'Though parted . . .'
A small boy wearing a sailor suit appears to be looking down on a British soldier from the top right-hand corner of this black-and-white postcard. The soldier is perched on a table, apparently engaged in composing a letter. His cap badge appears to be that of the Royal Artillery, and the badge on his lower right-hand sleeve is a Royal Artillery gun-layer’s trade-proficiency badge. The two stripes on his lower left-hand sleeve signify six years’ long service and good conduct. The legend beneath him reads, ‘Though parted now from those I love, / They still are present to my eye, / And gladly shall I hail the day / When peace returns by and by.’. ‘PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN’, ‘Valentine’s Series’ and ‘Valentine’s Series is a guarantee of BRITISH Manufacture’ are among the details printed on the reverse. There is a message written in black ink as well, which reads: ‘My Dear Child / I hope you are keeping your Mama company & being a good Boy / From Dada xxxxxx’.
A British sentimental postcard
Postcard
CONTRIBUTOR
The Army Children Archive
DATE
-
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
1
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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Alfred Armitage and his decision to fight even though he was in a reserved occupation
14 Items
Alfred’s Great Niece Sue Armitage inherited an incredible collection of items from Alfred relating to the war. These include medals, identity discs, exemption and wound badges, photos and a piece of shell casing. Alfred had reserved occupation status as a steelworker in Sheffield but chose to sign up with his mates anyway. He was wounded in the knee by a piece of shell casing in May 1916 and this ended his war. Alfred’s wounds never healed and he had a limp until the day he died but this wound prevented him from fighting in the Battle of the Somme where many of his mates died. He was given the shell casing from his knee and brought it home with him as a reminder of his service. || The shell casing from Alfred's knee; Notification of Alfred's wound; Alfred's medals (including 'Pip', 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'); Alfred's identity disc; Certification of war badge; 1915 On War service Badge; Silver war badge issued to wounded men; Alfred; Alfred's wife to be, Jessie; Alfred with bike; Alfred in uniform; Notification of wound || || Official document || Medical || Notification of Alfred's wound || Trench Life || || Photograph || Alfred Armitage in uniform || || Alfred Armitage before signing up with bike || Photograph || || Women || Jessie, Alfred's soon-to-be wife || Photograph || || Photograph || Studio portrait of Alfred before signing up || || Alfred's War Badge (awarded after his wounding in 1916) || Medal || || Other || On war Service 1915 badge showing Alfred's status as a reserved occupation worker || Manufacture || Home Front || || Official document || Notification of Alfred's war badge || Medical || Trench Life || || Other || Alfred's Identity disc || || Trench Life || Medal || Alfred's campaign medals incl. 'Pipsqueak and Wilfred' || || Medical || Official document || Trench Life || Notification of Alfred's wound || || Trench Life || Medical || Shell casing that hit Alfred in the Knee, May 1916 || Other