16 replies to this topic

[andalucia]

Hi All

This letter was printed in the Scottie Press, a local community newspaper for the area around Scotland Road in Liverpool.

The text along with the letter reads.

This hand written letter, along with a printed Christmas Card, was sent from St Sylvester's School in 1915 to a Pte Furlong who was serving in the RAMC . Pte Furlong was thought to be serving in the trenches at the time. The letter is signed by a pupil Edward Cunningham. It is not known by the Scottie Press whether the two were known personally to each other, or whether the practice of sending such morale boosting items was a government sponsored initiative. We are also keen to trace the fate of Edward Cunningham, born circa 1900.

Do you think we could find the soldier. Looks like J Furlong to me?

Cheers

Ant

This guy is from the area but no RAMC.

Private James Furlong 15999, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 2nd/7th Bn.
died 27/09/1918, aged about 31.
Remembered at Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.

[roughdiamond]

Only MIC for a Pte J Furlong RAMC that I can see http://www.nationala...&resultcount=21

Sam

[centurion]

And there appear to have been two James Furlongs in the Liverpool regiment
The only other J  Furlongs in the RAMC were a Sergeant and a Lt.

There were a number of "adopt a soldier and write to him" schemes during WW1. Often they concentrated on soldiers who had no kith or kin in the UK and might therefore not get written to otherwise. There was one for example for British women to write to Belgian soldiers whose family were in occupied Belgium and unable to write to them. There is no certainty that Pte Furlong actually came from Liverpool.

[IPT]

The "hope you will come round to the school" part makes a local connection seem likelier, but I suppose is not conclusive.

I can only find the above 2919 John J Furlong also. He had gone to Egypt 16/10/1915.

We have often struggled in previous threads with similar looking initials turning out to be other letters, such as T.

[andalucia]

Thanks All.

Yes it could be any letter really. Just looked like a J to me.

Nice writing by Edward on the card.

I would like to hear you come home shouting " We won the battle "  This appears that he may be a local man.

[gillchadwick]

It is definitely a J .
I attended  a very old Liverpool Girl's Grammar School, and that is how we were taught to write J
Best wishes
Gill

[IPT]

I believe the boy may be Edward Hugh Cunningham, born 5th December 1904, and baptised at St Sylvester's.

In 1911, he was living in Hopwood St, about 100 metres from Sylvester St. He died in 1974, aged 70.

[andalucia]

Amazing. Just recieved an email giving me the same info ( apart from his death )

Thank you

[IPT]

I've found 61797 Patrick Joseph Furlong RAMC (91st Field Ambulance) who went to France 23/11/1915.

He was a 26 year old distillery assistant who lived at 14 Furlong St, off Hopwood Street.

[The Inspector]

Hi All
Service Records for John James Furlong show he was Pte 2919 in the RAMC(T) and later L/Cpl 545870 in 2nd Lon.San Co. Address on Attestaion papers is 11 FaMbridge  ?Rd,Maldon, Essex. Dated 26th May 1915. BW,VIC and 14/15 medals receipts on record.
Regards Barry
1911 Census,b.1892, a plumber living at Fambridge Rd, with parents and siblings. Public Tree on Ancestry

Edited by The Inspector, 05 July 2012 - 08:26 PM.

[andalucia]

Cheers Inspector, that rules him out. Unless of course he was not from Liverpool.

[The Inspector]

Hi All
Perhaps this is him
John Furlong b.25.1.1902 baptised 13.2.02 at St.Sylvesters RC son of John and Jane (Nee Moorcroft) he married Ellen Jane Wallace 6.7.1929.died 7.11.58 Liverpool. Public tree on Ancestry with photos of cerificates.
Regards Barry
I WOULD TEND TO AGREE WITH IPT's NEXT POST!!
BUT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT FAMILY????

Edited by The Inspector, 05 July 2012 - 08:55 PM.

[IPT]

I hope not Barry. 13 is a bit young for the trenches!

[maldon]

The Inspector, on 05 July 2012 - 08:07 PM, said:

Hi All
Service Records for John James Furlong show he was Pte 2919 in the RAMC(T) and later L/Cpl 545870 in 2nd Lon.San Co. Address on Attestaion papers is 11 FaMbridge  ?Rd,Maldon, Essex. Dated 26th May 1915. BW,VIC and 14/15 medals receipts on record.
Regards Barry
1911 Census,b.1892, a plumber living at Fambridge Rd, with parents and siblings. Public Tree on Ancestry

Furlong is certainly a Maldon name and I live in Fambridge Road but I am not convinced this is your man?
Regards.
SPN
Maldon

[The Inspector]

Hi Again
How about his dad John Thomas Furlong born 1880 d 1928. Was married at St.Sylvesters RC
Regards Barry

[jdoyle]

there's nothing on the image to say RAMC. Is there an image of the other side of the letter or of the card mentioned that might give more info re the initial?

If the card was sent from the area, received by Pte Furlong and returned back to the area, does that suggest that Furlong was a local or is there some other reason it's back where is started from?

Edward Cunningham is on a small public family tree on Ancestry,

[andalucia]

Thanks All

I have emailed Scottie Press asking can they tell me who sent the card/Can I see it/ or if they know what else was on it.

It is they who said RAMC in the paper so I assume they read something on the card?

Im hoping it was from a relative of the soldier, but could easily be that someone bought it anywhere and contacted the paper?