First World War Colour Postcard Series III, No. 17 TOMMY Finds Shell Holes Comfortable to Sleep In

1915
Overview

First World War colour postcard is from the Daily Mail Battle Pictures, 'Series III, No.17', and depicts a number of soldiers resting in shell holes, some sleeping. The card is one of a series of Official War Photographs, passed by the censor and printed in England. At bottom of card in bold black print, “17. “TOMMY” Finds Shell Holes Comfortable to Sleep In”. A handwritten personal message on the back to, “Dear May”, is dated the 10th July, and is signed “Yours Sincerely Len”.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-12-2025.6.18
Item type
Material
Width
137 mm
Height or length
86 mm
Weight
4 g
Inscriptions and markings

Postcard addressed to, “Miss May Denney / Wilson Street / Maylands / Western Australia” with written message "10th July '17, Dear May, / Just a / line to acknowledge / your last letter. I / am OK, back with / the Battery. We are / on the move so will / write more later. / Your Sincerely / Len G. [sic]". Rear top right corner is handwritten, “OAS”. And left side is printed, “Official War Photographs / Crown Copyright Reserved / Series III. No. 17”, and, “One of the queer results of the British shell fire is to provide comfortable holes in which “Tommy” can take a nap after he has captured the ground.”

Contextual information

This postcard is from Series III, number 17 of the Daily Mail Battle Pictures series, and forms part of the DENNEY brothers collection. The postcard series using Official War photographs were printed in England and are ‘Crown Copyright Reserved’. There are 176 numbered postcards, 22 series, with 8 cards in each series.

Place made


Printed in England
Year
Primary significance criteria
Artistic or aesthetic significance
Historic significance
Scientific or research significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Object’s condition or completeness
Well provenanced
Google Maps search term / URL
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gWHZtRH1mm24SAjK8
Last modified
Thursday, 24 July, 2025
Completeness
88
Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum

Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum

Organisation details
View collection

WW1 Postcard Series No. 17 - “17. “TOMMY” Finds Shell Holes Comfortable to Sleep In”
WW1 Postcard Series No. 17 - “17. “TOMMY” Finds Shell Holes Comfortable to Sleep In”
Rear view of postcard with handwritten message.
Rear view of postcard with handwritten message.

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