RootsChat.Com

Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: spook on Friday 26 March 21 10:53 GMT (UK)

Title: Help with inscription in a prayer book?
Post by: spook on Friday 26 March 21 10:53 GMT (UK)
Hi all

My Grandfather was in the Royal Engineers, it would appear as a boy soldier. I’ve done a bit of digging previously and it would appear that his Army number is too late for WW1 which would make sense as he was born in 1901.

Any way, I’d appreciate it if anyone can decipher the prayer which appears in his Army Prayer book, the original of which is now stored at the Royal Engineers Museum.

I’ve got the following:

Lead not into Temptation
Leave us not when in
Temptation Mother Pure
Boy sapper Naylor
**************
heard (?) us two only******
**** the shadows flee
*********


Any ideas?
Title: Re: Help with inscription in a prayer book?
Post by: josey on Friday 26 March 21 11:07 GMT (UK)
After Naylor - 'true but xxx' & 'All [?half] the shadows flee away'  ???
Title: Re: Help with inscription in a prayer book?
Post by: manukarik on Friday 26 March 21 11:14 GMT (UK)
Lead not in to Temptation

leave us not when in
temptation mother's Pure
boy sapper Naylor
true but sad at
heart us two only waiting
till the shadows flee
away

Can't make out last word, looks like it could be Maria?
Title: Re: Help with inscription in a prayer book?
Post by: josey on Friday 26 March 21 11:35 GMT (UK)
Or 'Mama' ?
Title: Re: Help with inscription in a prayer book?
Post by: manukarik on Friday 26 March 21 11:40 GMT (UK)
Or 'Mama' ?

That looks more like it and appropriate, given reference to mother's pure boy!
Title: Re: Help with inscription in a prayer book?
Post by: spook on Friday 26 March 21 11:53 GMT (UK)
Thanks both. Certainly seems an odd turn of phrase to modern ears! 😄