A birthday card sent by a father to his son

A British patriotic postcard || A boy dressed as a British army officer is pictured on the front of this rather clumsily coloured postcard, saluting the viewer as he sits at the wheel of a toy vehicle flying the Belgian flag alongside the Union Jack. Headed ‘Birthday Greetings.’, the verse below reads, ‘I send this card to wish you / Many Happy Returns / of the day, / May troubles all be banished, / And Happiness come to stay.’. The postcard has been franked: ‘DONCASTER then in the West Riding of Yorkshire / 31 JUL 1917’. It has been addressed in black ink to ‘Master Kenneth Brown / 6 Coronation St, / Darfield. / Barnsley. also then in the West Riding of Yorkshire’. The message reads, ‘With Best Wishes & Lots of Love & Kisses to Little Kenny from Auntie Sarah / July 31st 17 xxxxxx’. || || Front || A British patriotic postcard || Postcard

A horseshoe surrounded by pink roses and adorned with the legend ‘With love and fond wishes’ is the central motif of this postcard. Headed ‘Birthday greetings to Dad’, the verse below reads, ‘A very Happy Birthday morn / Dear Father, may this be, / So full of Loving Greetings True / And Fondest thoughts for thee; / Mayst thou be spared for many years / Surrounded by our love, / With days of Happiness and Peace / And Blessings from Above’. Alongside that is written ‘Terry’, and, along the bottom, ‘871.D.’ and ‘Beagles’ postcards.’. The printed details on the reverse state, ‘J. Beagles & Co., Ltd., Printers & Publishers. / Guaranteed real photograph.’, ‘Printed in England by J. Beagles & Co. Ltd., London E.C.’ and ‘Beagles’ Post Cards / Best in the world’. Two messages in different hands have been pencilled on the back. The first reads, ‘Dear Dad. / Thank you very much, for the card which you sent me I do hope the War will soon be over, and you will be able to come home, as we miss you very much. / With love and kisses from Mother.’. Beneath that is written, ‘Dear Dad / Thank you very much for the card you sent me. I hope you are quite well / with love and kisses from Guy xxxxxxxxxxx / Betty sends a big kiss for Daddy’. || A British sentimental postcard || || Front || A British sentimental postcard || Postcard