Moonraker Posted 11 February , 2008 Share Posted 11 February , 2008 This is a crop from a great postcard showing the Salvation Army hall at Corton Camp, near Warminster, Wiltshire. This was a small camp, used mainly by artillery attached to infantry divisions based at nearby Codford. I bet the two nice-looking girls proved a great attraction, though no doubt the stern lady in the middle kept an eye on them. With the help of a glass, I've made out what's on the tariff by the right shoulder of the Salvation Army man: tins of salmon at 9d, sardines at 5d, pineapples at 7d, pears at 8d, peaches at 10d and apricots at 10d. Plates of custard and fruit are available at 2d each. Price's Candles, wallets and combs are also on offer. The tins on the shelves look quite large, but even so they must have been an expensive treat for a private on a shilling a day. Am I right in thinking that their contents became a rarity as the war progressed? (My guess is that the photograph was taken in 1915 or 1916, after which ANZAC troops dominated the locality.) I know that food supply at home became a real problem in 1917 and 1918, and perhaps there wasn't much space on ships to import relative luxuries. In the past, I've managed to identify flags of Allies hanging in YMCA huts, but there are three in this photo that have stumped me. (And the local library, for once, wasn't any help, with no book on old flags, and I couldn't find an appropriate website.) I thought the flag next to the Union one was that of Denmark, but she was neutral in the war. And I've added a blow-up of two others for expert identification, please. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clydebank Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 Surely, one is the Swiss Flag, which when inverted becomes the Red Cross sign. The other looks like a version of the Austrian Flag with the eagle in the middle. Then the other flag could be the Danish Flag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 29 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 29 February , 2008 Ah, but why would they be displaying the flag of an enemy? Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 29 February , 2008 Share Posted 29 February , 2008 Ah, but why would they be displaying the flag of an enemy? The Salvation Army was and still is an International organisation. Whilst Salvationists fought in opposing armies (each to his own conscience) the SA itself took no side the war retaining its international outlook as a church. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 5 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 5 March , 2008 Dave - good point, and one that (obviously) I hadn't realised. Thanks to you, and to Clydebank. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian.sumner Posted 16 May , 2008 Share Posted 16 May , 2008 Those are the Swiss and the Mexican flags. It just looks like a job lot of flags that they happened to have on hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now