[Editor: This postcard, sent with birthday greetings, is from the era of the First World War (1914-1918). The postcard is undated.]
[Front of postcard]
Greetings from Australia
Australian wild flowers, with wattle and heath,
Around this great country appear as a wreath.
But a stronger sentiment adds to its beauty,
The sons of her soil are aye ready for duty.
I’m sending this card conveying to you
Love and best wishes fervent and true.
[Description: A map of mainland Australia, with the words “Greetings from Australia” inside it, surrounded by a wreath consisting of wattle blossom and wild flowers, along with a poem underneath.]
[Reverse of postcard]
Post Card
Marlborough Series
This space may be used for correspondence.
Address only to be written here.
— Printed in Australia —
[Handwritten text, in italics]
What cheer.
Dear Mac,
Just to wish you many happy returns of your birthday, but please God you will spend the rest of them in Australia.
How we all wish that this terrible war would end. I suppose it will some day.
Frank has recovered from his wound, but is not back in the firing line yet, as far as we know. In Frank’s letter he says Eric has just left for the firing line, poor kid.
Love from Edna xx
Source:
Original document
Editor’s notes:
Dimensions (approximate): 90 mm. (width), 143 mm. (height).
The poem on this card has been separated into its constituent lines, so as to make the lines of poetry obvious.
aye = always, forever
x = a symbol for a kiss (depending on the circumstances, it may indicate a loving kiss, a familial kiss, or a friendly kiss)
[Editor: For ease of reading, punctuation has been inserted as deemed appropriate.]
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