Baby Book (Rosemary McNamara)
Title
Baby Book (Rosemary McNamara)
Description
The book describes journey and events of the journey from S Rhodesia to UK in June 1942 and then staying with her father's parents. It lists events growing up: teeth and first words. Two b/w photographs of baby in pram and other children. It carries on with Jill's 3rd birthday: presents received and seeing father for last time. Page titled my second year with four b/w photographs of children and prams. Next page with five photographs three of baby, one with RAF pilot holding children in arms and one with woman and two children. Page entitled baby's weight with just one entry at birth. Page for Jill's second year describes journey from S Rhodesia to England. Pages titled my first year and third year with some handwritten entries.
Spatial Coverage
Language
Format
Nine page handwritten document with photographs
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
MMcNamaraLGL80193-200310-02
Transcription
History of Baby’s 1st year. I travelled 8,000 miles and was the youngest passenger on board
We left Bulawayo on June 3nd [sic] 1942 (I was just 3 month old) for England to see my Daddy. We spent 3 days in the train then arrived in Capetown where we stayed for 3 weeks waiting for the boat. We left C.T. on the passenger boat “Nestop” and arrived at Sierra Leon without mishap.
It was very hot, we were there for about 1 week and then transferred to the troopship Empress of Canada which brought us to England unescorted and without incident.
We arrived in England on August 4th 1942, we stayed the night in Liverpool and arrived in London the next day, my grandfather McNamara met us and took us to his house in Tonbridge where we met my Granny. My Daddy arrived the same night to spend a few days leave with us. He saw me for the first time and was very thrilled
At 5 1/2 months I cut 2 teeth.
At 7 months I first sat up alone.
At 8 months I could say “all gone” and clap my hands.
At 8 1/2 months I said Baba.
At 9 months I cut my 3rd & 4th teeth, said Dada, Mum-mum and had all solid food to eat.
My daddy came home for 7 days leave on Dec 3rd an[missing letter] Uncle Bernard arrived the day after for 5 days leave
[inserted] Rosemary [/inserted]
[page break]
Page for Baby’s first Picture to be pasted on
[photograph]
Jill, Diana & Rosemary.
These snaps taken by Uncle Vernon at 23, Jameson St., Bulawayo. S. Rhodesia April 5th 1942
[photograph]
Date of Photograph. . . . Jill, Diana & Rosemary
7
[page break]
[deleted] My 3rd Year. [/deleted]
[deleted] We left P [/deleted]
Jills Baby Book
My 3rd Birthday was spent at The Glen and it was the best I’ve had.
Presents I received.
A lovely baby doll from Granny. Bricks from Mummy & Daddy. Dolls’ bed & wheelbarrow from Grand-pa. Woollen gloves from Uncle Bernard and a Christening Mug from Granny & Granpa. We had a lovely party when my Daddy came home on Sept 13th. Mummy and Daddy also bought me a lovely iced birthday cake with “Jill’s 3rd birthday” written on it.
On Oct. 13th I went to Lincoln with my Mummy to see Daddy. We stayed at the Grand Hotel for 2 days. I went to the Pictures for the first time but didn’t like it very much.
My Daddy came home for 7 days leave on Dec 2nd and Uncle Bernard who is also in the Air Force arrived the day after also on leave. We had lots of fun and I missed my Daddy very much when he went away.
[page break]
[italics] My Second Year [/italics]
[missing photograph]
Jill at 18 months
[missing photograph]
Jill at 20 months
[missing photograph]
Jill at 20 months
[photograph]
Jill at 2yrs and 7 months
[drawing]
[italics] This Photograph was [/italics] [missing words] [missing numbers]41 [italics] We were living at [/italics] [missing words] [italics][missing words] on [/italics] February 1941 [italics] Vocabulary at [/italics] [missing words]
[photograph]
Jill 2yrs 6 months
[photograph]
Jill 2yrs and 7 months
[photograph]
Jill 2 1/2 yrs.
These 3 snaps were taken when we were living at 23, Jameson St. Bulawayo
[page break]
Baby’s Growth in Height
[photograph]
Rosemary Anne 6 1/2 mnths [sic]
[photograph]
Rosemary & Jill with Daddy
[photograph]
Rosemary Anne
[photograph]
Rosemary with Jill & Mummy
[drawing]
9
[photograph]
Rosemary Anne 6 1/2 months
These snaps were taken at The Glen Tonbridge, Eng.
