Summary

Christmas card with the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces logo and the text; 2/10 Aust. Inf Battalion Australian Imperial Force on the front. The card is from Leo Pollard to Mr. and Mrs Henry Malval, dated Christmas 1944. It is assumed that the card was sent to Margaret Malval as part of a series of correspondence between Leo Pollard and Margaret Malval. The pair began correspondence after Margaret sent Leo a Christmas package through the Australian Comforts Fund in 1943.

Margaret Malval emigrated to the United States of America from Melbourne, Australia in 1935. During World War II she volunteered for the American Women's Voluntary Services and sent packages to Australian soldiers through the Australian Comforts Fund, thereby entering into an exchange of correspondence with a number of Australian soldiers based in the Pacific and in Australia.

Physical Description

Printed Christmas card with Australian Commonwealth Military Forces logo and the text; 2/10 Aust. Inf Battalion Australian Imperial Force, on the front. There is a purple and blue diagonal line printed across the top left hand corner. Inside the card, the left hand side has an image showing a soldier watching planes overhead and a scroll that shows the text; VOLAVIMUS / SUPERAVIMUS / PUGNAVIMUS. The internal right hand side contains a message.

Significance

This collection of letters and cards are significant as they illustrate the continuing ties felt by an emigrant to their country of birth. Margaret Malval was born and grew up in Melbourne, Victoria and moved to the United States of America to be married in 1935, where she lived for the rest of her life. Though her husband served in the United States Armed Forces, Margaret chose to send care packages to Australian soldiers through the Australian Comforts Fund, suggesting she retained strong ties to Australia.

These letters and cards were sent from Australian servicemen to Margaret, initially after receiving a care package from her which she donated through the Australian Comforts Fund. These letters and cards highlight the support of people on the home front for Australian servicemen by sending care packages through organisations like the Australian Comforts Fund, and the response of Australian Servicemen on receipt of these packages. Additionally, this collection also helps tell the stories of the frontline experience of Australian servicemen during World War II.

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