Summary

Postcard featuring a photograph of 'Tommy at Home in German Dug-outs', sent by Private William (Bill) Nairn to his brother Ted during World War I, circa 1918. He mentions the 'beautiful weather' and a lack of letters. He was killed in the trenches of France on 4 July 1918.

The postcard is from a Daily Mail series of 'battle pictures' from 'official war photographs' (Crown copyright), series VIII, no.63. The image was used widely during World War I, and in some cases was colourised.

Physical Description

Postcard featuring a black and white photograph of men in dugouts, with inscription explaining their context as 'German Dug-outs'. The postcard is written in pencil on the back, the writing running over the printed postcard format and further description of the photograph. It has patches of slight discolouration throughout.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Home & Community, Public Life & Institutions

  • Date Written

    Amiens, France, circa 1918

  • Author

    Private William (Bill) J. Nairn - Australian Imperial Force (AIF)

  • Inscriptions

    Printed on front: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH. / CROWN COPYRIGHT RESERVED. / 63. "TOMMY AT HOME IN GERMAN DUG-OUTS.' Printed on back: 'Passed / by Censor / POST CARD / Daily Mail BATTLE PICTURES / Our "Tommies" soon make themselves at / home in the German dugouts, when they / have driven out their tenants with shell, / bomb and bayonet. / Official War Photographs. / CROWN COPYRIGHT RESERVED. / Series VIII. No.63. / Printed in England.' At right: 'For Address only / 1/2 d Stamp / Inland / 1d Stamp / Foreign.' Hand-written on back: 'Dear Brother Ted, / Just a card to let you / know I am in good health & I hope this / will find yourself & all at home the same / also Mr. & Mrs. Lewis. It is beautiful / weather over here now Ted, I haven't had / a letter for sometime now, but I got two / Geelong papers yesterday. Farewell Ted / I remain your ever loving Brother / Bill / write soon / God bless you all / Remember / me to / Mother & Dave'.

  • Classification

    Military history, Service, Correspondence

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    History

  • Type of item

    Document

  • References

    'Amiens, cathedrale de Notre Dame' web site [Link 1] accessed 22/6/2015

  • Keywords

    World War I, 1914-1918, Military Memorabilia, Death & Mourning, Correspondence