Sept 19th 1942
[page break]
Baby’s Weight
At Birth 8lbs 10ozs
1st month
2nd month
3rd month
4th month
5th month
6th month
7th month
8th month
9th month
10th month
11th month
12th month
10
[page break]
My 2nd year. Jill
We left Bulawayo on June 3rd 1942 for England to see my Daddy. We spent 3 days in the train, then arrived in Capetown where we stayed for 3 weeks.
We left C.T. on the passenger boat “Nestop” and arrived at Sierra Leon without mishap. It was very hot and I had a bad cold, we then transferred to the troopship Empress of Canada. Just 4 days before we arrived in England the Captain gave all the children a lovely party, there was so much to eat, community singing, the menus had all the children’s names printed on them.
We arrived in England on [deleted] July [/deleted] August 4th, it was a lovely summer day.
We stayed in Liverpool for the night and arrived in London next day where my Gran-Pa McNamara met us and took us to his house in Tonbridge where we met my Granny, Wolf & the Canary. My Daddy arrived that evening and was very pleased to see me.
On October 13th
[page break]
[italics] My First Year [/italics]
[4 missing photograph]
[drawing]
[italics] This photograph was taken on [/italics] 1939-1940. [italics] We were living at [/italics] 135, Fife St. Bulawayo.
[italics] My first tooth showed on [/italics] 8 months [italics] I first sat up alone on [/italics] 7 months
[italics] My second tooth showed on – I first crawled on [/italics] 13 months
[italics] My favourite toys & occupations [/italics]
Jack the Sailor, tearing paper and Runs around
[italics] Further facts and impressions:- [/italics]
[italics] My holiday was spent at:- [/italics]
[page break]
[italics] My Third Year [/italics]
[3 missing photographs]
[drawing]
[italics] This photograph was taken on [/italics] Sept 19th 1942 [italics] We were living at [/italics] The Glen, Tonbridge with my Granny & Grandpa
[italics] My favourite toys [/italics] Dolls.
[italics] My favourite stories [/italics]
[italics] My favourite games [/italics] Ring o’ Roses
[italics] My first friends were [/italics]
[italics] What I have said [/italics] Too much, far too much to write here
[italics] Height on birthday – Weight on birthday [/italics]
[italics] Further facts and impressions: [/italics]
[italics] My holiday was spent at: [/italics]
We left Bulawayo on June 3nd [sic] 1942 (I was just 3 month old) for England to see my Daddy. We spent 3 days in the train then arrived in Capetown where we stayed for 3 weeks waiting for the boat. We left C.T. on the passenger boat “Nestop” and arrived at Sierra Leon without mishap.
It was very hot, we were there for about 1 week and then transferred to the troopship Empress of Canada which brought us to England unescorted and without incident.
We arrived in England on August 4th 1942, we stayed the night in Liverpool and arrived in London the next day, my grandfather McNamara met us and took us to his house in Tonbridge where we met my Granny. My Daddy arrived the same night to spend a few days leave with us. He saw me for the first time and was very thrilled
At 5 1/2 months I cut 2 teeth.
At 7 months I first sat up alone.
At 8 months I could say “all gone” and clap my hands.
At 8 1/2 months I said Baba.
At 9 months I cut my 3rd & 4th teeth, said Dada, Mum-mum and had all solid food to eat.
My daddy came home for 7 days leave on Dec 3rd an[missing letter] Uncle Bernard arrived the day after for 5 days leave
[inserted] Rosemary [/inserted]
[page break]
Page for Baby’s first Picture to be pasted on
[photograph]
Jill, Diana & Rosemary.
These snaps taken by Uncle Vernon at 23, Jameson St., Bulawayo. S. Rhodesia April 5th 1942
[photograph]
Date of Photograph. . . . Jill, Diana & Rosemary
7
[page break]
[deleted] My 3rd Year. [/deleted]
[deleted] We left P [/deleted]
Jills Baby Book
My 3rd Birthday was spent at The Glen and it was the best I’ve had.
Presents I received.
