Able Seaman Gunner, Royal Navy
Field Gun Competition
Introduction
From 1907 to 1999, a Field Gun Competion was held as part of the Royal Tournament at Earl's Court. The competition was between Royal Naval Ports. My maternal grandfather, Frederick Treacher, ran for the HMS Victory team in 1908 and 1909. In 1908 his team were the winners and in the 1909 they were runners up to HMS Excellent.
During the 1908 competition, Granddad sent three postcards to his wife-to-be. In the first photograph, Granddad placed a dot on his back; he is bending slightly in front of the letter "Y"of the name "VICTORY". The other team in the first photograph is, I think, HMS Vivid 'B'.
In the first photograph, Granddad placed a dot on his back; he is bending slightly in front of the letter "Y"of the name "VICTORY". The other team in the first photograph is, I think, HMS Vivid 'B'.
On the cards Granddad uses a phrase of the time, which I think was Our Love and True,which he abbreviates.
Quite recently (September 2011), I watched a TV programme about postcards, part of which looked at the Language of Stamps in Edwardian times. The program showed a key to stamp positions, which I found on a website here.
The middle postcard has the stamp tilted to the left in the top right hand corner, which the key shows to mean "I am longing to see you". The right-hand card has the stamp missing but the outline can be made out and this too is in the same position. If the left hand postcard is held with the address upright then the stamp is straight and the right way up in the top right hand corner, which would mean "Have you forgotten me?". However, Granddad has written the post card upside down, which puts the stamp straight and upside down in the bottom left hand corner. This would mean "I am always true to you". This chimes nicely with the "Our Love and True" messages.
I may be wrong in the interpretations, but, nonetheless, it is still rather touching.
There are also pictures below of a leaflet, one side of which is a part of the photo on the second postcard. Fred is at the back in the centre.
Pictures of the winner's medal he received in 1908 are below. It was made into a brooch by his wife.
There are videos of several field gun runs at the Royal Tournament, including the last in 1999, available on YouTube.
See links page for further info on the Competition.
