In Reply to: Re: Freestone family who lived in #4 Knockapuntha Rural + RAF airlfield posted by Alan King on September 27, 2012 at 12:35:58:

Hi Alan,

Thank you very much for your help.

My father in law approached me with a note he had been given in 1954 and a "streamer" with in it a short letter dated 18-10-1918.

A streamer (see link below) was quite common. It looks like a long sash or scarf. on the one end is a small bag with a weight and the letter to be delivered. The weight would improve the aim of the pilot when throwing and prevent the streamer being too susceptible to winds, the sasj would slow down the package and make it easy to find / retrieve.

1. The letter from 1918 was very short. It thanked for the invitation and said the pilot would indeed, come over for diner next Saturday (tomorrow).
2. The note explained why Dorothy Jane Freestone wanted to give him the object and what hat happened on the day. It also said how proud her mother had been of the streamer.

I read about the visit by Michael Collins to Castlebar in the NYtimes. The detail that the (wife of the) owner of their home had been hit is interesting.

The Freestones died in 1939 (with just over a week between them) and Dorothy died in 1966.

Can you send a link to a google-streetview of the yews house? I am just making a wee google-map with the most important events of Dorothy Jane and William U. Dykes.

Thanks,
yoasties

• streamer message