Shanghai'd

 Boxer Rebellion - Andrew brother. John. 

Note on a letter: 1858 - 1942 - 

82 (but it should be 84)

Hankow Daily News
Hankow, 20th Oct. 1906

My Dear David,

I have had great pleasure in receiving your letter of the 23rd September. I should like to know what you are doing as you do not mention anything, but I expect you have something to do in your old business in New York.

Yes, since I last wrote you from Tientsin I have been in many places, left Tientsin after the Boxer troubles and went down to Port Arthur and stated business there. I was in Port Arthur at the commencement of the bombardmet of the place by the Japanese, I could tell you a lot of things but they are sill to write about. It seems to me that I am unfortunate in getting into trouble, having been in Manila during the American trouble and then in Tientsin during the Boxer trouble, so you must kow, I know all about shot and shell, and rifle fire, but for all this I am still alive.

I sent you a copy of my paper to-day, but the thing is not paying so well as I would wish.

You will hear from me again pretty shortly. Give my love to Minnie and the Chicks.

Your affect Brother,

John  Andrew

49 Garden Place
Aberdeen
23 May, 1907

My dear David
I hasten to send you  () of poor John's death, copied from a () newspaper which waas sent to by his daughter Gladys.

Harry is writing home regularly, he says he is getting quite at home at the (work?) and his letters are quite (?) but he misses...he says the food i good and he was... splendid been always tried ?/ Poor boy he will
...it is to get money and with   I hope to ... it more. Sandy Allan is still  married and living in with in London but Maggie Morrison knows the particulars.

I am dreadfully disappointed to hear about Bob, I knew that they had gone to ... but no... this accounts for his objection to writing letters, poor father...long since stopped sending any letters. I am glad to know his correct address as I sent him papers every week, but of course I do not send them without 

I am sure Captain Stewart would be glad to hear from you, and he might mot be able to ...

His oldest daughter married a Mr. ... a lawyer in Aberdeen very soo Imet5 him there when I was up ...

The whole family have you to ... for two months so that I shall not see them for some time again. I am glad you got rid of your sciatica, I have also had it and the pains were frightful, bit I had not been troubled for a good while now, I shall think of your cure should I know it again.

I cannot go to ... this year I much regret that my ... paying dis debt and ...but have been 

and I must put it off for a time but I shall get to it

I thought it better to pay the debts so I was advised that they could summon both  him and I before the sheriff and although this could months ... so will know in Glasgow that it would have been awkward. When I got to America shall sail to Boston. I am delighted to hear that the children are doing so well, it is most satisfactory and 

I...affords you much pleasure.

We have heard nothing from Kinnairdy for a long while they have not been to see us since Sept. last.

We see a good deal of Willie and Maggie Smith and they are always asking about you. The pas  of poor John's death with 

grief and pain but it has done myself, bitter grief, it does seem hard. His wife and daughter write that they are going on trip to China, I think they might have gone while he was 

I hope Minnie and all the children are well. With fondest love to you and all in

I am  my dear David, your most affec brother William

PS John and Nancy, gone to Sam a trip 

Hulle? Hone? House
sli St. Michael, Bath

2 Oct. 1941

Dear Mary
This letter was going to be ages and ages ago. I can only say the days seem so full and pass so swiftly. Sometimes there seeme little opportunity of writing. Today is beautiful. I'm sitting out of doors, it seems like aholiday. Our weather has not bee too kind, but in psite of that we've got quite a number of things from the garden and ... The harvest too has been good.

I hope Auntie got m letter safely.  I wrote at once after news came. It was such a pleasure hearing from her. I sent it on to Amy and she, too, was so pleased to have it. It has helped us to know feel better somehow and brought ... Amy is in Vancouver now. She has taken a tiny flat as she wants to go to college and she feels that it is only fair that she should have the chance. Most girls take with some business career in B.C. I think nearly everywhere now and how much (affair) they are. Nan is very nice looking, but above all brave and loyal companion, friends of a friend. Rv. Kern was in the Home Service and was appointed to the staff at Bristol which is 20 miles from here. At the end of the three months he was offered a very good appointment in an engineering firm in London, which he accepted and off they went. We were very glad for their sakes. It has been so quiet here lately, but all are in the (?) and never slacken in their preparations. Douglas in a warden in the A.R.P. He seemed quite a different person, when I saw him in his "uniform" the other day. I won't say much about anything except our own concerns - as I want  the letter to reach you and though he desires to be obedient and not talk of anything that might seem like giving things away - one might do it unconsciously. We are having some roses again, with chrysanthemums, a variety of autumn flowers the garden is still... But in (?) the annual of ...

