Summary
Black and white postcard of the French Garden, Alexandria, Egypt. The postcard, written 19 February 1916, was sent by Sapper Alfred Galbraith to 'Mother'.
Born in Maryborough, Sapper Alfred George Finlay Galbraith was the son of Alfred and Amy C. Galbraith, of W.R. Institute, Flinders Street, Station Buildings, Melbourne. He trained as an electrical engineer and enlisted in the Australian Army at the age of 20, in July 1915. His father gave written permission for him to join 'the Military Forces to serve the Empire abroad' (his mother had already died). Galbraith served in the 5th Division Signalling Company, Australian Engineers, AIF, embarking from Melbourne on 23 November 1915 on the 'Ceramic'. He went to Egypt for further training, then was shipped to France, disembarking 27 June 1916 at Marseilles. Less than three weeks later, on 15 July, he received a wound in the thigh and a 'penetrating wound in the neck'. He died the same day at the 8th Australian Field Ambulance.
Description of Content
Black and white postcard of the French Garden in Alexandria, Egypt. In front of the garden are pedestrians and horses with buggies. On the back is a letter to his mother dated 19/2/16. He writes from Ismailia Camp that he will most likely go abroad in a week. Galbraith left Alexandria for the Western Front in June 1916. Alfred Galbraith Collection, First World War.
Physical Description
Black and white postcard. Photographic image on obverse of French Garden, Alexandria, Egypt. A letter,handwritten in purple ink, takes up all of the reverse.
More Information
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Collection Names
Returned and Services League (RSL) Collection, Military Memorabilia Collection
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation & Subsequent Transfer from Mrs M. Jamieson, May 1985
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Place & Date Depicted
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Author
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Individuals Identified
GALBRAITH, A.G.F.
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Format
Postcard, Black & White
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Language
English
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Inscriptions
Obverse, printed: 6. ALEXANDRIE - French Garden Reverse, handwritten: Ismailia/ 19-2-16/ Dear Mother/ I received your letter today/ but have not much to write about. I will/ most likely will be going to Cairo in a week/ or so and will then have plenty to write/ about, it is bad luck about young Norman/ being killed at Middle Park. he was just about/ to go enlist from what I heard from Isabel/ in her last letter I received. Tommy Teth's/ will not like going and it will brake his/ heart if he does not get a commission and Alf/ has got to go it is hardly fair when are some/ others relation on the street they are able to go/ but are forgotten./ I Remain/ your Son/ Alf
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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
137 mm (Width), 86 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Australian Army, Australian Military Forces, Military Memorabilia, Postcards, Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918