Summary
Postcard written by Private Bill (William) Nairn to his sister, Sarah Jackson, featuring a group portrait of Bill's 'hut mates' around 1917-1918, during World War I. It was likely taken in England, possibly in the Codford, Wiltshire, area, where a large Australian and New Zealand army camp was located and from where he sent other postcards. Bill is probably the tall soldier standing on the left in the back row. (He was 5'11" - relatively tall for this time.) He was killed in the trenches of France on 4 July 1918.
Bill mentions receiving a parcel of biscuits from his wife Eileen's mother and sister - 'a bit of a luxury' - and asks his sister Sarah to pray for him.
Physical Description
Postcard featuring a black and white portrait of 22 uniformed Australian soldiers in four informal rows, in front of two tin sheds. The soldiers' uniforms include slouch hats and puttees. The reverse of the postcard has extensive hand-writing over a printed postcard format.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Place & Date Depicted
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Author
Private William (Bill) J. Nairn - Australian Imperial Force (AIF)
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Inscriptions
Printed on back: 'POST CARD / This place for communication / The address to be written here / STAMP / HERE'. Hand-written on back: 'This is a group photo / Sarah of me taken / with my Hut mates / over here I hope you / like it Sarah & that you / will keep it safe until I return. I do hope you get it Sarah. I got another parcel of biscuits during the week that was sent by Eileen's Mother & Sister. I was pleased to get them to [sic] / as it was a bit of a luxury. / I must close now Sarah / for the present. / I remain your ever loving / & Faithful Brother Bill / God bless & protect you / my Dearest Sister. Pray for / me Sarah'.
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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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Dimensions
135 mm (Width), 88 mm (Height)
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Keywords
World War I, 1914-1918, Military Memorabilia, Death & Mourning, Portraits, Soldiers' Comforts, Correspondence, Food Parcels
