Summary
Black and white postcard addressed to Private Albert Edward Kemp from his daughter. Ethel, who would have been about five when she wrote this card, says: 'dear Daddy I am waiting and watching day by day for you'. Albert never came home - he was killed after less than six months on the Western Front. It is not clear if the postcard was ever sent, since it was unstamped, but it may have been part of a parcel sent to him. Several postcards were found on Albert after his death, and this may have been one of them. The postcard is certainly stained from use.
Albert Edward Kemp was a 32-year-old butcher living in Caulfield and married to Annie Josephine, when he enlisted. He and Annie had a daughter, Ethel Mavis, and a baby son, George Percival. Albert enlisted at Royal Park on 4 October 1916, and was assigned to the 22nd Reinforcements, 6th Battalion - regimental number 6800. His battalion left Melbourne 25 October 1916 - just 21 days after he enlisted. He was shipped to France on 27 March and was taken on strength on 4 April. On 21 September 1917, Albert died in the trenches in Glencorse Wood, Belgium. His body was never found. He is commemorated at 29 The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Physical Description
Black and white postcard featuring the image of a woman holding a child, who stands on a bench next to him. Behind them floats an image of a soldier's head, with text to side and below. Reverse of postcard is both printed and hand-written. It is unstamped.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase from Mr Jeff Kemp, 07 Dec 2006
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Author
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Addressed To
Private Albert E. Kemp - 6th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (AIF), 1917
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Format
Postcard, Black & White
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Inscriptions
Text, front: FOND THOUGHTS/of YOU/While you're fighting/Australia's battle-/Far away across/the foam,/Remember there/are loving hearts/Who think of you/at home. Text, reverse: Post R.E.M. Card/THIS SPACE MAY BE USED FOR/CORRESPONDENCE/Soldier Series - Printed in Australia/dear Daddy/I am waiting/and watching/day by day/for you/Ethel/Kemp.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
9.1 cm (Width), 14.2 cm (Height)
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Dimensions
90 mm (Length), 140 mm (Width)
Measurement From Conservation.
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Dimensions
90 mm (Length), 140 mm (Width)
Measurement From Conservation.
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References
[Book] Hutchinson, Garrie. 2009. Remember Them; a Guide to Victoria's Wartime Heritage., 30-2 Pages
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Keywords
Death & Mourning, Domestic Life, Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918, Making History - Kemp Mourning Collection