loves of Elsie Back

As a birthday present one year my father was given a collection of postcards that had been put together, as far as we could tell, by Miss Elsie Back.  This postcard was the first in the collection and although it was unwriten, we take it to be Elsie.

Elsie received many cards addresses to her in various parts of Kent, mainly between Canterbury and Ashford.  Because the cards were addressed c/o, it looks as though she may have been in service.

Then there were cards from Sid or, more often, Sidder, including one addressed to Mum and Elsie, the top one of the next three.  Sid and Elsie were clearly already "an item" by then.  It was sent from Genoa in 1917 where it looks as though Sid was sent during the First World War.  I have already once blogged about it, the second of these cards.

Eventually.....

... cards addressed to the Newtons

First to Mrs S Newton in 1926, then to Master J Newton in 1930, then to E and the boys in 1934 where Sid is happy to hear that J likes school.  The first son was James or Jimmie, the second was Peter.  During this time the Newtons moved house a number of times but never very far from their origins.

The last one I have is dated 1956 and addressed to both Elsie and Sid, back in Shalmsford Street near Canterbury, the same road where Elsie lived when she was Miss Back.  I hope they had a long and happy life together.

Find more romantic or other stories at Sepia Saturday.