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 of Clot Bey Street in Cairo. The street was named for Antoine Barthelemy Clot (1793-1868), a French physician who became the Chief Surgeon to Mehemet Ali. He was given the name 'Clot Bey' by Mehemet and is credited as one of the founders of modern medicine in Egypt.
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
Low-rise streetscape with pedestrians, tram and donkey cart.
Physical Description
Black and white image looking down a busy street. Tall buildings line both sides of the street and several figures can be seen walking along it, some on the sidewalks and some on the street itself.
More Information
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Collection Names
Military Memorabilia Collection, Returned and Services League (RSL) Collection
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Victorian Branch, Returned & Services League of Australia Limited (RSL), Mrs Margaret J. Hitchens, 1986
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Place & Date Depicted
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Format
Album
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Inscriptions
Printed in black ink on the front of the postcard in the top right corner: 'Cairo, Clot Bey Street. / (Arabic inscription)' Printed in black ink on the front of the postcard along the left margin: 'Nr. ? Au Carto-Sport, Max H. Ruddman, Le Caire' Printed on the back of the postcard along the top margin: 'L'adresse seule doit être dorite de ce côté' Printed on the back of the postcard: 'UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE / EGYPT / CARTE POSTALE'
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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
139 mm (Width), 89 mm (Height)
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References
'Antoine Clot,' Wikipedia, at: [Link 1] accessed: August 2, 2012 'A Tour of Modern (Central) Cairo, Egypt,' Tour Egypt, at: [Link 2] accessed: August 2, 2012 For Albert Peile's war record see the National Archives of Australia website at: [Link 3] For John Peile's war record see the National Archive of Australia website at: [Link 4]
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Keywords
World War I, 1914-1918, Streets, Egyptian, Postcards, Trams, Donkeys