S S Victorian

May 10, 1906 was the date on this vintage postcard. My grandfather Horace Nevard wrote the note and mailed it off to Alice Hall before heading out on the longest journey of his life to that point. From England to Canada. He would not see her again for another ten years until he returned to England with the 195th infantry division to join in the battles of World War I. They were married after the war ended and headed back to Saskatchewan to the homestead, never to return to England. Recent discussions on the name of the ship he travelled on in 1906 led to me looking up this old postcard and it appears this was the one. The S.S. Victorian of the Allan Line. For some reason I had assumed he travelled on the same ship as his sister in law and nephew, Mary and Bill Nevard, but apparently they came out a month later on the Virginian. When grandfather Nevard arrived in Canada he stopped at Indian Head, Saskatchewan and worked for a while on Copithorne farm. Later moving on to the Headlands district North of Lipton to take up his homestead on the same section as his brothers, Arthur and Ernest who had arrived here in 1903.

All Aboard The SS Victorian

May 10, 1906

To Miss Alice Hall
Grove Farm
Saxmundham, Suffolk

Dear Alice
Arrived safely at Liverpool and am writing this on the wall of the platform. Have got a chum and am now looking around for breakfast. Cheer up. Will write as soon as possible...........Horace
(This is the vessel I am going on)

This was likely the last postcard that my grandfather sent before he boarded the S.S. Victorian for the long voyage to Canada. His nephew, Bill and sister in law, Mary Nevard travelled to Canada at the same time but on the SS Virginian. According to this Ships passenger list  Mary and Bill Nevard arrived on June 29. I can find no mention of Horace's arrival but obviously he made the same trip on the Victorian and they met up at the port of Quebec City to continue their journey by train to Saskatchewan where brothers Arthur and Ernest would be waiting.