A lovely baby doll from Granny. Bricks from Mummy & Daddy. Dolls’ bed & wheelbarrow from Grand-pa. Woollen gloves from Uncle Bernard and a Christening Mug from Granny & Granpa. We had a lovely party when my Daddy came home on Sept 13th. Mummy and Daddy also bought me a lovely iced birthday cake with “Jill’s 3rd birthday” written on it.
On Oct. 13th I went to Lincoln with my Mummy to see Daddy. We stayed at the Grand Hotel for 2 days. I went to the Pictures for the first time but didn’t like it very much.
My Daddy came home for 7 days leave on Dec 2nd and Uncle Bernard who is also in the Air Force arrived the day after also on leave. We had lots of fun and I missed my Daddy very much when he went away.
[page break]
[italics] My Second Year [/italics]
[missing photograph]
Jill at 18 months
[missing photograph]
Jill at 20 months
[missing photograph]
Jill at 20 months
[photograph]
Jill at 2yrs and 7 months
[drawing]
[italics] This Photograph was [/italics] [missing words] [missing numbers]41 [italics] We were living at [/italics] [missing words] [italics][missing words] on [/italics] February 1941 [italics] Vocabulary at [/italics] [missing words]
[photograph]
Jill 2yrs 6 months
[photograph]
Jill 2yrs and 7 months
[photograph]
Jill 2 1/2 yrs.
These 3 snaps were taken when we were living at 23, Jameson St. Bulawayo
[page break]
Baby’s Growth in Height
[photograph]
Rosemary Anne 6 1/2 mnths [sic]
[photograph]
Rosemary & Jill with Daddy
[photograph]
Rosemary Anne
[photograph]
Rosemary with Jill & Mummy
[drawing]
9
[photograph]
Rosemary Anne 6 1/2 months
These snaps were taken at The Glen Tonbridge, Eng.
Sept 19th 1942
[page break]
Baby’s Weight
At Birth 8lbs 10ozs
1st month
2nd month
3rd month
4th month
5th month
6th month
7th month
8th month
9th month
10th month
11th month
12th month
10
[page break]
My 2nd year. Jill
We left Bulawayo on June 3rd 1942 for England to see my Daddy. We spent 3 days in the train, then arrived in Capetown where we stayed for 3 weeks.
We left C.T. on the passenger boat “Nestop” and arrived at Sierra Leon without mishap. It was very hot and I had a bad cold, we then transferred to the troopship Empress of Canada. Just 4 days before we arrived in England the Captain gave all the children a lovely party, there was so much to eat, community singing, the menus had all the children’s names printed on them.
We arrived in England on [deleted] July [/deleted] August 4th, it was a lovely summer day.
We stayed in Liverpool for the night and arrived in London next day where my Gran-Pa McNamara met us and took us to his house in Tonbridge where we met my Granny, Wolf & the Canary. My Daddy arrived that evening and was very pleased to see me.
On October 13th
[page break]
[italics] My First Year [/italics]
[4 missing photograph]
[drawing]
[italics] This photograph was taken on [/italics] 1939-1940. [italics] We were living at [/italics] 135, Fife St. Bulawayo.
[italics] My first tooth showed on [/italics] 8 months [italics] I first sat up alone on [/italics] 7 months
[italics] My second tooth showed on – I first crawled on [/italics] 13 months
[italics] My favourite toys & occupations [/italics]
Jack the Sailor, tearing paper and Runs around
[italics] Further facts and impressions:- [/italics]
[italics] My holiday was spent at:- [/italics]
[page break]
[italics] My Third Year [/italics]
[3 missing photographs]
[drawing]
[italics] This photograph was taken on [/italics] Sept 19th 1942 [italics] We were living at [/italics] The Glen, Tonbridge with my Granny & Grandpa
[italics] My favourite toys [/italics] Dolls.
[italics] My favourite stories [/italics]
[italics] My favourite games [/italics] Ring o’ Roses
[italics] My first friends were [/italics]
[italics] What I have said [/italics] Too much, far too much to write here
[italics] Height on birthday – Weight on birthday [/italics]
[italics] Further facts and impressions: [/italics]
[italics] My holiday was spent at: [/italics]
Collection
Citation
“Baby Book (Rosemary McNamara),” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed July 13, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/43599.
