Interpreting Postal Records

Discussion in 'Civil Service' started by Bay Horse, Aug 22, 2017.

  1. Bay Horse

    Bay Horse Can be a bit of a dark horse

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    I've been making good use of the British Postal Service Appointment Books on Ancestry to track down a cousin from West Yorkshire. However, I was wondering if there is a guide anywhere online for interpreting the job abbreviations therein, or indeed whether we have any retired postal workers from the old GPO who might be able to translate them into plain English?

    'W'less' and 'P'man' are easy enough, but what is a 'U.S.W'? Something sort worker, perhaps? 'S.W. II'... how does that differ from a 'U.S.W'? And early in my ancestor's career, he was a 'LRNR'... 'Learner'?

    I daresay the Postal Museum would have the answers, but thought I'd try here first before emailing. :)
     
  2. AnnB

    AnnB Editor in Chief who is Hot off the Press!

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    According to the blurb on Ancestry the Postal Museum has these abbreviations explained in their Family History Guide. They have a link but it didn't work for me, so I Googled and finally found it :)
    Code:
    https://www.postalmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Family_History_Research_Guide.pdf
    I've had a quick look and the abbreviations are near the end of the Guide.
     
  3. Bay Horse

    Bay Horse Can be a bit of a dark horse

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    Perfect. Thank you, Ann.

    It all becomes clear. :)
     
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  4. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    Now if only they would tell us how to track postage from GRO. ;)
     
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  5. Half Hour

    Half Hour Well-Known Member

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    Has your certificate not arrived yet? I've found 1st class mail to and from England has been really fast lately...I sent a card to my friend in Yorkshire and the same day I mailed one to my son in Vancouver. Friend in Yorkshire got her's faster than the one that just traveled across Canada.
     
  6. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    Not yet Sue. 17 days waiting now not counting Sat. & Sun. It may well be a problem on this side of the postal service. Just as well I'm not waiting to find out who I am :D
    GRO said dispatched on 27 July
    - a Thursday here so probably posted on a Friday as with most offices.
     
  7. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    This is Australia we are talking about....:nailbiting:
     
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  8. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    Lately we've had other peoples mail delivered to us from quite distant streets away. twice I found it while postie was coming back down the street & handed it over.Trainee on the job. Another time Son did same thing with rogue letter. Mine may have gone the same way & be in a rubbish bin or sitting waiting to go through deliveries again.

    Having said that I recently received a cylindrical parcel which had been posted in UK just before Christmas. Other times c.d. from Sussex arrived 4 mths late. One certificate I'd ordered from UK just didn't arrive for more than a month- I asked GRO about it & they sent another which arrived quite swiftly. Go figure?:confused:
     
  9. Nightryder

    Nightryder Well-Known Member

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    Wendy, The last cert I ordered from the GRO took 20 days from their date of dispatch.
     
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