| Collection |
McKelvie |
| Date |
November 9th 1917 |
| Description |
1 of 2 World War 1 embroidered cards. Postcard is embroided to look like an envelope. Has "United for Liberty" embroidered on the front. Underneath is a small card with the words, "Sweethear Mine". On the back it has, "May you be happy round the fire with friends both tried and true and may old Christmas never tire of bringing joys to you. With the compliments of J.E.S. Mohan". On the back it is a postcard:
November 9th 1917
Army number 41596
J.E.S. Mohan Cook
6 Battalion N.Z.R.B.
Brocton Camp
Stafford
England
"Dear Miss Newman,
Just a little token to let you know I am very well. I intend sending you and Vera my photograph. My word you are a good writer. I am sending you some London papers. They will interest you. Write to me as often as you like. Kind Regards to Mother. I am going to pay a visit to Cowslip Farm when I come back, no more roaming for me. I've seen enough to last me while I live."
The cards were handmade by French and Belgium women close to the battlefields. Working in small groups, within the sound of artillery, they sewed squares onto silk mesh usually in sets of 24. When the light was good enough to see in fine detail, the squares were cut into individual pieces. The finished silks were sent to factories in Paris and Toulouse to be made into cards and sent back to the women in the 'cottage industry' to sell to troops as they passed through the villages.
"...... Initially, the embroidered silk cards were made for the British and French soldiers but later American troops were also keen to buy them.
".......... Although few exist, it has been estimated that around 10 million of these cards were posted from soldiers in France and Belgium." [Source: Family Tree Magazine, published by ABM Publishing Ltd in the United Kingdom, July 2009, Frances Kirby's article, Words of Comfort, page 65.]
|
| Year Range from |
1917 |
| Object ID |
2000.154.0001 |
| Object Name |
Postcard |
| Other # |
2000/154 |
| People |
Newman, Miss
Newman, Vera
Mohan, James Emmatt Sexton |
|
