Lives of the First World War

Birth certificate of David Charles Whitehead (generally known as Charlie)

Marriage certificate of David Charles Whitehead (known as Charlie) and Edith Maude Lavender (known as Maude). Note in DCW's handwriting shows that they later discovered her name was registered only as Edith Lavender

Page from my grandmother's album, including the Pass for leave of absence for their wedding. Also money issued by Calais Chamber of Commerce

Page from my grandmother's album showing wedding cards. One is hand-drawn and captioned "From Charlie Gay, Calais, Aug 1915". The printed wedding card has been amended from original date (July) because his leave for the original planned wedding date was cancelled and he travelled in August for a hastily rearranged wedding. Also a hand painted Christmas card.

Page from my grandmother's album including Mobilization order from Reserve, dated 31 July 1914

Page from my grandmother's album. Photo of DCW (on left) and unknown comrade, in Reserves. Labelled "Charlie at Limerick Ireland 1913". Other photos from this page are lost. Next page has postcards, presumably around the same time, with printed captions : "Knockinaam Portpatrick", and "Lulworth Cove, W Lulworth Camp, August 1912"

Wedding photo 1915. Posed in the garden of his oldest brother Albert's house (63 Willifield Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb). Rear has hand-written "Charley & Maude's Wedding 1915" and stamp "T.R.Rodger, 39, Asmuns Square, Temple Fortune, N.W."

Postcard photo of band with sign "THE BLUE AND WHITES Somewhere in FRANCE". My grandfather DCW is middle row/right end, with banjo. In front of him is my great uncle Cyril Brightman. The reverse (also uploaded) is dated 8/8/16 and is addressed to his sister Alice. Another copy of the same photo is in my grandmother's album and other photos on the same page are labelled "Le Harvre 1914".

Postcard (also uploaded) of DCW in band, to his sister Alice. 8/8/16 Dear Alice & Harry A PC as I promised but don't expect any sense - just been having a tune up & feeling anything but like writing, but I know you will be so pleased with this & want(?) to send one or two before our candles go out - There you are! "Our Band" Bow Wow Ah we do get some sport out of it tho. and a fine souvenir card being our reward(?) - Its dark because it's indoors you see but I think as we all do that it's real good. What oh! the Brown Paper Wall Paper & the Broken Window Don't laugh! - more than you can shout about. Bow Wow This shows I am merry & Bright Eh? What & I am too & fine & well - & I do hope you are both keeping real fine & well. Still hearing real good news from Eastbourne & I am so glad they are all having such a good time. Well Ta Ta for now & all my loving thoughts & Real Good Wishes & to Bob - Yr loving Bro C xxx Ask Bob what he thinks of our Lads Always Merry & Bright Ha Ha! OAS

Photo of DCW's board of photos. The central panel includes several recognisable family photos: 2nd row niece Reta; nephew Reg. 3rd row wife Maude with her sister Elsie. 5th row Maude with sister-in-law Alice & her 3 children Nellie, George and Reta; Charlie and Maude's wedding. 6th row Maude and Elsie as children; brother Harry. 7th row niece Ethel; Maude with her mother.

Front of Xmas card reading: Montreuil S/M GHQ France Xmas 1918 Signals R.E. (photo of inside also uploaded)

This is a page from my grandmother's album. The top card is written to her by my grandfather DCW (front of the card also uploaded). "Have as real Good & Bright & Happy an Xmas as you can possibly have old Ducks, You know I will too - and then - 1919 Eh! Oh Good (unreadable?) ! Cxxxx xxxxxxx France 17/12 1918 To my Darling Maude, With fondest Loving thoughts and Kisses. C xxxxxxxx Cheerioh Old Ducks, Not long to wait now - &then Ah!! Hooray!! Yrs ever C xxx xxx xx " Second card is a printed cartoon of sailing ship "On signal duty" "XMAS 1918 With Best Wishes from Signals Directorate"

Cartoon with typed caption "THE TOURISTS 19--?. Remember this place Dun.?. Yes not 'alf, the old tent stood there where we used to have suppers of chips and syrup you used to provide Charlie" In the corner is handwritten "JEF France 1917 after Capt BB." Copy of drawing by Bruce Bairnsfather e.g. https://www.facebook.com/TheBruceBairnsfatherSociety/photos/a.536270233127954.1073741825.164727493615565/1248420228579614/?type=3&theater The figures are copied but with the wording and background changed (telegraph pole added). It is pasted into an album so the writing on the back can only partly be read: "A souvenir for your book Ducks. One -- follows -- makes me so laugh and I know you and Mum will have a good laugh too. It is a good copy too of one of Bruce B'fater's cartoons -- seen it Ducks? -- is a take off of one -- supper stunt --". A part drawing on another broken page in the album says it is "Mr Jim's doing of your humble and our Porridge stunt" so perhaps the artist's name is Jim.

Birthday cards sent by DCW to his wife Maude in 1914 and 1915, and stuck into her album. The top one is painted and marked "Birthday card from Charlie. Havre. Aug 22nd 1914". The other two are embroidered, and marked "Sent from Calais. Birthday card from Charlie Aug 22nd 1915"

Album page with 4 embroidered Christmas Cards. Three of them are marked "Signal Park Calais" and "1915". All four are R.E.

Album page with 3 photos , labelled "All three taken Aug 1914. Charlie at Southampton". Charlie is 3rd from left in the top photo, second from left/back row in middle photo, and middle of back group (smoking pipe) in bottom photo.

G. H. Q. pass for Sapper D C Whitehead for 1st - 16th April 1917

Death certificate of David Charles Whitehead, 9th March 1980

Reports in the local press of DCW and Maude's Golden wedding, 1965. Relates Charlie's career in the Post Office, service in the Home Guard during WWII, and purchase of a motorbike & sidecar when he retired