Gillian hammerton:Her Granfather Admiral Blacklers Naval Letters Written Between1898-1925
Also the granfather of Prof Robin Cocks and John Phillips of Southebys and great granfather of David Hammerton
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Letters From Admiral Blackler H.M.S.King Edward VII to his Wife
Letters From Admiral Blackler H.M.S.King Edward VII to his Wife
I was hitting the "next blog" button from my blog and came to yours (Hello neighbor!).
What wonderful letters to have! I've always been interested in people from the past and what their lives must have been like. Your collection is a wonderful way to see history!
I'll be checking back frequently - I need to know if they had a 3rd girl or if they got a boy!
it is really lovely for you to be posting these letters onto the internet. it would be a great pity if such interesting memories where to be lost. Do continue to post the letter on your site. they are very interesting and i would love to know more about the past through your granddad's letters!
The style of his writing is not only a fascinating view into domesticity of his family life, but also shows how he will be a fine noble and admiral to be. He would amazed to see how his letters have endured. You were very lucky to have him as a grandfather.
How atmospheric,how real,how cosy .He has influenza and describes keeping him self snug in his cabin,is this the same cabin that can be seen on the picture of the ship exhibited futher down.
An incredible insight into the daily life, and typical preoccupations for someone in this gentleman's position - a rare opportunity to learn a real and very personal history.
Another very interesting read, as I understand you have many more of these I hope you will continue to add them in the very near future. First-hand documents are always of the most exceptional value even if they only provide a small window into the life of your grandfather, it is a very interesting glimpse of history.
What an incredibly interesting insight into a bygone era... His writing style is so immediately accessible; you're so lucky to have such comprehensive records of the minutae of your family's history. Can't wait to read some more!
Excellent lettes.I feel already I have some idea of his moral propensity of character and caring.I would love to read the granmothers letters.Please publish them.
I especially like this letter.It is intricate and sweet from one in such a good postion,trying to also rememeber his domestic obligation as well as his proffesional ones.
I came across these and found the lettes to be intricate and of awe inspiring significance.You say you have many more. MAURA, in her comment, states they are of significance as is beyond doubt.I ask you in the most ardent manner,please put more in the public availability space.
These letters are lovely! Such a good idea. It is so important for us to learn about and hold on to any of the history that our grandparents and parents can teach us. I look forward to reading some of the earlier letters.
Evocative.. The Admiral cuts a dashing figure, yet is also a caring gentleman. Was reminded of my childhood in South Africa with the mention of Quinine..we used it to keep mosquitoes away - I identified with the story and man by means of this small memory!
Very tender and sweet, written by a young man whose eyes are probably still to look in the face of the realities of battle, the agony, the taste of dust and the smell of death.
It is always interesting to read the private correspondence of officials, nothing really prepares one for it. You see "Rear-Admiral", or "MP" or "Chancellor of the Exchequer" and you immediately (and subconciously) create an image of an office-holder, rather than a live person. (Kings and Queens are often spared such a treatment of our minds, because their lives, in all their glory and scandal are often presented to us, with the help of both professional historians, and those awful popularist/ entrepreneur writers like Radzinski.)
And then you read the tender words of a young man in love, and the comments on mutual acquaintances or family friends, glimses of the private life so to speak... Little things, small details, like a mention of a bet, a truly English sport. He's expecting a child, she's concerned about her beloved's health. The little things... And reading about those in a letter is much more lively and real, than reading them in an often tedious modern scholarly work, that follows the trend of the past twenty or so years - history as sociology. Few people would find the history of the kettle fascinating, but take the casual mention of an incident that includes a particular kettle, and you have history in motion, it's alive, you can almost touch it, breathe it, taste it.
This reminded of the memoirs of Russian officers en route to Tsushima. The everyday routine of the boat trip, the expectations, the comments and whispers about the high command.
My great-granduncle died in that war, general count von Keller, cut down by 36 pieces of shrapnel wile riding in front of the Japanese positions in the battle of Motien Pass (Yanzenski Pereval in Russian). What a pity there are no letters of private nature surviving in the family archive. The style and spirit must have been very similar to these...
36 comments:
I was hitting the "next blog" button from my blog and came to yours (Hello neighbor!).
What wonderful letters to have! I've always been interested in people from the past and what their lives must have been like. Your collection is a wonderful way to see history!
I'll be checking back frequently - I need to know if they had a 3rd girl or if they got a boy!
Keep adding more please
it is really lovely for you to be posting these letters onto the internet. it would be a great pity if such interesting memories where to be lost.
Do continue to post the letter on your site. they are very interesting and i would love to know more about the past through your granddad's letters!
