Excursion train arrives at Cleethorpes c1914.

A genuine, original, real photographic postcard published by W. H. Smith in the Kingsway Real Photo Series, S 11006.

Sent by Lewis to his cousin Miss Trixie Hall in Oldington, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Lewis is enjoying himself very much and he wanted Trixie to see the station.

The postcard was posted on 6th August 1914. It shows Cleethorpes in its heyday. More holiday makers can be seen on the promenade to the right of the picture with the amusements and helter-skelter in the distance. Times were about to change very soon after the card was posted with the outbreak of the First World War. Britain had joined the war two days earlier.

A quote from Alan Dowling’s book on Cleethorpes reads, “The resort was effectively taken over by the military and put on a war footing. On 8th August 1914, a contingent of 1,437 members of the 3rd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment came to the resort by train”. This was just two days after the card was posted!