MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

BIRMINGHAM MEN ”OFF TO THE FINAL AT BERLIN”

A novel method of communicating with one’s friends has just come to light. The Postmaster General has just forwarded to Mrs Rafferty, 8, Halliley Street, Handsworth, a message which was enclosed in a bottle picked up at Brightstone ,Isle of Wight, on 5th November. It appears to have been thrown into  the sea from a ship conveying men belonging to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The communication reads as follows: ”Sunday, September 20th.—From some boys of the Warwicks off for the final at Berlin. Signed, T.H.Rafferty, J.H.Scott, S. Rollins, S.W. Owen, T.C.L. Rosser, T. Hubball, and B. Rawlins.” The first three, at least , are Birmingham Tramway employees.  On the other side of the paper was the further message: ”All the boys merry under strenuous conditions, Hope the finder is O.K. Write to wife and baby.”

(Tried to trace Halliley Street but found a Holliday Rd  in Handsworth could that be the correct address.)

THE BIRMINGHAM DAILY MAIL, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21st 1914