The following letters were sent to me by Jack Prather of
- Ellen Blanche Howland born 1864 died 1943 married George William Salmon
- Mary Maria Howland born 30 Nov 1874 died 1972 married John Barten
- Isabel Ann Howland born 18 Oct 1879 died 15 Jan 1955 married Ernest William Gain
By Meg Gain married to Russell Gain (grandson of Isabel Ann Howland)
Poplar Farm
Bromley Green
Hamstreet
Nr Ashford
May 14 1940
My darling sister,
I am sure you are thinking of us during these very dark days we are passing through. We are all feeling very sad & we do not know from one hour to another when
I cannot write much the war is upper-most in our thoughts so, dear, I close with fondest love wishing you are keeping well. I will write you again don’t worry about us we must just on. So dear until (sic) we meet
Your affect sister, Mary xxxxxxxx
(written to Mrs E B Salmon 1044 N. Bonnie Brea,
*Ellen Blanche Howland b. 1864 Ashford
* Mary Maria Howland b. 30 Nov 1874 Ashford
Poplar Farm
Bromley Green
Hamstreet
Ashford, kent
May 27 1940
My dearest sister,
I was pleased to get a letter from you- sorry you are not feeling very well. Your letter was 5 weeks coming I expect all letters are delayed – well dear I don’t know what to write as the War and the seriousness is uppermost in our minds. Every hour now it’s more serious for us – we get disturbed nights I wonder what next we shall hear it all very dreadful. I do not dare send papers but I expect you get all war news- they are only 22 miles off across the Channel and we are only 16 miles off Folkestone & the straits of
Goodbye dear sister yours lovingly Mary
This war makes one feel old (Mary was 66 in 1940 )
Better news I hope next time I write
(sent to Mrs E.B. Salmon 1044 N. Bonnie Brea,
POPLAR FARM (on headed letter paper)
Bromley Green
Hamstreet
Nr Ashford
June 17th 1940
My dearest sister / I feel I must just write you a line as we never know what may happen next, have just heard on the wireless that France as (sic) laid down arms, now the full force will be on England & we so close to the coast are not very safe, all about here is preparations for a likely invasion & as you have read Bombs are dropped anywhere we just thank God if we get a good night’s rest & are kept safe. I was pleased dear to get your last letter but so very sorry your son as (sic) left you, you must be feeling very lonely but just think of the mothers that have lost sons in this terrible, all around us are sad faces & what will be the end for England. I am thinking by the time you get this letter, we may be refugees. Hitler stands at nothing to conquer.
Mary
xxxxx
The next letter has had the corner where the address would have been torn off.
Written on thin blue (airmail?) paper and in a different handwriting
My dear sister,
In answer to your letter which I was pleased to receive, also the snap of yourself, I think it is fine, you don’t look nearly your age & I hope you don’t feel it. Well dear, I have to tell you another link with the past has been broken. Mrs Gain, who has been failing for some months, passed peacefully away in her sleep on April 13th she was out in the garden on the Thursday before the Sunday on which she passed on, she had said that she hoped to go in her sleep and she had her wish she was 83 so had lived a good life and enjoyed it, as Mr Gain left her enough money that she did not want for anything which was something to be thankful for. What anxious times we are living in, but still much to be thankful for, up to the present we have not felt the pinch of war much, plenty of everything needful, of course dearer, but we must not mind that, how ever one longs for it to be…..
…………………………..(missing few lines) ….the nation will be attacked…..pouring into
Your loving sister,
(Because of the reference to the death of ‘Mrs Gain’ I believe this letter is from Isabel Gain (nee Howland) and she is referring to her mother-in-law Mrs Alice Louisa Gain (nee Webster). I can date this letter to Spring 1940 as Alice Gain died 14 April 1940 (Isabel is a day out). I have the death cert Alice Louisa Gain died 14 April 1940 aged 83, widow of John William Gain, a retired railway inspector. Cause of death ‘[myocarditis” Informant: Son E.W. Gain
Poplar Farm, Bromley Green
Aug 22nd 1942
My dearest sister,
It seems quite a long time since I had a line from you- I do hope you get my letters- some I am sure do not get through – we are going through very anxious times – have a few more visits from the Germans but our fliers are wonderful also the Canadians – I expect you have read in your papers about the raid on Dippe (assume Dieppe)- it really was an exciting day – we could hear the guns & our house doors & windows shook. I am sorry for the brave fellows who helped to carry it through but that is war & I think they knew they were taking risks- since writing to you I have been to
.
