William Frederick Pauline to Frederick Arthur Pauline, 1917
Answd July 5 1917 / sent July 10 1917 ‘C’ Battery
Risboro Barracks
Shorncliffe
Kent, Eng
June 30th 1917
Dear Uncle Fred:
Just a few lines to let you know that I am down here. I saw in the “Canada” where you were stoping [sic] and I was naturally very much surprised to hear of you in London. I had a letter from a very old Friend of yours the other day, Capt Gibbons and I stayed a week-end with him which enjoyed very much. He lives at Maidstone in Kent but I think you know his address. I know that he would very much like to see you. I thought I may as well write to you as we are about eight thousand miles from the old town and that would like me to write and let you know I was here. Hoping you will have a nice time.
I remain
Your affectionate nephew
William F Pauline
PS I don’t write as good as my dad, but hope you can read it
Billy
Victor Paulin to his Aunt, 1918
Lt VR Pauline
No 91 Squadron
Chattis Hill
Stockbridge, Hants
Jany 17/18
Dear Aunty
I would have written you before, had I received your address sooner, but Mother sent it just the other day, so now I am going to try and make up for lost time. I should have paid more attention to my address book before leaving Victoria, but I did not have an awful lot of time, and Mother came out of the hospital the day before I left, then it was that I commenced to think about these things, when my book was finished no local addresses
2
were such at all, ~~~~~ ~~~~~ for England,
As she already mentioned, of ~~~ having about addresses at, I must tell you something about myself.
I ~~~~~ my arrival in London, and which given ~~~ and of course, ~~~~~much to day out ~~~~~
[cannot read the page- photo too blurry]
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said is now taller than I am. I don’t expect I shall see George until I go to France but I keep in touch with him by letter, and last I heard he was “still going strong.”
I was on another plane leave last week and went up to B’ham to see Ben, who has a chunk of shrapnel in his hips, and also see Aunt Emmy, to say nothing of cousin “Hilda”, who is some “bird”. Grace and Renee are both married, so are not half so interesting.
Oh yea, I nearly forgot to tell you about Stockbridge, it is some “hole”, we are billeted in all the old houses, the one I am billeted in is called “Grosvenor House”, the name is
4
not too bad, but I wish I could say the same for the “residence.” We have to walk about 2 miles to the squadron over those lovely Roman roads, you know, the kind you read about. I expect it’s a good stunt to get us ready for France.
I have been to London several times now, and can manage to find my way about fairly well, also check up the taxi drivers if they short change me, like they used to.
Hoping to hear from you in the near future.
Best to Uncle and yourself,
Your affectionate nephew
Victor
John Paulin – a well known character, Reading, 1824
[No idea if or how he is related]
Jackson’s Oxford Journal 12 Jun 1824
Reading, June 5 – Saturday last John Paulin, a well-known character, was apprehended in our market, by Mr Holyland, on suspicion of having stolen a valuable mare, the property of Mr Mumford, of Harlow, Essex. He rode the mare to Basingstoke, where she knocked up. The mare having been sworn to by Mr Mumford, Paulin is committed to Chelmsford gaol to take his trial for the offence. He has but lately been liberated from Oxford county gaol, where he was imprisoned for a year for fraudulent practices as an Insolvent Debtor. At Gloucester Assizes one of Paulin’s companions was convicted and executed for horse stealing, and a reward was at that time offered for his apprehension, is now in the possession of Mr Holyland, and on being identified will be delivered to the owner.
129 Ilford Lane, Ilford
Next home in the google mapping of the family of Ernest and Emma Paulin is 129 Ilford Lane, Ilford. From the letter written in February, where I got this address, the family had moved here from their home in Leigh on Sea. The neighbourhood has changed a bit since they lived there, and now has a bunch of shops attached to the fronts of all the buildings. Were they there when Ernest lived there? Not sure, probably not. If you take away the shops on the front of the buildings, you have the same kind of housing that they had lived in before. Row houses, narrow one window on each floor.
22 Britannia Road, Ilford – 1908
And the moves for the family continued – I have a letter addressed 22 Britannia Road, Ilford. I knew that they lived here from at least 1906, because I had read the files for my great-aunt Hilda [Hilda Louise Paulin Curtis], who attended Cleveland Road School nearby. I did research at the Ilford public library in 2008 and the school records that they had. Grandad [Norman Frederick Paulin] also attended that school.
The house is really like all their other houses – I swear they are all cookie-cutter!!!
Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 1908
Letter from Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 6 Dec 1908
22 Britannia Road, Ilford
6/12/1908
I thought that I would send you just a word or two with the “Ole” fashion Xmas card.
Because sometimes the writing means more than the card. Nevertheless, when you have nine years “trying to sell typewriters and a pen in your hand about once a month.” Criticism is barred. I nearly danced a “Reel” when I read the official announcement and I am indeed thankfull that you are still better off.
I hope that Bert will prove trumps, George must + will. Of course, I got news sometimes from the Dad + Mother and there
[2]
Is generally something of interest.
It seems hard sometimes that I quite alone here; but I feel sure I could do better out of this Foggy City – It is hard work. But I am not grumbling Fred, am not actually starving + with Gods blessing and the health that is necessary (which I have made a serious study of, since starting a new life back in the old country) I hope to see some of my family once more.
Nothing pleases me better than to hear that your years of hard plodding, thoughtfull life, are an almost assured success. I wish with all my heart that I could shake hands with you, otherwise, than on paper.
[3]
Business generally is very bad. The present government seem to indulge in fractional party politics, or “Locking up suffragettes”
I don’t know whether you ever see the ½ Mirror I send to Dad every day. Would you like it?
Just one more look at your handwriting. It will only cost gone 2c. Please.
Every Xmas I miss awfully away from our Family circle
Ernest
[4]
You will be pleased to know that Harold (who is 21 next March) is doing very well in his 3 years engagement in Weir Scott + Co, Valparaison. He started at £150 a year, with an increase of £10 during the 3 years and good prospects of a continuance of advantage after.
It is a pleasure to send his thanks for getting with the firm, and a further pleasure to know that his employers here feel the same as myself.
Rene + Grace are working now, in a large general supplies stores in Ilford here, and are very proud that they can pay for their own clothes. Hilda + Norman are at School. Norman is learning draughts fine.
Farquhar Road, Moseley – residence
And so the google searches for family addresses continues. Today I present Farquhar Road in Moseley, Birmingham, where Ernest and Emma Paulin lived in October of 1899. I don’t have the house number, just the name “Hillside” which doesn’t work in google maps. So here is a street view of the road, which again features the same kind of late Victorian row housing, narrow, and two stories.
A Joyous Meeting – Victoria, 1888
Victoria Colonist, 11 September 1888, page 3
A Joyous Meeting
At the landing of the steamer Rithet last night the Messrs F and EA Pauline were on the dock to welcome the arrival of their father and mother, brother
and six sisters from Manchester, England. [Actually – Birmingham] The Messrs Pauline have been in Victoria for several years, and occupy honourable positions in a couple of mercantile houses. Having made a home for themselves, they sent for and are now joined by the remainder of their family, and last night a joyous meeting took place on board the Rithet.
The Amazing Paulin(e) Family 