My Grandmother, Mary Jane, nicknamed Queenie, is the daughter of Edgar Kelly, who enlisted in the Canadian Army Service Corps (C.A.S.C.) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on February 12, 1915, and served in the 3rd Canadian Divisional Train, C.A.S.C.
The 3rd Canadian Division arrived in France by January 1916 and provided supply services, transportation, and a support element to the many other Canadian Divisional Train troops who found their way to The Front (France) during the First World War between 1915 and 1920. Promoted to Staff Sergeant Major 1st Class Warrant Officer on December 14, 1916, Kelly served in the 10th Canadian Field Ambulance Division from March 3rd, 1917, until he was discharged by Reason of Demobilization on April 1st, 1919.
The families of the troops relied heavily on letters and communication from their loved ones during the war, and Queenie was no different. From 1914 to 1918, postcards were sent throughout the world and had worldwide popularity. Families and soldiers avidly sent and collected these small non-descript notes from home and cherished them with love. Canadian soldiers waited over three weeks to a month for news from home, as the mail was processed through England first. [Read more…] about Somewhere in France (1916 WW1) – Postcards Home