WWI souvenir card relating to the ANZAC Memorial in France

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Evered & Co. Ltd

c. 1916

Overview

WWI souvenir card presented by British manufacturing company, Evered & Co, Ltd, which produced the memorial cast copper tablet placed on the ANZAC Memorial in France to the 1st Division A.I.F.
The cover of the card features the logo of the Australian Y.M.C.A. - an inverted red triangle on top of an outline of the map of Australia and a stylised depiction of the rising sun badge - in the top left hand corner. The central image is of a larger, more traditional rising sun badge printed in black.
The left inside of the card has a black and white drawing of the ANZAC Memorial in France. It shows a fenced memorial with a square base and tapering sides, above which is a wreath and a large cross. The words '1st Australian Division A.I.F. are written on the arms of the cross. The tablet is visible on the front face of the memorial. The memorial appears to be in an elevated position with ploughed farmland behind.
The right inside of the card shows a close-up of the cast copper tablet. It reads 'In Memory of the Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men of the 1st Australian Division who fell in the taking of Pozières July 1916'. Details about the manufacture are written below.
The reverse of the card gives information about the company, but has also been written on in pencil by a soldier communicating with his mother.

Historical information

During World War One, Evered & Co., a brass and iron foundry, primarily based in Birmingham and Smethwick, England, played a significant role in supporting the war effort. Their expertise in metalworking contributed to the production of various essential war-related items including artillery, machine guns, and armoured vehicles.
They also supplied cast tablets such as that featured on the card for war memorials. The card also acted as advertising for the company, and appear to have been distributed by the Australian Y.M.C.A.

It would appear that the original 1st Division A.I.F. Memorial was replaced after the end of World War One. The soldier who wrote on the back of the card implies this by saying that the 'Huns have got this place now'.

The later memorial commemorates the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the First Australian Division who fought in France and Belgium in 1916, 1917 and 1918. The commemorative tablet on the memorial lists the battle honours for the 1st Australian Division:

1st Australian Division Memorial
POZIERES — MOUQUET FARM — LE BARQUE — THILLOY — BOURSIES — DEMICOURT — HERMIES — LAGNICOURT — BULLECOURT — 3RD BATTLE OF YPRES — MENIN ROAD — BROODSEINDE RIDGE — PASSCHENDAELE — BATTLE OF THE LYS — 2ND BATTLE OF THE SOMME — LIHONS — CHUIGNOLLES — HINDENBURG LINE

The memorial site was developed to maintain its preservation as a feature on the battlefield of the Somme, 1916 by le Conseil Général de la Somme.
It is a traditional obelisk style memorial within a fenced area. Close by the Memorial is the ‘Gibraltar’ German strongpoint, captured by the 1st Division in July 1916.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00537

Item type

Collectibles

Ephemera

Souvenirs

Themes

Social History
War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Card

Ink

Pencil

Width

140 mm

Height or length

82 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On front cover:

"Y.M.C.A."

"AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH
MILITARY FORCES"

On inside left:

"THE ANZAC MEMORIAL IN FRANCE"

"1ST
AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
AIF"

On inside right:

"IN MEMORY OF
THE
OFFICERS N.C.O.'S AND MEN
OF THE
1ST AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
WHO FELL IN THE TAKING OF
POZIÈRES JULY 1916"

"THIS TABLET WAS EXECUTED IN CAST COPPER BY EVERED & CO., LTD.,
LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, AND SYDNEY.
TO THE ORDER OF THE MINTSRY OF MUNITIONS:
FOR THE ANZAC MEMORIAL IN FRANCE."

On reverse of card:

"PRESENTED BY EVERED & CO., LTD.
LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, AND SYDNEY."

Writing on card in pencil:

"To my Loving Mother
With Best of Love From
Your Loving Son
Rit son?
The Huns ..Got this
place now it is all in
A Life Time x x x x"

Keywords

World War One

Y.M.C.A.

Australian Commonwealth Military Forces