Dorchester - Multiple Scenes Prior to 1962. And Lee Harvey Oswald.

            The Postcard

A Newcolour Series postcard that was published by E. T. W. Dennis & Sons Ltd. of London and Scarborough.

The card was posted in Lyme Regis on Wednesday the 13th. June 1962 to:

The District Nurses,
Union Street Clinic,
Union Street,
Bedford,
Beds.

The Clinic is still going strong to this day.

The message on the divided back of the card was as follows:

"Holiday going all too quickly.
Have been on some lovely
coach trips, and long walks.
I am getting in my usual swim
before breakfast. It's so nice
being able to do so from the
hotel.
Have spent all my evenings
with my friends who are here.
See some of you on Sunday?
Sincerely yours,
B. Wadelin." 

The Keep, Dorchester

The Keep, Dorchester (bottom right) is part of the former county barracks of the 39th. (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot and the 75th. (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot. 

The barracks were built in about 1880, and housed various regiments as units were amalgamated. It ceased to be used in 1958, and most of the site was redeveloped in the 1960's, but the keep remained in Ministry of Defence hands, and is now used as a regimental museum. It is a Grade II Listed building.

The ground floor of the museum preserves its previous layout. The museum is entered through the former ammunition and powder store, and through this is the archway that used to lead to the rest of the barracks. 

Close to the archway are the guardroom and cells, one of which is equipped as it would have been when it housed prisoners. In the west tower is a rope winding gear to hoist weapons, ammunition and other stores to the upper floors.

The first floor is gained by a spiral staircase and is now the regimental museum with a display of uniforms, weapons and equipment used by the regiment during its 300-year history. The second floor has a display of campaign and gallantry medals, as well as exhibits showing small arms and silverware.

The collection includes Adolf Hitler's desk which was taken from the ruins of the Chancellery in Berlin in 1945.

The third floor has displays of objects and information on the recent military history of the regiment, places where it has been deployed, and events in which it has taken part. 

Above this is are the battlements with extensive views of the town and surrounding countryside.

Lee Harvey Oswald

So what else happened on the day that the card was posted?

Well, on the 13th. June 1962, Lee Harvey Oswald arrived back in the United States on the Dutch cruise ship S.S. Maasdam, after more than two years away in Russia. 

Oswald, who was accused of killing U.S. President Kennedy less than 18 months later, brought with him his wife and daughter. 

The family was greeted on arrival in New York by Mr. Spas T. Rankin of the Travelers' Aid Society of New York.

The Arrest of Bo Belinsky

Also on that day, rookie baseball pitcher Bo Belinsky, having spent the previous night partying with celebrities including Eddie Fisher, Dean Martin, and Henry Fonda, was arrested and charged with assaulting a nightclub attendant.

Elvis Presley

Also on the 13th. June 1962, the Number One chart hit record in the UK was 'Good Luck Charm' by Elvis Presley.

   

Taken on: February 3, 2022

Tags:

postcard

old

nostalgia

nostalgic

Dorchester

Lee

Harvey

Oswald

Newcolour

Series

Dennis

Sons

London

Scarborough

Lyme

Regis

13/06/1962

1962

District

Nurses

Union

Street

Clinic

Bedford

Bedfordshire

coach

trips

walks

swim

breakfast

hotel

Wadelin

Maasdam

Russia

Rankin

arrest

Belinsky

Dean

Martin

Henry

Fonda

Elvis

Presley

Good

Luck

Charm

nightclub

attendant

76DMS73 « less

Sets appears in: • Clock Towers • UK

Stats: 866 views / 1 comment