Sent on 4th August 1914

We have a very interesting collection of a hundred or so postcards dating from the early 1900s and kept by Mrs P's grandparents, Adolphus and Mabel Laws. I dip unto these every now and again and have learnt a lot about the family from who was saying what to whom. Fascinating snippets from times long past. Here's one I came across recently which chimes with Remembrance Day. I hadn't noticed the date on it before, 4th August 1914, the date war was declared on Germany and the day WW1 began.

The postcard reads:

A.H.Laws Esq.,
25, Wesley Street,
Cwmbran,
Nr Newport, Mon,
Wales

Dear Dolph
Has Nixon been called in for war? All Marine Reserves have been called up here. Father was called up Sunday morning and has gone to the Naval Barracks. The town is greatly excited. hardly a Bluejacket to be seen. All are anxious. Let Nixon know Reserves are called up. He will be bound to come. All Territorials are called. I am expecting to be called in myself as I hear all corporation officials are to go.
Alf

It's written to Mrs P's grandfather, Adolphus (Dolph) Laws, by his brother, Alfred, who worked for Plymouth Corporation. Their father, George Charles Alfred Laws, was fifty at the time and must have been on the Naval Reserve as he was much too old to fight. Adolphus was working for Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds in Cwmbran and, because of the importance of the steelworks to the national effort, had a reserved occupation that kept him out of the forces. We don't know whether Alf was actually called up but their brother, William (Bill), did serve in the Royal Navy and survived. We've got no idea who Nixon was.

Bluejackets? Slang term for naval personnel. And little did the townsfolk of Plymouth know how things were going to turn out. If they did, would they have been so 'greatly excited'?