Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

First World War ‘WELCOME HOME’ kerchief

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Unknown

c. 1919

Overview

A rectangular printed kerchief commemorating the end of the First World War return of soldiers to London. It features a number of images with printed text in red, white and black, and is framed by red and low blue ink. The right-hand side consists of a large roundel taking up 2/3 of the space: inside the roundel are marching soldiers accompanied by an officer on a white horse in the foreground on one side with another mounted officer in the background on the opposite side with sketches of prominent London buildings in the background and the word ‘PEACE’. A red banner appears on an angle above the men with ‘WELCOME HOME’ in white capitals. Beneath the roundel is a frame featuring a dove with outstretched wings and an olive branch in its beak. A verse below the dove celebrates the return of the men, followed by a floral swag featuring a red poppy in the centre with a thistle and leaves to the left and a clover leaves to the right. Flags of the Allies appear in the space between and alongside the roundel and frame below.

The upper left-hand side of the kerchief consists of a tied ribbon and brass bell in the corner of the frame with the inscription ‘PEACE’. Below this are ships with soldiers lining the decks, being carried home. The lower section of the left-hand side sees a rosette made up of the flags of the Commonwealth with a Victoria Cross in the centre. GOD SAVE / THE KING appears alongside the rosette.

Historical information

Welcome Home parades were held in cities and towns throughout Britain and her allies. The Armistice that officially ended the fighting on the Western Front in the First World War was signed on 11 November 1918. The Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919, with Great Britain celebrating on 19 July with a Victory Parade in London made up of nearly 15.000 British Empire servicemen.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-1988.49

Item type

Textiles

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Silk

Width

624 mm

Height or length

462 mm

Weight

20 g

Inscriptions and markings

"BACK FROM THE TRENCHES, BACK FROM THE SEA / BACK TO THE LAND THEY FOUGHT TO KEEP FREE. / THE BLOOD OF EMPIRES FLOWED IN THE FIGHT, / 'GAINST THE IGNOBLE AMBITION – "MIGHT AGAINST RIGHT” / "GOD SAVE / THE KING"

Contextual Information

Patriotic souvenirs were popular during and after the war, with soldiers purchasing mementos to send or take home. This kerchief commemorates returning soldiers and the welcome they received in London.

Keywords

'WELCOME HOME' souvenir

Patriotic Souvenir

First World War souvenir

WW1

First World War

Year

c. 1919

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria