My father, Foster Magson, always used to wonder what had happened to Uncle Bob, this was the family mystery.

Robert Southerby Magson was born on 7 August 1878 at Rakaia, New Zealand. He was an engineer on bridges. He was last heard of in 1914 from South Africa, probably from Johannesburg.

In my possession is a postcard, it is the other side of the photo above, that he sent from England. He said he had been up to Lancashire for a week and had been out to Hendon to have a fly but the weather was not suitable, so he was disappointed. The card also said that he intended to go back to South Africa for a few months and then to go home to New Zealand to visit the family.

He never arrived. He was a handsome fellow, if anyone has any clues as to what happened to him, please let me know.

Rae Magson