Embroidered postcards

Colourful, delicately embroidered, silk postcards stand in juxtaposition to the grim brutality of the First World War. A 'cottage industry' developed in France during the war as French women (many of whom had their sole male support away fighting or killed) turned to making these cards as a means of generating income. Many Australian soldiers purchased the lovely cards and posted them to friends and family. This particular example comes from a collection of correspondence lovingly written by Private John Wade of Boulder and sent home to his mother, Mary.