More Postcards

In mid-February I posted pictures of some beautifully embroidered post cards (See:Embroidered Postcards). There were two other post cards, but since they were different in nature and from a different sender I didn’t include them in the earlier post. Where the earlier posts were from someone called Arthur, these are from Wilfred who I believe was my father’s half brother. They seem to have been sent to my grandfather (who I never knew) and grandmother (the Mary to whom the earlier embroidered post cards were addressed).

One of the postcards shows a ship called the HMT City of Marseilles, a steam merchant built by Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow and completed in 1913. The owner was Ellerman Lines Ltd, London. Usually British ships are called “HMS” (His/Her Majesty’s ship, which seems to be restricted to military vessels). This one is called “HMT”. I was not familiar with this designation and looked it up. It stands for “His/Her Majesty’s Transport”).

Completed in January 1913. During the First World War, the ship was shelled by a German U-boat but escaped.

On 21 January 1943 the City of Marseilles stranded near Batticaloa, Ceylon. Later refloated but broken up in 1947.

On the morning of 6 January 1940 the City of Marseilles was damaged by a mine, laid on 12 December 1939 by U-13, 1.5 miles southeast of Tay Fairway Buoy, River Tay. The ship had just taken a pilot aboard when the mine exploded under her bridge, stopping the engines and causing a list of 10 to 15° to starboard. The crew began to abandon ship, but two lifeboats had been destroyed by the explosion and another capsized during launch, throwing the 14 occupants into the water. One crew member was lost. Screened by a Hudson aircraft (224 Sqdn RAF), the survivors were picked up by the pilot cutter, a RAF crash launch from Tayport and the Broughty Ferry lifeboat Mona and landed at Broughty.

The abandoned City of Marseilles was boarded by crew members of HMS Cranefly (FY 539) (Skipper H.B. Soames, RNR), HMS Sturton (FY 1595) (Skipper W. Buchan, RNR) and the harbour defence patrol craft HMS Suilven and soon thereafter her officers and a pilot returned to the vessel aboard Mona. The next day, the vessels towed her to Dundee where temporary repairs were made. The ship then continued to the Clyde for repairs and returned to service in April 1940. (Uboat.net).

Embroidered Postcards

I was going through some things the other day when I came across these. In case it’s not apparent from the pictures they’re embroidered cards/postcards. They appear to date from the period of the First World War and, if they were mailed, they must have been in envelopes because there are no signs or stamps/postmarks etc. They were sent from someone called Arthur to a Mary (in a couple of cases Mary Poole) who I believe to be my grandmother.










Some Stained Glass Windows

Here are a few of the renowned stained glass windows in Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church. I would have liked to have taken pictures of all of them, but I was attending a concert and couldn’t get to a number of them without going through the orchestra. I tried, but after inadvertently lowering a music stand and knocking over a flute, decided it wasn’t a good idea. After the concert it was dark outside and impossible to take more pictures.

Above: Christ Blessing the Children 1895-1899*.

“The Briarcliff Congregational Church (BCC) is endowed with many wonderful gifts both spiritual and material. One of the church’s priceless treasures is its collection of stained-glass windows, spanning more than 100 years of stained-glass art. All the windows were donated as memorial gifts, a tradition started by the church’s benefactor, Walter W. Law. Most represent specific biblical stories; some show historic persons; one or two allow the viewer’s imagination to have a go; others’ symbolism have multiple interpretations. All are beautiful to see; all change as the light moves with the day. The windows at The Briarcliff Congregational Church are also a reflection of the history, life, and traditions of the church as well as that of the community.

There are 17 stained glass windows in all, representing several well-known studios and decorative arts companies: J&R Lamb, NY; William C. Willett, Philadelphia; John Hardman Studios, Birmingham and London; Woodhaven Studios, Bermuda. Perhaps the most well-known among these is Tiffany Studios. BCC has 7 magnificent Tiffany windows, installed between 1898 and 1906.” (Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church Website).


Jesus and Nathaniel, 1906*.


The Boy Jesus in Jerusalem, 1963.


Jesus and Mary Magdalene, Post 1915.


Supper at Emmaus, 1902*.


The East Transept, 1929.

* indicates a Tiffany window.

For more information on the church together with some interesting historical pictures and some beautiful color photographs of the magnificent Tiffany (and other) stained glass windows see “Glory in the Glass. A Celebration of the Briarcliff Congregational Church 1896-1996”, Edited Karen M. Sharman. Copies may still be available from the Briarcliff Manor Congregational Church at 30 South State Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510. Phone: 914-941-4368, Fax: 914-941-1513, info@briarcliffchurch.org. Church Office Hours:Tuesday – Friday 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

The “Windows of the Soul” section of the church’s website briefly explores 10 of these magnificent windows: their art, history, biblical reference, and meaning.

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 35mm f1.4 R

A found still life

A came across this on an exterior wall of my friend’s house. I’ve categorized it as “still life” although I’m not convinced that this is the right term for it. But I can’t think of anything better at the moment. As you can see it’s made of tiles and other pieces of pottery with a scattering of sea shells along the bottom. I just liked the way it looked.

Taken with a Sony A7IV and Rokinon/Samyang AF 24-70 f2.8 FE