In late July 2024, a customer called into the bookshop bearing a bag bulging at the seams. It was carefully heaved onto the counter, where it was revealed that the contents was an illustrated National Family Bible with commentaries.
The customer revealed that this particular bible was a family heirloom, and it was thought that there may be a connection to biological relatives, although they were uncertain of the details.
Whilst the bible itself is rather beautiful, it is the contents hidden within the first few leaves that were of particular interest; ephemera left behind that concealed a story, the details of which we are unlikely to ever know.
Upon opening the clasps on the bible, we were immediately greeted with a neatly folded piece of paper. On the front of this paper read ‘Thanksgiving for Victory Order of service 1945′ which is believed to have a connection with the 21st Army Group, a British headquarters formation that was formed during World War 2. Enclosed within this were a further four pieces of paper. One could be easily identified as a newspaper clipping, two appeared to be part of an invoice or log of payments, and the final appeared to be part of an envelope, perhaps connected with the invoice.
The newspaper clipping, which sadly bears no date, details how a letter was ‘intercepted at Oldbury’ was used as evidence against Ruth L. Nightingale for “doing an act likely to prejudice the discipline of a prisoner of war.” The article details how Nightingale visited her friend’s house where an Italian prisoner was billeted, and went on to have an intimate relationship with the man. Photographs were submitted as evidence of the pair kissing, along with a letter written from the male to Nightingale. The final few lines state that Nightingale nor the prisoner of war were detained. The reasoning given was that Nightingale and the prisoner likely became “infatuated” and that “some of these Italians have love-making ways with them which women of this country do not understand.”
Finally, the incomplete invoice details various cash payments dating back to January 1893. The partial address on the envelope states Netherton, which is in Dudley, near Birmingham. Interestingly, the newspaper article also identifies that Nightingale was from Langley, Birmingham. The two locations are approximately 5 miles apart, suggesting that this family bible has connections to Birmingham area, although further research couldn’t provide any further information on any of the characters mentioned in the ephemera items.
