Postcard sent by Thomas William Jones, TITANIC crewman and survivor

postcard

Thomas William Jones was an Able Seaman on the TITANIC and commanded Lifeboat 8. He was aided in that boat by the Countess of Rothes, who manned the tiller and helped row. They maintained a correspondence after the disaster. She gave him an engraved watch to commemorate the event, and he later sent her the brass 8 from their lifeboat, set in a plaque. This postcard was written to Clara Moulton, who Jones later married. The card is undated and the postmark is illegible. However, this version of the George V halfpenny stamp dates to January 1912 or later, and Jones was mostly based at Liverpool rather than Southampton, so this might have been sent in 1912 soon before he joined the TITANIC, or else after his return. It is difficult to read, with unorthodox spelling, which is very much in contrast with his eloquent and well-written letters to the Countess. In this card, he seems to be telling Clara, who is in London, that he is remaining in Southampton and won't be able to see her during her time off. There may be a mention that he's received orders to see a solicitor.