The Jollyman Letters: a 100-year-old story of love and war

In June 1916, my great grandfather, Herbert Jollyman, marched off to war, leaving behind his “darling little wife” Hephsibah and their four children in Billericay, Essex.

During the course of World War I, he wrote almost 200 fascinating, detailed letters home, and after his return in 1919, Hepsie saved and treasured them for the rest of her life.

In addition to his letters and their interesting envelopes, I have some of his Middlesex Regiment badges, various family photographs and mementos, a beautiful Belgian lace birthday card Herbert sent to his son George, and even the pressed flowers sent in one of the letters.

As a record of military and social history from a century ago, it’s an incredible collection of documents. I believe others would love to share their story, as Herbert begins his training at Chatham in Kent, then is sent to France, Belgium and back to England at last.

I’d like to transcribe each letter and self-publish them (or perhaps just the most interesting letters or extracts – he was a very prolific writer and many letters are over 1000 words long) as an ebook and paperback book, illustrated with scans of parts of Herbert’s letters and photographs of some of the wonderful family items associated with their story.

If your last name is Jollyman, you are related to Herbert and Hepsie, as only one family exists with that name, including distant relatives in Australia and possibly the USA. If your family name is Millman (Hepsy’s maiden name) or Hansford (her mother’s name), you may be a relative too.

I have many more old letters preserved from the Hansford and Millman side of the family, and if this project is successful, I hope to create similar books to share those after this project is completed

UPDATE: The Jollyman Letters is now published and available on Amazon.