| GPO telegrams were once the quickest way to send an important
message.
[More later.]
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[This telegram was illustrated by Edward Ardizzone] |
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Links
| Telegram Messenger Boys'
Reunion |
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Roger Green writes...
We have set up a web site for former Telegram Messenger boys to keep in
touch with each other and are hoping to contact as many
Post Office
Telegram Messenger Boys (wags) as possible.
The Telegram Messenger boys have a lot of history, and it would be a shame
if any of that was forgotten.
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We hope that former messenger boys will enjoy the site, and will contribute
stories, articles, and any old photographs that can be sent by e-mail. We
record memories of their years as messenger boys (wags) sent to us, and feature
photographs of past reunions. We also accept any correspondence through the
post, and will return all items after they have been scanned onto the website.
The word 'wags' was used for Birmingham Telegram Messenger boys; we don't
know for sure, but we believe it was short for 'scallywags'. London Telegram
Messenger boys were known as 'moppers'- a telegram was a mop. Most of the
telegram boys began work aged 14 or 15 and delivered telegrams on foot, by
bike and then motorcycles, in the days before telephones were widespread
and a telegram was the only way of getting a message to someone on the same
day.
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TASS - Teleprinter Automatic Switching System
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The Public Telegraph Service was more commonly known as the Telegram Service
because it was for the acceptance, transmission and delivery of Telegrams
which used the Telegraph Network.
TASS - Teleprinter Automatic
Switiching System (TASS)
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Edward Ardizzone (1900 - 1979) was a well known illustrator of children's
books, such as 'Johnny the Clockmaker',
Oxford University Press, 1960. Reprinted 1971. ISBN 0 19 279587 2
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