Postcard FINALLY arrives 94 years late from the Western Front...

The last post! First World War soldier's card home is finally delivered... 94 years late

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:24 AM on 21st February 2011

Home card: Alfred Arthur, 19, sent the note to his sister Ellen in January 1916 at the height of the Great War

A First  World War postcard has finally been delivered - a staggering 94 years after it was sent.

Soldier Alfred Arthur, 19, sent the card to his sister Ellen, known as Nell, in January 1916 at the height of the Great War.

Tragically the hero was killed in the brutal fighting which killed millions from all sides in the blood-soaked trenches on the Western Front in France.

Alfred's card poignantly ended up with Lauren Bleach, 61, and her partner Jill Liversidge more than nine decades on.

They decided to find out where it had come from after it arrived at their home in Lakenham, Norwich.

Mrs Bleach said: 'When we read it we were so emotionally taken because it's from a soldier who was obviously at a training camp waiting to go away to his sister.

'He lived in this street presumably all that time ago and it's only just arrived.

'The postcard is dated 1916 and bears a cartoon picture of a newly-recruited soldier on the front.

Thoughtful Alfred has written to his beloved sister: 'Dear Nell, Just a postcard to let you know I have not forgotten you.

'On the other side you will see our orders for next week. I will need your pity.Drop me a line, your brother Alfred.'

The front of the card, referred to in Alfred's note, displays a poster which says 'Orders of the day: Eight hours drill, eight hours route march, eight hours trenching' and the recruit saying 'And then we have the rest of the day to ourselves!' 

Alfred was born in Lakenham and went to school nearby a century ago.One of his descendants is his great-nephew Brian Buxton, 68, of Salhouse, Norfolk.

Alfred wrote his beloved sister: 'Dear Nell, Just a postcard to let you know I have not forgotten you.' He was killed in 1918 before the card was ever delivered

Mr Buxton said: 'I was completely surprised. We have no documentation of this sort in our family.' Alfred was one of nine children.

He sent the postcard to his sister Ellen just before he was sent to fight the Germans in the frontline.

Alfred joined the second battalion the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. He was despatched to Newhaven, East Sussex, to train before going to fight for king and country.

It was during his time training on the south coast that the young serviceman wrote the postcard.

At last! Jill Liversidge, far left with her partner Lauren Bleach, deliver the card to Alfred's great-nephew Brian Buxton and his sister Angela Vinch

Tragically Alfred was mortally wounded at the Hindenburg Line at Grecourt in 1918 and died just four days later.

His sister Nell died, still heartbroken by his brutal wartime death, in 1964.

Mrs Bleach said: 'We were really, really sad and we thought we've just got to find out more about this because it's such a beautiful story.

'I am a strong supporter of the Help for Heroes charity and hope that people will donate when they remember the soldiers who also haven't come back to their families.

'Not only was the postcard 94 years late, but it was also delivered to a different door number from the one it was addressed to.'

The postcard is marked 1916 and again September 2010 when it was stamped 'repair duty'.  

It eventually arrived in November, with a note which apologised that it had been damaged and for the delay in delivering it.  The original stamp and postmark have been confirmed as genuine.

But Royal Mail said it is very unlikely the card was with them all that time as they regularly clean out their sorting office and post boxes. The postcard's history for the last 94 years remains a total mystery.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1359046/First-World-War-soldiers-card-home-finally-delivered--94-years-late.html#ixzz1EbIxW71l