Deborah Lundbech's photos with the keyword: Anna Nolan

My Nana takes first prize. The competitor is not pleased. Basildon, Essex, 1967.

Sent by Annie Nolan to her fiancee's sister Polly Gregory. Towards the end she tells Polly that "A.T." (Arthur Thomas Gregory)"has been slightly wounded but nothing to worry about". He would actually die several weeks later from these wounds. either they became infected or he was not telling her how badly he had been wounded to begin with. Ten years later Annie married Arthur's brother William - my grandfather - whose wife, Marie Rose, had died of pneumonia leaving him with three children. but my Nana (which she became) kept a portrait of Arthur in her jewelry box until she died. It was so moving to see this knowing how profoundly she would be devastated a few weeks later. I also had a laugh with my mother about her horrible handwriting - she was always good natured about being teased about it. It's just so incredible to know the story and then - from out of the blue - (thanks to Alix who is Polly's GGranddaughter and flickr) we have this amazing memento.

On the left is Anna Nolan. she was engaged to my great -uncle Arthur Gregory who was killed in 1918 (on her birthday) and ten years later she ended up marrying his older brother William Gregory, who had been left a widower with three children, the youngest of whom was my mother. This picture is taken with her younger sister Peggy who still lived in Ireland, On the back Anna has written: This was me and Peggy in 1920 my widowed sister the hard case that I was telling you about but she [can't decipher the rest} I remember my Nana saying that Peggy had a hard life, but don't know the details.