World War 1 Embroidered French Postcards
Introduction
Australian soldiers sent home embroidered French Postcards with patriotic as well as decorative and seasonal themes. Many incorporated a flap into which a small card could be tucked, bearing perhaps more personal messages than those on the reverse of the card which was open for all to read. The first card below shows this clearly.
Four of the postcards are from Leo Thomas Smedley and three from his brother Hector William Smedley to 'Cissie' - Beryl Constance Smedley - the only girl in the family, who was eventually to become Margaret Anne Wine's grandmother. Beryl was born in 1910, one of the youngest of a very large family.
One each from Leo and Hector are addressed to 'Dad and the boys', and one postcard from Leo was sent to Hector on the occasion of his birthday in 1917.
The final two postcards are from a family friend, William Young, to Beryl. William was born in Tallangatta and was posted to the 4th Pioneer Battalion after enlisting in July of 1915.
Postcard 1
Patriotic Rising Sun Theme, embroidered 'AUSTRALIA'
14cm w x 9cm h
Leo Thomas Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley
Obverse Postcard 1
Reverse Postcard 1
Obverse, Small Insert, Postcard 1
4.85cm w x 6.85cm h
Reverse, Small Insert, Postcard 1
Postcard showing pocket and insert - Postcard 1
Postcard 2
Floral theme - 8.9cm w x 13.8cm h
No pocket in front
Hector William Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley
advising that he had heard from Hector
Obverse Postcard 2
Reverse Postcard 2
Postcard 3
Patriotic butterfly theme, embroidered 'Souvenir from France'
14cm x 9cm
US, French, British and Australian flags on the large wings, with the colours of Belgium, France,
Italy, Japan and Portugal
Hector William Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley written on 11/11/18
[Note that there is no mention of an Armistice]
Obverse Postcard 3
Reverse Postcard 3
Postcard 4
Country home/Birthday theme, embroidered 'MANY HAPPY RETURNS
13.7cm w x 8.9cm h
From Leo Thomas Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley with inserted card 'Many Happy Returns'
Obverse Postcard 4
Reverse Postcard 4
Inserted card, Postcard 4
Postcard 5
Floral theme, embroidered 'With love and Kisses'
13.9cm w c 8.8cm h
From Leo Thomas Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smeddley with inserted card 'A Merry Christmas'
Obverse Postcard 5
Reverse Postcard 5
Inserted card, Postcard 5
Postcard 6
Floral theme, embroidered 'SOUVENIR FROM FRANCE'
13.8cm w x 9cm h
From Leo Thomas Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smeddley with inserted card 'To my dear sister from Leo'
Obverse Postcard 6
Reverse Postcard 6
Inserted card, Postcard 6
Postcard 7
Year 1917 theme, embroidered 'Souvenir de France'
13.8cm w x 9cm h
Numbers in the flags of the UK, Belgium, USA and Italy
From Leo Thomas Smedley to his brother Hector William Smedley with inserted card 'Happy Birthday',
discouraging him from enlisting. [It didn't work.]
Obverse Postcard 7
Reverse Postcard 7
Inserted card, Postcard 7
Postcard 8
Military Figure in floral wreath with Red Ensign, embroidered 'KEEP SMILING'
9cm w x 14cm h
No pocket in front
Leo Thomas Smedley to 'My Dear old Dad & the boys' dated 1 Nov 1916
Obverse Postcard 8
Reverse Postcard 8
Postcard 9
Butterfly in National Flag colours, embroidered 'SOUVENIR DE FRANCE
8.8cm w x 13.7cm h
Similar to Postcard 3
No pocket in front
Hector William Smedley to 'Dad & the boys' dated 11 Nov 1918 [Note that there is no mention of an Armistice]
Obverse Postcard 9
Reverse Postcard 9
Postcard 10
Floral theme, embroidered 'For you alone'
8.8cm w x 13.8cm h
No pocket in front
Leo Thomas Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley noting that Hector was 'getting on well'.