He tackles with a scythe - but a nice man came and did it - though it took him three evenings after his own work. I wish he had been nearer and could come back sometimes. I just remember ... as a jolly, friendly girl with brown long hair (is that right) clinging to her mother and darling really. I feel so protective. They are such a happy family. Frank - the son - is training for the Air Force and will likely be an observor. Ge got 100 percent in his math exam. The ...joined what they call the Veterans Corps at the beginning of the war. Seems very happy. Amy will be nearer to him now and that is a blessing. 

We had such a nice family - a Mr. and Mrs. Kerr and their boy of two with us for three months in early spring. They are a very happy amily. Amy has not .. of her house - it is let to a friend.

Douglas sends for all his  much love to you all - 

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Box 3 Powell River
March 28th 1941

My dear Mary,

This is your other cousin writing toyou - your now Canadian cousin (/) sister. She Anna sent me on your note which warmed my heart to you - you just sounded like what one would expect the little girl who visited us in Aberdeen to become.
I sent to ( ) my daughter - I hope you will always write as nicely of your mother as the years go on. My husaband is in Vancouver with The Veterans Guard of Canada - they are all soldiers of the last war and will not of course go overseas. He has been recommended for a comission which we hope will materialze soon.

My son Frank is with the Air Force at present he is at Brandon and hopes to be trainied as a pilot but he just started his preliminary training - they wee them out mentally and pghysically after that they have to be very super specimens and (?) to train as pilots.

I want him to get his hearts desire but I know it will mean much anxiety to the family if he does. 

Please give Auntie and Uncle Frank my love -they and you are our only real living relatives. ( ) may go to Cancouver in autumn so that Nan can take a business course - she is 20 years old. We have our own honme here and just have to cross the road to our own little pricvate beach - it is very lovely, the view in summer and the sunsets quite wonderful. I am sending a snap of the family (minus my husband) taken just before Frank left home. I hope to hear from you on of these days. I so long for Anna. We meant so much to each other it seems hard to spend most of our lives separated. She still remains one of the most unselfish women I have met - apart from the relatship. Well Mary do write me some day. With love, you r affectionate cousin, Amy Nello (Nells)

___________________________________________

"Speyside"
Fochabers 1st June (year?)
My dear old friend
You have been verymuch in my thoughts during the past few days and altho' I hesitate to intrude upon you in your great grief, I hope you will allow me to say how deeply I feel for you in your sad bereavement. I happend to see the nhotice of your dear husband's death in the Aberdeen paper "Press & Journal." At such a time it is little one can say or do. I hope Mary will be with you to help you to ear up under this gheavy trial. Time will bring its healing balm. My heart goes out to you in deepest sympathy & withy much love
I remain,
Your affectionate old friend
Lina Robertson

___________________________

255 Westburn Road
Aberdeen
Dec 14th 1943
I enclose a wee calendar for Mary

Dear Mrs. Andrew
Sorry I have been so long in writing you. I hoped to have got a letter to you for Christmas but I have been down with the Flu but will soon be back to my usual again. How have you been keepig. "Well I hope." I had a letter from Mrs. Robertson some few months ago. She told me that she saw in the papers about Mr. Andrew's passing oh my dar what a blank it would make in your life. I expect you are still lving in the Pres. Home. How is Mary is she still in  aposition in Chicago if so you will see her quite often. We have gone through some bad times. We had one very bad night some time ago. I was scared to death. I did not expect to see morning. The bombers were just skimming the house tops lots of damage done, but we have had it quiet for quite some time now. I hope it will continue. We have been having wonderful weather for some time but there has been lots of illness but these last few days has a hard frost it is much more healthy if it continues the Flu will soon pass. I expect Jan will be near its end before you geet this. I wish you and Mary the best for 1944. I pray we will soon have peace.

Love to you both
Yours sincerely,
Jean A. Munro

_________________________________________________________

P.O. Prospect Lake
N. Victoria - B.C.
July 23rd 1943
My dearMary
I was so very pleased to hear from you and now have a little idea your life. Am sorry to hear you have been through such sad times. I can I think realize the emptiness of life for you at the present stage and only time and a brave outlook will help.

I have Nan with me but she got married before she finished her business course to a young American pilot. He is now flying a "thunderbird" in England. Nan has a job at the Ration Office, quite interesting handing out ration books and arguing with people who want the impossible in the way of extra sugar, etc. etc.

Frank is an Observor and is flying somewhere in the Middle East. Nan's married bname is Mrs. Woodrow Sooman 0 her huaband trainied in Canada but when he was in England he transferred to the American force as he thought he would get further ahead. He has been away a year last March - 

He is quite a clever flyer - led his class in flying all through his training - he is just 23 years old, six months older than his wife. Frank got engaged to an English girl before he went to the Middle East - his father is a Major in the Engineers.
My husband is a Corporal and expects his third stripe in a few weeks in the Veterans' Guard of Canada - he is too old to get a commission.

