leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Some humerous "army themed" WWI postcards.A "Mail Card", The REGENT Series No. 2209, Printed in England. The Regent Publishing Co., Ltd., London N.W. (ALL BRITISH)The "all British" specification was laboured by British postcard manufacturers of the time because pre- WWI German produced cards, even of British military subjects, had a great market in Britain & were noted for their quality. With the coming of the Great War, British postcard manufacturers produced adverts & posters which referred to battles & victories, at first glance against the German military foe on the battlefields, but they were actually refering to the "war" between British & German postcard manufacturers."Taken 3 Days Leave": Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 Spin th cap on its brass paperclip chinstrap "button", & you have an unhappy little squaddie who's been awarded 6 days "Confined to Barracks"This punishment did'nt just mean that you could'nt go out with your mates, it meant that you were paraded at various hours of the day & night in a variety of orders of dress, worked fatigues & were put through physical exercise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 (edited) What looks like the same card, other than the different wording, is in fact published by J. PICOT, Seul Depositaire, 9 Avenue de L'Opera, Paris.No "(ALL BRITISH)" specification here.She LOves Me: Edited December 10, 2008 by leigh kitchen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 She Loves Me Not: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 "Keep Smiling", a Gale & Polden Ltd London, Aldershot and Portsmouth card.A popular catchphrase of the time, along with "Are we downhearted" & the like.Sent to Master E. Vintner of New Road, Woodston, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, from Norwich, the writer states that all leave is still stopped & that he hopes it will soon be "put through", he hopes Master Vintner is well, he himself is "not very grand", suffering from stomach pains.This card was posted 15th September 1916. While the Battle of the Somme was still being fought.Keep smiling....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 A card from The REGENT Series, No. 2377, Printed in England, The Regent Publishing Co. Ltd., London. NW (ALL BRITISH) - the same publisher as the card in post no. 1: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 A postcard published by "FP" ?"Entirely Brtish Manufacture"Posted on 2nd August 1915 from Elsie Nottage of Copenhagen Road, Gillingham, Kent, to a Miss J Clark of Stamford Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire.Elsie tells Jess "Dear Jess, these are the sort of thing we see down here hope you are having a fine time" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 "The Word of Command!" - a drill command has been added in pencil - "MARKERS STEAD - IGH"It's a command given to the soldiers upon whom the rest of the parade forms up - these men march forward in file & halt after a predetermined number of paces, the rear most man first, then the next & so on. These "Markers" are then given the order to remain where they are at attention - "Markers Steady" - & the rest of the parade are ordered to march forward & "form up" on the Markers, thereby achieving correct spacing between units & sub units (subject to "fine tuning" by dressing off to make sure that they form perfectly straight ranks \& files.The spelling of the pencilled word Steady as "Stead-igh" reflects the British army NCO or Sergeant Majors pronunciation & placing of emphasis on the last syllable of the executive word of command - the "IGH", it's "spat" out, to ensure that each man moves at the same instant."PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN", The card was posted in July 1915, possibly at Sheffield, to a Miss Mary Turner, care of Miss Foden, Higher Yew Tree Farm, Over Alderby, Chelford.The sender tells "Dear Mary" that Jack arrived last night & is "going back" Wednesday morning "48 hours" - presumably a reference to a serviceman being on a "48 pass" - granted leave for 48 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 Art thou weary, art thou languid?The title of a hymn by Dr John Mason Neale, a controversial Church of England Minister of the 19th century"Art thou weary, art thou languid, Art thou sore distressed?"The artist is Donald McGill, famous n Britain for his "saucy seaside postcards", often featuring attractive girls or fat ladies & having a sexual undertone.Card n. 1661 from the "COMIQUE" Series by Inter-Art Co., Florence House, Barnes, London, S.W. British Manufactured ThroughoutNot bearing a stamp or franked, it was sent "With Best Love From Sid" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 The joke is in title of the card - the sergeant issues the drill command "Right About Face", & the squaddie mistakenly takes it to mean that at last he has got a drill movement right.No. 807 the HB Series, it is not "postally used", & is from "Mother to Jack" - "This is a pretty present from Cardiff I hope you will be please Jack" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 Very politically incorrect by todays standrads, with its lght hearted reference to domestic violence.A "Bamforth & Co., Ltd., Publishers Holmforth (England) And New York".No. 148 in the "Witty" Series, & printed in England.Addressed to "8056 Pte B. W. Scott, G Company, 3rd Gloster Refgt, Milton Bks, Gravesend, Ken"t it was posted on 12th July 1915.To a "Dear Friend", the senders name has been erased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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