Obverse Postcard 10
Reverse Postcard 10
Postcard 11
Floral theme - 8.8cm w x 13.8cm h
Embroidered 'To my dear friend', Christmas wishes inside
No pocket in front
William Young to William Smedley to Beryl Constance Smedley
Obverse Postcard 11
Reverse Postcard 11
Postcard 12
Floral theme, embroidered 'To my dear girl'
8.8cm w x 13.8cm h <
No pocket in front
William Young to Beryl Constance Smedley
Obverse Postcard 12
Reverse Postcard 12
Obverse, Small Insert, Postcard 1
4.85cm w x 6.85cm h
Reverse, Small Insert, Postcard 1
Postcard showing pocket and insert - Postcard 1
Floral theme - 8.9cm w x 13.8cm h
Hector William Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley advising that he had heard from Hector
Obverse Postcard 2
Reverse Postcard 2
Patriotic butterfly theme, embroidered 'Souvenir from France'
14cm x 9cm
Hector William Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley written on 11/11/18
[Note that there is no mention of an Armistice]
Obverse Postcard 3
Reverse Postcard 3
Country home/Birthday theme, embroidered 'MANY HAPPY RETURNS
13.7cm w x 8.9cm h
Obverse Postcard 4
Reverse Postcard 4
Inserted card, Postcard 4
Floral theme, embroidered 'With love and Kisses'
13.9cm w c 8.8cm h
Obverse Postcard 5
Reverse Postcard 5
Inserted card, Postcard 5
Floral theme, embroidered 'SOUVENIR FROM FRANCE'
13.8cm w x 9cm h
From Leo Thomas Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smeddley with inserted card 'To my dear sister from Leo'
Obverse Postcard 6
Reverse Postcard 6
Inserted card, Postcard 6
Postcard 7
Year 1917 theme, embroidered 'Souvenir de France'
13.8cm w x 9cm h
Numbers in the flags of the UK, Belgium, USA and Italy
From Leo Thomas Smedley to his brother Hector William Smedley with inserted card 'Happy Birthday',
discouraging him from enlisting. [It didn't work.]
Obverse Postcard 7
Reverse Postcard 7
Inserted card, Postcard 7
Postcard 8
Military Figure in floral wreath with Red Ensign, embroidered 'KEEP SMILING'
9cm w x 14cm h
No pocket in front
Leo Thomas Smedley to 'My Dear old Dad & the boys' dated 1 Nov 1916
Obverse Postcard 8
Reverse Postcard 8
Postcard 9
Butterfly in National Flag colours, embroidered 'SOUVENIR DE FRANCE
8.8cm w x 13.7cm h
Similar to Postcard 3
No pocket in front
Hector William Smedley to 'Dad & the boys' dated 11 Nov 1918 [Note that there is no mention of an Armistice]
Obverse Postcard 9
Reverse Postcard 9
Postcard 10
Floral theme, embroidered 'For you alone'
8.8cm w x 13.8cm h
No pocket in front
Leo Thomas Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley noting that Hector was 'getting on well'.
Obverse Postcard 10
Reverse Postcard 10
Postcard 11
Floral theme - 8.8cm w x 13.8cm h
Embroidered 'To my dear friend', Christmas wishes inside
No pocket in front
William Young to William Smedley to Beryl Constance Smedley
Obverse Postcard 11
Reverse Postcard 11
Postcard 12
Floral theme, embroidered 'To my dear girl'
8.8cm w x 13.8cm h <
No pocket in front
William Young to Beryl Constance Smedley
Obverse Postcard 12
Reverse Postcard 12
From Leo Thomas Smedley to his brother Hector William Smedley with inserted card 'Happy Birthday',
discouraging him from enlisting. [It didn't work.]
Obverse Postcard 7
Reverse Postcard 7
Inserted card, Postcard 7
Military Figure in floral wreath with Red Ensign, embroidered 'KEEP SMILING'
9cm w x 14cm h
Leo Thomas Smedley to 'My Dear old Dad & the boys' dated 1 Nov 1916
Obverse Postcard 8
Reverse Postcard 8
Butterfly in National Flag colours, embroidered 'SOUVENIR DE FRANCE
8.8cm w x 13.7cm h
No pocket in front
Hector William Smedley to 'Dad & the boys' dated 11 Nov 1918 [Note that there is no mention of an Armistice]
Obverse Postcard 9
Reverse Postcard 9
Floral theme, embroidered 'For you alone'
8.8cm w x 13.8cm h
Leo Thomas Smedley to his sister Beryl Constance Smedley noting that Hector was 'getting on well'.
Obverse Postcard 10
Reverse Postcard 10
Floral theme - 8.8cm w x 13.8cm h
Embroidered 'To my dear friend', Christmas wishes inside
William Young to William Smedley to Beryl Constance Smedley
Obverse Postcard 11
Reverse Postcard 11
Floral theme, embroidered 'To my dear girl'
8.8cm w x 13.8cm h <
William Young to Beryl Constance Smedley
Obverse Postcard 12