Item HT 32624 Postcard - 'Denderah, The Small Temple', Egypt, Peile Brothers, World War I, 1914-1916

Summary

Postcard from a World War I album from Egypt containing 33 postcards, most featuring Egyptian themes. Of particular interest amongst these postcards is one containing a letter written to 'Father' (presumably John Peile Snr) signed by 'VS' that mentions Albert Peile. The inclusion of this postcard suggests that the album either belonged to or was compiled by John Peile Snr or another member of the Peile family.

Black and white image captioned as 'The Small Temple' at Denderah. However it appears to actually depict the Roman Mammisis (or Birth House) at Denderah. This Mammisis seems to have been dedicated to the Roman Emperor Trajan (98-117AD), but may have been started as early as the reign of the Emperor Nero (54-68AD). Mammisis were first added to temple complexes during the Egyptian Late Period (664-332BC) and were dedicated to the various 'child-gods' within Egyptian mythology.

Denderah (or Dendera) is a small town on the west bank of the Nile in Upper Egypt, the city is famous for the Temple of Hathor - one of the best preserved Egyptian Temples in Egypt. The earliest temple on the site dates back to Khufu (one of the Giza pyramid builders) of the Old Kingdom, but the present temple dates to the Ptolemaic Era.

A hand-written inscription identifies the 'temple' as being near the pyramids, which is wrong given Dendera's location.

Part of a collection of material relating to the World War I service of brothers John and Albert Victor Peile, who both died in the conflict. Younger brother Albert enlisted first. He was a 22-year-old unmarried clerk when he enlisted on 27 August 1914, service number 769, 3rd Battalion. He served in Gallipoli and later France, and was eventually promoted to the rank of corporal. He died in Bullecourt, France on 4 May 1917 and his body was never found. He is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. His brother John Peile was a 38-year-old unmarried miner when he enlisted on 25 June 1915, service number 2662, 2nd Battalion. He also served in in Gallipoli and France, and was similarly promoted to corporal. He died in France on 18 September 1918 and is buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Their mother died only a few years later in 1926, aged 73.

Their niece was Mrs M. J. Hitchens, the donor. Margaret Joan Hitchens (1916-?) was the daughter of Albert and John's sister Alice and her husband John Henry Dinwoodie.

Description of Content

Partly ruined ancient temple.

Physical Description

Black and white image of an ancient building, the use of a lotus blossom capital on the pillars suggests that it is Egyptian.