These days we are told a First Class stamp means next day delivery but here’s a postcard – bearing the image of Queen Victoria – that was posted in India at 6.45 am on February 12th 1902 and arrived in Bath at noon on March the 2nd.
Considering mail today can take between 7 and ten days – door to door – an 18 day delivery for something bearing an image of the Empress of India was quite something.
This postcard has been given to me by a Bath Newseum regular called Steve. It bears a photograph of the battered remains of the Residency in Lucknow. The town was one of the major centres of the Indian Mutiny of 1857 which – as far as Indian history is concerned – is regarded as the first war of independence.
A garrison – based at the Residency ( the local government office) – were besieged for 87 days before being relieved at great cost to human life.
There were British and Indian troops stationed in the grounds – with their families. Eighteen out of 232 women and 58 out of 271 children died during the siege and evacuation – either through shell fire or disease.
Today the ruins are preserved as a ‘Memorial Museum’. India gained independence in August 1947.
The postcard was addressed to Mr Fred Sheppard – c/o The Post Office, Swainswick, Bath, Somerset, England.
The message: ‘Just a card from Lucknow to send you a picture of the place where the awful scenes took place in 1857 during the mutiny. Kind remembrance to your father and mother. R.R.”
Does it ring any bells?
Ah, that would have been in the days when Bath had a proper Post Office.