First World War “Good Bye to my Dear Mother” Postcard from Private William Dobson STEVENS 4002
c. 1914 - 1916Black and white postcard from the First World War, written on the back by Private William Dobson STEVENS, 4002. Front: Beige glossy card with photo montage of black and white photographic images, illustration and inscription consisting of embossed border of roses and clover. The black and white images are of a flying Union Jack flag next to pansy flowers with a male and female lower forearm and hand, with the hands holding each other, 3 rose flowers and ivy leaves. Back: off white card with printing and handwriting in blue pencil. Minor foxing.
Postcards were a very important social currency of the First World War as they were the way that a soldier at the front and the people at home could communicate. Post card publishers were quick to see the opportunities presented by the war and cards were on sale within 3 days of the declaration of war in 1914. Rhyme–makers found considerable scope in postcards and a genre was created in which verse was more dominate than the accompanying picture or photograph. Some cards were made up entirely of simple and sentimental verse. The poetry was not strong, but deliberately tugged at the heartstrings.
The postcard publishers Beagels of London, who claimed to be the best in the world, specialised in cards with patriotic and religious themes sometimes linking the two as in the card.
The card is sent by AIF soldier William Dobson STEVENS, service number 4002. William came from Armadale in Western Australia and enlisted on 23rd August 1915 at the age of 38. He left behind his wife and 1 child. William was wounded in action on 12th October 1917 at Paschendale Ridge with a gunshot wound to his left foot. He was returned to Australia in February 1918 and discharged on 3rd May 1918.
Details
Details
Front: “GOOD-BYE” / “TO MY DEAR MOTHER / DEAREST MOTHER / I AM SENDING / JUST A LINE BEFORE WE START; / MAKES A CHAP FEEL RATHER SERIOUS / FROM HIS HOME AND FOLK TO PART, / BUT WE SHALL NOT BE DOWNHEARTED, /
THERE IS SUN AS WELL AS RAIN, / HOPE YOU’LL / KEEP QUITE / FIT & CHEERY, / UNTIL I / RETURN AGAIN / A.S. ANDREWS". Along bottom edge: "586. F COPYWRIGHT BEAGLES POSTCARDS"
Back: Vertical writing “J. BEAGLES &Co., LTD., E. C., PRINTERS & PUBLISHERS” / GUARANTEED REAL PHOTOGRAPH”. Along top “POST CARD” appears in large capitals with Beagles logo between the two words. The logo consists of a globe world map with the word “Best” written across diagonally left to right. Hugging the top of the globe “BEAGLES’”. Hugging the bottom “POST CARDS”. Underneath central on the card “BEST IN THE WORLD”. At the top RHS is a box where a stamp could be placed. Inside the box is printed “PRINTED/ IN / ENGLAND / BY / J. BEAGLES & CO,/ LTD.,/LONDON. E. C.”
Remainder of the back of the card is divided into 2 sections by centre line. Lhs “FOR CORRESPONDENCE”. In this section is handwritten “Dear Mother / we are going / in to the / trench in a / day or to / good bye all / with love”. The other section “FOR ADDRESS ONLY” is handwritten “W D Stevens / 4002 / 12th Reinforcement / 16th Battalion / 4 Brigade / Cairo / good bye [sic]”
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