headgardener Posted 24 December , 2014 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2014 Back to that Christmas concert programme..... I'll try reposting it. Looks like I'll have to do the inside as 2 separate images... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 24 December , 2014 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2014 Here are two unusual items - they appear to be British Committee of the French Red Cross menu cards for 1917. Maybe someone can advise on the unit or the signatures. This is the first one. obverse: reverse: ....and the 2nd one. obverse: reverse: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 24 December , 2014 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2014 Regarding the French menu cards (above), I notice that the same unit appears to mentioned on both - "S.S.A. 30" and "Florina". Does anyone have any idea what this means? Also, I couldn't help noticing the items at the end of the first menu: "Historic Teasers" - I wonder if that was a dish or a game...?! And I love the bit about "Temperance drinks only L.I.A.R."......! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 24 December , 2014 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2014 Well, I'm all Christmassed out after that....! I hope you enjoyed some of the things I've posted here, and thanks for your responses so far! Merry Christmas everyone...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveBrigg Posted 24 December , 2014 Share Posted 24 December , 2014 What a fantastic collection. Thanks for sharing them with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnMcD Posted 26 February , 2015 Share Posted 26 February , 2015 Here's an odd one - I *think* it's a Wireless station. The style of building looks like the UK, although the fern fronds make me think New Zealand. Either way, it seems to refer to an 'Officer in Command', so I'm guessing that it has a military or quasi-military function. Anyone have any ideas...? Nine.jpg You're right it is a wireless station - at Awanui near Kaitaia, Northland, New Zealand. " VLA" was the call sign. It was established in 1913 and was operated by the Post and Telegraph Department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 26 February , 2015 Author Share Posted 26 February , 2015 You're right it is a wireless station - at Awanui near Kaitaia, Northland, New Zealand. " VLA" was the call sign. It was established in 1913 and was operated by the Post and Telegraph Department. Ann - many thanks for clearing up that little mystery! I've owned that image for many years and never managed to establish the station's identity. I just found THIS site which gives some details regarding it's wartime function: "From 1913 until 1930 VLA Awanui was New Zealand’s foremost spark wireless telegraph station, operated by the Post and Telegraph Department. Communication with ships at sea out to about 500 miles and point-to-point with Sydney and Apia along with a 24-hour listening watch filled the working day. During the Great War a detachment of some sixty solders guarded this vital installation from possible enemy action. Several who survived the rigours of war are alive today all over the age of 80. Their number is not known, but several live in Whangarei." It couldn't have been a very arduous posting because the article (written in 1980) goes on to list some of the wartime dramas faced by the soldiers guarding the station: " 'Acting Sar-Major' Bill Birch, now 84 years old, (22 Kamo Road, Whangarei) was best man when 'Puckey [a VLA operator] married Matthews [a local lass]' and tells how the horse bolted near the bridge on the way to the ceremony. He had never handled a horse and gig before. His memory has failed now, but he previously narrated some interesting 'tales' of those eventful byegone days when the nation was at war. The brandishing of a revolver by an angry officer was revealed (wouldn’t you if your wife had almost been shot dead in bed by a nerve-shattered guard?). Yet another guardsman shot and killed a cow that had 'failed' to respond to his urgent challenge "who goes there?". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 17 December , 2016 Share Posted 17 December , 2016 I have dug up this interesting thread to post the following Christmas Card. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all Forum Members!!!!! Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 18 December , 2016 Share Posted 18 December , 2016 Great card Sepoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Kilkenny Posted 21 December , 2016 Share Posted 21 December , 2016 On 12/18/2016 at 15:03, squirrel said: Great card Sepoy. And well done for resurrecting this wonderful thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battiscombe Posted 21 December , 2016 Share Posted 21 December , 2016 Here is a thankyou card for an early Christmas pudding December 1914 from this RGA Gunner Joseph Arthur Doughty [33470] - 112th Heavy Battery RGA, 7th Division I believe.. I believe there is still a Haddon Baptist Church on Tower Bridge Road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gronksmil Posted 22 December , 2016 Share Posted 22 December , 2016 Merry Xmas to all. Here are some Aussie cards. Cheers, Gronky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 22 December , 2016 Share Posted 22 December , 2016 White Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 22 December , 2016 Share Posted 22 December , 2016 From an album belonging to the son of Capt. Lionel Beaumont Thomas MC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldleg Posted 8 April , 2017 Share Posted 8 April , 2017 On 12/24/2014 at 17:35, JWK said: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Messines_%281917%29 Caserne Trupel, route de Lyons, Rouen French army barracks, It housed German prisoners of war apparently. JWK, can I ask which card etc you are refering to? I know Lyons La Forêt very well and I know where the Route de Lyons is. I would love to find out more about this camp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 20 December , 2019 Share Posted 20 December , 2019 I thought it was time to dig up this thread and keep it going for 2019! Not quite a Christmas card, but a nice Christmas related entry in an autograph book! Happy Christmas all Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themonsstar Posted 21 December , 2019 Share Posted 21 December , 2019 Thank you for digging this one up, I will have a look my postcard and other bits I have. Cheers Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robins2 Posted 22 December , 2019 Share Posted 22 December , 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robins2 Posted 22 December , 2019 Share Posted 22 December , 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robins2 Posted 22 December , 2019 Share Posted 22 December , 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themonsstar Posted 22 December , 2019 Share Posted 22 December , 2019 Lark Hill Camp Post Office Christmas 1914 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themonsstar Posted 22 December , 2019 Share Posted 22 December , 2019 Chanak Christmas 1922 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromelles Posted 29 May , 2021 Share Posted 29 May , 2021 On 25/12/2014 at 01:33, headgardener said: What exactly is he doing????? I simple can't work it out! Is he looking at himself in a hand-mirror, or something...? As is often the case I’ve come upon this thread quite by chance. Some fantastic cards on show. I’ll have to dig some of mine out and post. I believe he is giving cheer to the approaching Christmas and New Year by holding up his mess tin, which I feel sure must contain a ration (or two) of rum. The handle is depicted by the darkened diagonal line coming from the rear and the wire loop for the strap can also be made out. It’s not the clearest depiction of a mess tin but once pointed out it’s obvious. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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