Summary

Field service postcard showing an early form of censorship sent by troops from the Front during World War I. The message is compiled by crossing out pre-printed lines that are not relevant. The postcard is from Alfred Galbraith to Mrs J. Breare, 54 Rosebery Ave, South Shields [in South Tyneside], England and is dated 12 July 1916. He was killed three days later in France.

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

Field service postcard showing an early form of censorship sent by troops from the Front during World War One. The message is compiled by crossing out pre-printed lines that are not relevant. The postcard is from Alfred Galbraith to Mrs J. Beare, 54 Rosebury Ave. South Shields, England in 1916. Alfred Galbraith was in, Flanders, France with the 5th Division Signal Company. Alfred Galbraith Collection, First World War.

Physical Description

Buff coloured postcard pre-printed with phrases. Filled in with blue pencil

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