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Posted by on Dec 27, 2016 in Jollyman, Project Progress | 2 comments

A wonderful Christmas surprise – my WW1 ration parcel

A wonderful Christmas surprise – my WW1 ration parcel

We had a brilliant Christmas surprise this year – a Jollyman Letters WW1 ration parcel!

My sister Lucy knows how hard we’ve been working on transcribing Herbert Jollyman’s antique letters home from the First World War, so she decided to give us a special WW1 treat.

She covered the box with brown kraft paper, and downloaded an image of a WW1 Red Cross parcel to stick on the top.

She found an Ebay shop selling repro WW1 labels for plays and reenactments, then shopped for modern products to fit inside them. Here’s what was inside:

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Posted by on Sep 26, 2016 in Jollyman |

Auntie Betty’s rissoles and other culinary exploits

Auntie Betty’s rissoles and other culinary exploits

While my great grandparents were away on their second honeymoon in the 1920s, their second daughter Betty Jollyman wrote regularly to give updates on how their four children were looking after the house and garden in Billericay, Essex. It was hard work, starting at 6am to feed all the hens and ducks they owned, as they earned an income selling the eggs. Here she’s describing her attempts at cooking for the family:

I must tell you about our dinner today. I made (or decided to make) rissoles. So out came the end of the joint and I minced that without a mishap (i.e. cat) then, true to my inherited instinct, I turned to the larder to see what I could shove in.

In went the end of the mint sauce – the end of the gravy – and – “why not?” thought I, as my eye alighted on the dish of cold greens

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Posted by on Sep 19, 2016 in Jollyman |

First experiences of Chatham Barracks in World War I

First experiences of Chatham Barracks in World War I

My great grandfather, Herbert Jollyman, was sent to Chatham Barracks in Kent for training at the beginning of the First World War.

He wrote almost 200 letters home to his wife, which have survived as a remarkable account of his experiences.

Here’s an extract from his first letter home:

In the first place, I am feeling very well, much better than I anticipated. At Warley one of the first duties was to draw my pay which I did, and asked no questions, but understood it was for 3 days pay & rations. & amount was 7/9 & the first thing I did after getting my clothes on was to go to the canteen & have a meal, Ham Tomato, Bread & Butter & a Cup of tea for which I paid 7d.

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