My grandfather is also a Naval Leonard, but he did minesweeping in the north sea after World war two.. not too far away!
The style of his writing is not only a fascinating view into domesticity of his family life, but also shows how he will be a fine noble and admiral to be. He would amazed to see how his letters have endured. You were very lucky to have him as a grandfather.
These letters provide a rare chance to have such a close link to the past and its charahcters.
How atmospheric,how real,how cosy .He has influenza and describes keeping him self snug in his cabin,is this the same cabin that can be seen on the picture of the ship exhibited futher down.
what a wonderful letters, if only i could see them in person. i shall be checking back!
Fascinating blog! Keep it up!
Shall be back for more letters.
Tania
An incredible insight into the daily life, and typical preoccupations for someone in this gentleman's position - a rare opportunity to learn a real and very personal history.
It is possible to work out from the letters how long they took to get to his wife? It would be great to know!
Another very interesting read, as I understand you have many more of these I hope you will continue to add them in the very near future. First-hand documents are always of the most exceptional value even if they only provide a small window into the life of your grandfather, it is a very interesting glimpse of history.
truly captivating.
your grandfather sounds like a wonderful man, and Im sure youve done his letters justice, but more importantly done him proud.
very nice letters, please publish some more as soon as possible, i an eager to read them all at once.
What an incredibly interesting insight into a bygone era... His writing style is so immediately accessible; you're so lucky to have such comprehensive records of the minutae of your family's history. Can't wait to read some more!
You must post more of these letters. They are a true insight into a lost time.
When reading these letters, you get a real sense of what life was like in the past. Very interesting!
Excellent lettes.I feel already I have some idea of his moral propensity of character and caring.I would love to read the granmothers letters.Please publish them.
I especially like this letter.It is intricate and sweet from one in such a good postion,trying to also rememeber his domestic obligation as well as his proffesional ones.
Actually this letter is quite interesting ,especially.I see it is the latest so there will be ones following this.
Brilliant. Please could we have more letters?
I came across these and found the lettes to be intricate and of awe inspiring significance.You say you have many more. MAURA, in her comment, states they are of significance as is beyond doubt.I ask you in the most ardent manner,please put more in the public availability space.
These letters are lovely! Such a good idea. It is so important for us to learn about and hold on to any of the history that our grandparents and parents can teach us. I look forward to reading some of the earlier letters.
Evocative.. The Admiral cuts a dashing figure, yet is also a caring gentleman. Was reminded of my childhood in South Africa with the mention of Quinine..we used it to keep mosquitoes away - I identified with the story and man by means of this small memory!
Very tender and sweet, written by a young man whose eyes are probably still to look in the face of the realities of battle, the agony, the taste of dust and the smell of death.
It is always interesting to read the private correspondence of officials, nothing really prepares one for it. You see "Rear-Admiral", or "MP" or "Chancellor of the Exchequer" and you immediately (and subconciously) create an image of an office-holder, rather than a live person. (Kings and Queens are often spared such a treatment of our minds, because their lives, in all their glory and scandal are often presented to us, with the help of both professional historians, and those awful popularist/ entrepreneur writers like Radzinski.)
And then you read the tender words of a young man in love, and the comments on mutual acquaintances or family friends, glimses of the private life so to speak... Little things, small details, like a mention of a bet, a truly English sport. He's expecting a child, she's concerned about her beloved's health. The little things... And reading about those in a letter is much more lively and real, than reading them in an often tedious modern scholarly work, that follows the trend of the past twenty or so years - history as sociology. Few people would find the history of the kettle fascinating, but take the casual mention of an incident that includes a particular kettle, and you have history in motion, it's alive, you can almost touch it, breathe it, taste it.
The second letter is really sweet you can almost feel the excitement and joy he get from recieving and writing letters to his wife truly moving.
This reminded of the memoirs of Russian officers en route to Tsushima. The everyday routine of the boat trip, the expectations, the comments and whispers about the high command.
My great-granduncle died in that war, general count von Keller, cut down by 36 pieces of shrapnel wile riding in front of the Japanese positions in the battle of Motien Pass (Yanzenski Pereval in Russian). What a pity there are no letters of private nature surviving in the family archive. The style and spirit must have been very similar to these...
These letters are beautifully written. The handwriting is wonderful.
Reading these letters fill me with a sense of hope, truly a remarkable character full of love and admiration for his wife
very nice to read these vunerable articles from Tasmania, Australia.
What an amazing writing skill.
why are we waiting so long for more letters.
A good letter
cool !
Good letter
It's impressive that you are getting thoughts from this post as well as from our dialogue made at this place.
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