Summary

Embroidered postcard featuring flowers and text 'To My Dear Sister'. It is written by serving soldier David Hinds to his sister Madge on 1 February 1918. It includes a small envelope in which a special message could be placed - some examples have a small, commercially-printed card with a message on them.

Part of a collection of postcards and other documents gathered by the donor's grandfather. The collection relates to the Hinds family of Beaconsfield, Tasmania, during World War I: Sapper David James Hinds, service # 4760; his brother Lyle Gordon Hinds, service #4764 (both served in tunnelling companies); their sisters Madge and Lenora (the latter lived in Launceston); their mother Jessie Hinds; and Walter (last name unknown). David and Lyle survived the war, although Lyle became a prisoner-of-war in Germany. He died in 1953 'due to war service', leaving a wife and two small children. (Ref: letter from spouse in his war service file.)

According to the Australian War Memorial, the popularity of embroidered postcards (first made for the Paris Exposition in 1900) peaked during World War I. Many were 'embroidered by French women in their homes and then sent to the factories for cutting and mounting on postcards'. Common themes included family, remembrance, liberty, unity and war souvenirs.

Physical Description

Embroidered postcard with embossed frame, featuring embroidered images of large blue and small pink flowers and green foliage, with inscription in pink 'TO MY DEAR SISTER'. The floral part of the embroidery is a separate panel, hinged at the top, that lifts to provide a small pocket for another message or personal item (empty in this case). The back of the postcard is printed and hand-written. Stains throughout.

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