Christmas card sent from the Holy Land by Godfrey Edward Wignall

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c. 1941

Historical information

Godfrey Edward Wignall was born on 28 October 1912 in Richmond, Victoria. He enlisted in Darwin with the Australian Army, 32 Cash Office on 20 October 1939, and was given the service number DX33. Upon enlistment, he was a single carpenter working with the Public Works Department in Darwin.
On 31 December, he joined Eastern Command in Sydney, where he remained until May 1940. He embarked for overseas on 27 June 1940 and served in Scotland, Palestine and Dimra until March 1942. He embarked for Australia on S.S. Dorset on 24 March 1942 and disembarked on 19 April.
His next of kin changed from his mother to his wife, Irene Louise Wignall, in June 1942. He was discharged in Western Australia on 20 September 1945.
Based on his service record, it seems likely that the Christmas card was sent to his wife, Irene, in December 1941.

Visiting servicemen and women purchased a variety of souvenirs from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Palestine and The Holy Land while passing through on active service during both world wars.
Some of the more common items were embroideries such as cushion covers, painted artworks on fabric, jewellery made from mother of pearl, metal and timber, and photo albums with wooden covers filled with postcards of local scenes and pressed dried flowers.
There was also a range of trinket boxes, often with hidden drawers, made from the local olive wood and a range of other olive wood items including napkin rings and even a portable book shelf.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00775

Width

128 mm

Height or length

102 mm

Depth

3 mm

Year

c. 1941

Primary significance criteria