Summary

Black and white photograph of Chesil Beach, Dorset, England. Chesil Beach is a 28km long pebble beach on the south coast of England that is separated from the mainland by Fleet Lagoon, although the beach is still nominally attached. Chisel Beach and Fleet Lagoon were used in World War II for machine gun training and bouncing bomb tests for Operation Chastise that was carried out by no. 617 Squadron, RAF; today commonly known as 'Dambusters.'

Today the beach and the lagoon are part of the Jurassic Coast section of the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site.

The postcard is signed by 'Curl.' 'Curl' seems to be a reference to John Peile as the return address listed on ST 40698 has his name and regiment.

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; 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

Seaside village seen from above, on spit of land.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph printed on paper.

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