Lord Derby Scheme comic postcard 9

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Bamforth & Co. Ltd

1915

Overview

Colourful comic postcard featuring a well-dressed man wearing a blue pin-striped suit, brown long coat with a Lord Derby armband on the sleeve, and a bowler hat. He has rosy cheeks and wide eyes. His mouth is a small 'O', expressing surprise.
Walking in the opposite direction is a young woman wearing a blue checked dress with red underskirt and white petticoat. She is holding onto her hat wth one hand. She is wearing black stockings and shoes, and a garter in the same colours as the Lord Derby armband is visible on her leg.
Around the outside of the card is a golden brown line with a red crown in the centre of each side. This matches the colour of the armband.
The caption reads 'Bow=Wow! I wonder what group she's in'.
The name of the artist, D. Tempest, appears near the base of the illustration in grey lettering.
The card has been used postally and has a green Half Penny stamp. It is addressed to Miss Lockwood in North Kelsey (Carrs), Lincolnshire and was posted by Amy in Grimsby on 21 December 1917.
The publisher's details also appear on the reverse.
This card is one of a series called 'Witty Armlet' produced by Bamforth & Co. Ltd. There are several in the collection.

Historical information

The Lord Derby Scheme armbands were worn by men who had formally volunteered for Army Service but who had yet to be issued with a uniform.
The scheme was introduced in November 1915 by Lord Derby, Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby (1865–1948) after which it was named. He was Lord Kitchener's choice for Director General of Recruiting.
The scheme represented a final attempt to avoid full-scale Conscription.
Men aged between 18 & 41 were asked to attest their readiness to serve in the British Army, on the understanding that all single men would be called up before the youngest married volunteers.
Unfortunately by the scheme’s closing date of December 1915, more than a million men had failed to come forward, resulting in compulsory military service being introduced in January 1916.

Many humorous postcards were released around this time to encourage men to enlist.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00345

Item type

Collectibles

Ephemera

Postcards

Themes

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

Material

Card

Ink

Paper

Width

88 mm

Height or length

140 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On front of card:

"Bow=Wow! I wonder
what group she's in"

"D. TEMPEST"

On reverse, left hand side"

"P.S.) Thanks for letter
sent."

"Dear Miss Lockwood,
Just a line hoping
you are still improving.
You will be surprised
to here [sic] I have got my
armlet & also a nice
card I can have
framed, I am at G.Y.
for a day or so. Give
my kind regards to your
Mother. Best Love Amy"

On reverse, right hand side:

Miss Lockwood
North Kelsey
(Carrs)
Lincs."

"BAMFORTH & CO. LTD, HOLMFIRTH (ENGLAND) AND NEW YORK.
"WITTY ARMLET" Series No. 282 PRINTED IN ENGLAND"

Keywords

Place made