Whilst carrying out our Collections Project at the Royal Engineers Museum we came across this service dress jacket, it is named to Lieutenant Martin and has Lieutenant rank insignia and a Distinguished Service Order medal ribbon. As you can see from the photographs the jacket is badly stained and ripped. While many of the service dress uniforms in the collection have obviously been worn this jacket is particularly interesting as it has clearly been worn in battle. Most interesting of all are the old museum labels attached to it reading 'Do not clean, Flanders Mud' and 'Do not remove mud or stains.' these marks that remain on the jacket from World War One make it a very significant part of the collection.

Frederick (Fred) John Cox (Service No: M/27934), was my Great Uncle, who was born in Plymouth, Devon, UK, on the 22nd April 1886. According to the 1911 Census, Fred was serving as a Soldier, with the Army Service Corps (A.S.C.), stationed at Bulford Hut Barracks, Bulford Camp, Salisbury, UK. From 1914-1918, he was ranked a Private, (later thought to become a Corporal), with an A.S.C. Medical Transport unit; there is little known about his role and where he was located during this time. He was latterly awarded the British War and Victory medals. By the 1930s, Fred was working as a General Labourer back in Plymouth, where, following a previous marriage, he married my Great Aunt, Delsie Selina Sophia White, on the 9th April 1948. He died at the age of 65, in 1952 and is buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth, UK.

The ink of the postmarks stamped on the back of this postcard have leached through to the front (they say ‘PLYMOUTH / 7 – / 12 FEB 18’ and ‘BUY NATIONAL WAR BONDS’). The initials of the artist who drew the illustration (‘C.T.N.’) headed ‘With Love from Daddy.’ can be seen beneath the British soldier who is portrayed embracing his small daughter. The postcard has been addressed in black ink to ‘Miss Elsie Butler / 21 Victoria St / Reading’, and the message reads, ‘Dear Elsie Butler / Thank you for your PC. I have sent a box of 6 for mother tell her to give you two each no more this time from your ever loving father ? H Butler’. The typeset details on the back include ‘Copyright Printed and Published by J. Salmon ? England / E. Mack, King Henry’s Rd, Hampstead, London’. || A British sentimental postcard || || Front || A British sentimental postcard || Postcard