Sweet remembrance postcard

An embroidered postcard, dated July, sent by Alfred Duncan, a soldier fighting in France, to his mother in Adelaide. The words 'Sweet remembrance ' are embroidered on the front.

The postcards were embroidered by the women of French villlages where the soldiers were billeted. It would take between four to eight hours to complete each card which were sold to the soldiers for only a few francs. Later a rough assembly line style of work was created by some of the Paris postcard businesses, with some deterioration in the quality of the work.

Private Alfred Duncan sent to his beloved mother in Adelaide several postcards embroidered by women of the French villages where the soldiers were billeted. Alf was wounded in action at Dernancourt on 5 April 1918 and later died of his wounds. His mother received a telegram from Major Pendlebury reporting him missing, and a later letter from the South Australian Premier A H Peake expressing his condolences. She subsequently received a letter from the Australian Red Cross with details of her son's wounding as witnessed by another soldier.

This item is reproduced courtesy of Mr Allen McDonald. It may be printed or saved for personal research or study. Use for any other purpose requires written permission from Mr Allen McDonald and the State Library of South Australia. To request approval, complete the Quote for Copy/Permission form