Postcards from Ted #2

"Law Courts & Fleet St., London." Postcard manufactured in Britain. No.21005.

"In the trenches, France, June 29th 1916.

Dear Hilda,

Once again I have the pleasure of writing to you, thanking you for your letter of April 10 and glad to know you are doing famous but sorry to hear that Vera had the misfortune to fall from the Tram but glad to know she's resting.Well I haven't seen Ern for quite a time. I think he must hide. I am always about when out of the trenches. Don't worry about him he is well back been in the Artillery. He will take every precaution. I hope to see you all in the near future. I will now say bye bye for the present. I remain your true friend, Ted.

Hoping to hear from you again soon. A fortnight ago I was in this place."

Postcards from Ted #1

"Knightsbridge, London." A British postcard no.21403.

"In the Trenches, France. June 26th, 1916."

Dear Marion, 

I have much pleasure in writing you these few lines to let you know that I am doing famous and in good health. Hoping you are all the same. I have been home to London and 7 days leave and have been back a week now. I had a most enjoyable time and the people were so kind to me. I haven't heard from you for some time now but hope to shortly. I haven't seen Ern since we arrived at Marseilles. He is about here somewhere. It has been raining off and on for about a week and the mud is awful nevertheless we mustn't growl. We are here to beat those Huns and we will do it in time although I wish the whole concern was finished. I have just about had enough and my nerves are not the same as when I left N.Z. It makes me feel as though I have been a soldier for some...

"Ludgate Circus, London." A British postcard no.21002.

...considerable time when one hears of the 12 reinforcements arriving. If I were in N.Z. now I would certainly be ashamed to show myself. In London there are hundreds of young fellows in mufty who ought to be ashamed of themselves. I will write a letter next time. Sincerely hope you are all well. Give my kindest regards Doll at home and any inquiring friends. The Artillery duels are pretty severe at times but we have got the huns thinking our boys have been less successful against them twice now. You will no doubt see by the papers. I will now say bye bye for the present. Hoping to see you all some day. I remain yours sincerely, Ted xxxxxxxxx."

The Blue Cross Fund

"Soins aux chevaux blesses" (care for injured horses).
Reproduced as postcards, and used in the British newspaper "The Sphere".

"Good Bye, Old Man." by Italian-born artist Fortunino Matania.

Reproduced as postcards, and used in the British newspaper "The Sphere".

In 1897 the 'Our Dumb Friends League' was formed by a group of people impassioned to provide care and well-being for working horses on the streets of London. Then during the Balkan War of 1912 the League introduced the Blue Cross Fund as a means of helping animals in the war. Just a few years later came the First World War and never had the world seen the need for, and scale of, such vast numbers of people and animals in warfare. 

The president of the Blue Cross Fund during the war was Lady Smith-Dorrien, and the secretary was Arthur J. Coke. On foreign soil, the support of the French Government and the work of the Fund proved very special and invaluable during those terrible years. By late 1916 The Blue Cross Fund was given permission to open eight animal hospitals within reach of the battlefields. At these hospitals injured horses were afforded either expert treatment by fully trained veterinary staff or given a quick humane death if beyond saving. 

In that same year the Blue Cross Fund had commissioned the gifted Italian artist Fortunino Matania to paint a special scene of an animal affected by the war. This resulted in what would become one of the most poignant and memorable paintings of the First World War. The scene was subtitled "An incident on the road to a battery position in Southern Flanders". It depicts a panic stricken and dying horse supported in the hands of its soldier companion, while screaming shells strike the roadside and building drowning out the desperate shout from the soldier's colleague further up the road. The original painting is on display at the Blue Cross Fund's animal hospital in Victoria, London. Matania's exceptional piece was reproduced on to postcards (shown above) and entitled "Good Bye, Old Man."

Here in New Zealand in October 1916, Wellington resident Robert Darroch was moved by the wonderful and courageous work of the Blue Cross Fund. This inspired him to help organise local fund raising so that financial contributions could be made to the Blue Cross Fund. Children at Wellington's Roseneath School and musical recitals helped build proceeds which were then sent to the Fund overseas.

"The Wounded Chum. A Case For The Blue Cross." by British artist Stanley Wood.

Horses at War

Through the ages, the horse was ever present in and about the battlefield. Whether serving the artillery hauling guns, as a pack-horse carrying supplies, as a companion to the regular trooper, or as a charger and faithful friend to the officer, the horse was considered reliable and essential in war.

"Pals!" by British artist C.T. Howard. Postcard printed and published by J. Salmon, Sevenoaks, England.

Many distinguished generals of the past had a famous charger; Alexander the Great's 'Bucephalas', the Duke of Wellington's 'Copenhagen', Napoleon's white stallion 'Marengo', Lord Cardigan's 'Ronald', General Robert E. Lee's 'Traveller', Colonel Miles Keogh's 'Comanche', Lord Kitchener's 'Democrat', Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauval's 'Aristocrat', the German Crown Prince's 'Jiu-Jitsu' and the list goes on.

But the heroic deeds performed by the war horse were not limited to the charger. The artillery was reliant on the horse to transport guns and often in the firing line, and the army service corps to carry much needed supplies. 

New Zealand Artillery on the move transporting their guns. Date and location unknown.

Apart of New Zealand's military formation in the First World War was the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. Their distinguished war service included action at Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine and the Western Front. Of particular note, was the New Zealand involvement in the attack on Beersheba in 1917, and the Otago Mounted Rifles charge on Messines in June 1917.

Companions - A New Zealand soldier and his horse.

The Red Triangle - wartime support from the YMCA

Postcard published by C.P.C., London, Series 592C.

During the First World War, the distinctive red triangle of the Y.M.C.A. (Young Men's Christian Association) symbolized comfort, recreation and religion to soldiers in the war zone and behind the lines. A Y.M.C.A. facility could be found in the major cities and military camps in New Zealand, training camps and hospitals in England, and even in huts, tents and dugouts near the firing line in France and Belgium.

The New Zealand Expeditionary Force officials realised they could not under estimate the strength, welfare and morale capabilities of the Y.M.C.A. during the war. The wide range of services provided by the Y.M.C.A. to New Zealand soldiers included coffee, tea, cocoa, cigarettes, chocolate, hot meals, books, writing material, concerts, cinema, sport, education, religious services and of course, accommodation as 'a home away from home.'

"The Quiet Room, Y.M.C.A." New Zealand soldiers dressed in 'hospital blue' uniform take time out to read and enjoy the peaceful surroundings offered by this Y.M.C.A. establishment somewhere in England.