(The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied commanders had been forced to call a retreat. Over 6,000 infantrymen, predominantly Canadian, were supported by limited Royal Navy and large Royal Air Force contingents. The objective is unclear, and has largely been explained as serving the personal ambitions of Vice-Admiral Louis, Lord Mountbatten, then Chief of Combined Operations acting without specific authorisation, and therefore without access to the necessary resources and intelligence from Wikipedia)
During World War II Ashford's importance as a transportation (railway) hub and its location between the Continent and
Poplar Farm
Bromley Green
Jan 15/43
My dearest sister
You will see I have had another letter returned – I wrote it before I received your present address you said in one of your letters you had not had any from me. How are you during this long time I don’t get letters from you very often – we must not expect to get them quite so regually (sic)– don’t send any more letters to the farm- we are selling it & I shall be here until the end of March – my husband is 70 & he feels he does not want to carry on any longer – I am not sure were (sic) we shall live but near Ashford I hope. There are very few houses to let & to buy one just now they ask very high prices. I shall be glad to get into a small house- this is too large & means a lot of work- I am 68 and I too hope for a easy time- will you send my letters to
Mrs Gain Hathersage 35 Knoll Road, Bexley, kent
We are getting through the winter & the longer days will be here- we get such a lot of rain I wish it would dry up. I shall be busy after the Farm is sold. We shall have a furniture sale – we shall not want half this furniture in a small house. I shall be glad to get a line from you & I will let you know when we get settled. So glad the war news is better – I hope the fighting will soon be over I am writing in great haste – hope you are better. Lovingly yours Mary xxxx
Poplar Farm
Bromley Green, Hamstreet, Ashford, kent
Jan 24 1943
My dearest sister,
I have just received a letter from you dated Dec 28/ how quick it came & sometimes they are 2 months. I was pleased to hear you were feeling just a little better. I think your writing is good. I don’t mind how you write. I just love to have your letters – you are kind to write so often, I’m sure it’s a task- I wrote to you last week & in case you do not get my letter I am writing again to say will you send my letters to Bell (Isabel Gain nee Howland, sister of Mary and Ellen) My husband is selling the farm – he is 70 and we do feel we want to get into a modern house & nearer Ashford. Houses are taken so quickly that we may have to wait sometime before we can get into one we just like- & they are very expensive just now . You know Bells address (Hathersage,
Yours lovingly, Mary
Hathersage
March 26/43
My dearest sister
I hope you have received my letters telling you we have left the farm & at present renting a bungalow- we are on the look out for a house of our own but in these times its difficult to know where to go as their (sic) is danger every-where. I was ever so pleased to get your letter – poor Mary as (sic) been in hospital. She fell down & broke several ribs & at her age she will be a long time recovering. I wrote and told Frank & Alice I was leaving the Farm (this refers to their brother Frank Henry Howland 1869- who married Alice Mary Young. They lived in Leyton Essex) & would so like to hear from them. They replied at once & I am sending you their letter, also a picture of them. I don’t want them back. Frank is getting older & more sense- I suppose we all see our past mistakes please send my letters to Bells address then I shall get them alright. I hope you & family are keeping well – these are very anxious times- we often have the Jerries over but so few have escaped. Its nice not to have farm worries & I am looking forward to a nice summer.
With love to you all. Lovingly Mary xxxx
Sent to Mrs E.B. Salmon
Hathersage,
Telephone : BEXleyheath 1199
June 2nd/43
Dear Grace,
Thank you for the letter you wrote informing us of your mothers condition, also thank your husband for his letter to us, it was kind of him to write us, I was not surprised really at your dear Mother’s passing, her last letter to Aunt Mary which she passed on to me to read, seemed to tell me she was getting weaker. Well dear, she was a good woman and a good mother & loved her children very much, and we can have no doubt as to her future happiness, she often used to write of “ the time when we shall all meet again..” & in a way look forward to it, we shall not be disappointed dear, we shall meet & know each other there, where no parting is. She lived a Christian life here, as far as she understood it, and her reward is certain and she will go on gaining understanding and happiness. How we all long for a peaceable time each one of us are feeling this terrible war. Thank God we have all been wonderfully protected. I have one son in the Army 1st Leut. Been in 3 years but still in
We are having dull cold weather just now, hope to get more sunny days soon; but our summer is very short generally & now dear accept my sincere sympathy in our loss & try & think of your dear mother as happier today than when she was with you.
Lovingly yours,
B.A. Gain (B = Bell short for Isabel Gain nee Howland)
Posted 3 June 1943 Dartford
Addressed to Mrs Lee A. Prather 814 W
Returnee address I.A. Gain 85 (?)
Grace was the daughter of Ellen Blanche Howland and George William Salmon. She was married to Lee Prather.
“
June 3-43
Dearest Grace,
I have today received your kind letter & the sad news of your dear mothers failing health. I am not surprised, as lately her letters have got a little mixed up. Poor dear if she is still alive ( I doubt it) give her a hug & a big kiss for me. She as (sic) been good in writing tell her & I have loved her letters. I am so glad she as you to look after her & whatever you do for her will be repaid. She has been a good mother & sister. Did you receive my letter with Uncle Frank’s letter. I thought it would cheer your Mother to know about him – you will see by the address we have a bungalow & shall remain here for the duration of the War – we just don’t know where to get for safety so we are only ten minutes away from our old house & only 21 miles from the Germans across the water but we are hoping the end will soon be in sight. I do trust your boy, also Lily’s will return to you safely- its very hard for mothers and wives – well dear I shall hope to get a letter from you soon – so with love to you all & so many thanks to you for writing. Fondest love to my darling sister – may her end be peaceful is my thoughts now. Ever to remain your loving auntie Mary
Posted Ashford 7 June 1943 sent to Mrs Lee Prather 814 W 50 Place.
“
June 6/43
My dear neice,
First of all, thank Lee so much for writing to me telling me of your dear mother’s passing on. It is hard to part with those we love & I shall miss her sweet letters very much. She was very kind to write to me so often – I used to write her every 2 weeks but I fear lots of my letters never reached her. Please accept our deepest sympathy in your sad loss & convey to the others likewise. I shall always be glad of a line from you should you care to write me.
With much love,
I remain your loving auntie Mary
Your letter had been 2 months coming. I suppose we are fortunate to get them at all in these times.
I have no other record of your mother’s birth- the family Bible you have is correct