Nan and I have taken a summer home here and will remain until September. I expect my husband for his two weeks furlow. What a world! Nan's job is of course in Victoria - she goes in by bus. We have a little Morris car wich belongs to Frank and Nan drives it now ut dowesn't use it very much. Anna keeps wonderfully well. I am glad to say she is one of th really unselfish people in the world. It must be very sad Mary to see those you love and have lived with so long slipping away from you. I can imagine what a frail little mother yours must be if she is still alive. Your father everyone respected, I can rmember that about him. Write me sometime again and operhaps one of these days you will come and visit us. You do belong to us you know, the only young realtives my children have. My husband has one brother with no children andof course Anna has none.

I'll enclose a snap of Nan.

Much love dear
Your loving - what am I?
Aunt Amy

Tell me about your work - i don't even know what you have been doing. I thought you said you were running a tea-room!

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2050 Barclay Street

Vancouver
June 16th 1944

If we ever have good news I'll let you know Your cousin Amy

My dear Mary,

Once again I hope we contact each other.

I've sad news to tellyou. Frank, our son, has been missing since October 12th in the Middle East. We still hope on. His C.O. wrote us that his plane was supposed to have been seen buring in the Meditterean Sea and if so it was possible that the crew may have been picked up either by an enemy ship or one of our own. We feel he may be in hiding somewhere in Greece (they were near the shores of Crete.) and after Greece is freed we might hear from him. That is the hope we cling to. 
Nan's husband was Missing on the 19th April. She got a letter from his C.O. regretting though not official that he had been killed in action. Tend days after a card came from Woody telling us he was well and a Prisoner of War so we have lived through much emotion and anxiety.

Nan has a job here as cashier for Hilker Co. concwert people for Victoria Calgary & Vancouver. She likes her work, will meet all the star artists in winter and is very busy booking for plays etc. and six weeks of concerts under the stars next month in Stanley Park. We get tickets free which is quite a pleasant perquisite which comes my way.
Daddy is busy in Medicine Hat is Sergeant in the Army Pay Corps so is doing office work all day he wrote an exam last week quite good for 58 years old.
You sound as if yu had certainly made a change to a happier and fuller life Mary,you certainly deserve it after all you must have come through in your last job. Such an interesting life it seems to be and I do hope everything has been going on successfully foryo.

I wonder if your mother is stil lalive, you certainly have been a good daughter to her. Life has to go on and we darent' dwell too much on the past, but I am sure such memories as you have must help you in every way to carry on your responsibilities in the way you have been taught to face them.

My son't greatest friend was talking to me a few months ago and I said to him "Jim, I've always felt that Ferank and you are fundamentally so decent." He said I think we have our up-brining to thank for that. I would have huggedhim for saying it.
Well, history is being made and what courage all our men are showing it makes one so porud of them all - may good come of all this bloodshed and suffering.
Write me one day Mary, Nan thought it so dear of you to want to send her a gift one of these days of peace she will cwertainly appreciat it.
Love frmo us both,

This was snapped in Victoria.
Yours affectionately,
Amy

____________________________

13th Dec 1945
1284 Nelson Street
Vancouver, BC

My dear Mary

You will be surpised to hear from me perhaps your life has changed as well as ours. We lost our son two years ago last October. The halifax Bombers he was the Navigator and went down (it is presumed) near the coast of Crete. Life has never seemed the same. Nan's husband returned last Juen (he had been a prisoner for thirteen months, won his D.F.C. and other decoations. They are living in Tex at present, RR3 Denison, Texas is their address at present. His name is Captain Woodrow Sooman and they are very happy. They have just left us after a ten days visit. They drove 2300 miles to be with us as they could not get leave for Xmas.

Daddy is a Sergeant in the Pay Office here and is grozen to his job, so we expect to be here until Spring anyhow.

I wonder how you are Mary?

I imagine your Mother has passed on buy you have all your happy memories. That does help about all we mothers have left to comfort us. Frank was engaged to such a darling girl in England one of these days she and her mother are coming out to visit us.

I'm sending you snaps of the family - do write me like a dear and tell me what you are doing.

Life is pretty hard on so many of these returned men. Vancouver has neither homes nor jobs for so many of them.

My suister and her husband keep well and very busy and life all Britishers so uncomplaining. It is a strange world we live in, such an unsettled feeling about everytihg and everywhere.

Wishing you Mary dear our est of Xmas wishes and hoping life has bween kind to you.

Your affectionare

Amy Nello

Will you send us snaps of your home