The Daily Postcard No. 16

German infantry slaughtering attacking British cavalry, St. Quentin, 27th August 1914. 

It would be some time before the words ‘Great War’ would come into use, and in the meantime, various other terms would appear; here, on the reverse, the war is referred to as ‘International War 1914-1915’.

German cavalry slaughtering retreating British infantry (in their smart grey uniforms), St. Quentin, same date.

They liked battering the French, too.  Probably also August 1914.

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21 Responses to The Daily Postcard No. 16

  1. Sid from Down Under says:

    Graphic and terrible – imagine the fear of both sides in the top postcard – shades of an earlier era of battle attack tactics but now in hindsight we know how weapons and tactics changed – no MF, I won’t mention the name of my favourite Knighted-in-the-field General, the civilian soldier who taught ’em how to do it

    • Magicfingers says:

      Who could that possibly be??!! The reality was doubtless terrible, indeed, but for me, these images are just enough removed from reality to be seen strictly as they are, which is an artist’s eye view of what he thought probably happened.

  2. Nick Kilner says:

    Now that’s far more in keeping with the type of image I would expect to see, rather than the previous ‘Rescued’ german sailor in a spot of bother cards we saw previously.

    • Magicfingers says:

      Yes. These three cards are all quite early productions. The rescued German sailors are later. How significant that is, I dunno.

      • Nick Kilner says:

        I would suggest it perhaps shows something of a change in attitudes, possibly.,, Might just be that they were looking for a new and different perspective. Can’t have been easy thinking up new pictures of the fighting year on year.

        • Margaret Draycott says:

          Hi Nick had a look at my fathers military records he started in the city of London yeomanry. After he returned from being p.o.w he was with 7RTR when he disembarked in France. I don’t know who his C.O was. Would like to see your dads records. Not sure if we tried Bovington for any records. Son got what we have from the Army

          • Nick Kilner says:

            Hi Margaret
            7 RTR war diaries are actually available from the national archives if you haven’t already got them. unfortunately they have not yet been digitised so you will need to request a copy, which from memory is slightly more expensive than the download.
            the war diary reference for 1944 is WO 171/868
            and 1945 is WO 171/4712
            Please feel free to drop me an email and I will happily show you what I have on my grandfathers service nkilner@hotmail.co.uk

  3. Margaret Draycott says:

    Very graphic cards presumably to boost the people back home on how well the german army were doing.
    Knighted-in-the-field General?pray Do tell, I am only a novice I haven’t a clue.

    • Magicfingers says:

      Well I’m not saying……

      • Margaret Draycott says:

        Oh you meanie how will I learn

        • Magicfingers says:

          You’ll have to entreat Sid to explain.

          • Sid from Down Under says:

            Something is wrong – I provided Margaret with a quite detailed elucidation but it’s not here – when I pressed “Post comment” it came up as normal. Sadly I didn’t keep a copy so I’ll have to test the grey matter to re-compose and post – stay tuned Margaret

          • Sid from Downunder says:

            I’ve tried to post three more times but something is amiss – I’ll need MF help (again)

          • Sid from Down Under says:

            Hi Margaret and thank you for your interest.

            We think my Posting issue might be due to hyperlinks and spam filter so if this Posts OK (minus hyperlinks) MF will send them to you separately …. Here goes

            The man is General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD – born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and a civilian soldier. A truly remarkable man. Named after him are a University with associated large medical centre and a Motorway. A Civil Engineer who in his home state built bridges, a railway and electricity system and supervised construction of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

            To get a reasonable idea about this man please read the hyperlinks at the end.
            (Five hyperlinks will be sent by MF as #1)

            He is credited with devising a new battle tactic that turned the war against the Germans and was proved at the Battle of Hamel – that basic strategy is used to this day. As a result, King George V knighted him in the field – also there is another story to that day concerning my father (more mystery).

            Sadly people in high places jealously resented Monash and could not come to terms with a mere civilian’s military brilliance. Biographers say his Jewish Prussian heritage was counted against him. In 2018 (Armistice Centenary) he was denied posthumous elevation to the highest rank in the Australian Army, Field Marshal. See here: (hyperlink will be sent by MJ as #2)

            According to British historian A. J. P. Taylor, Monash was “the only general of creative originality produced by the First World War”.

            Field Marshal Montgomery, the famous British army commander in the Second World War (a junior officer in the First World War) later wrote: “I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the western front in Europe”.

            Happy reading

  4. Margaret Draycott says:

    Thankyou Sid sorry to put you to all this trouble. I look forward to receiving when MF can assist you.

    • Sid from Down Under says:

      As they say “No worries Margaret” – I’ve re-composed and probably “Improved” a short story on what really needs a book – it’s an enjoyable pastime and I truly thank you for your interest – we will get there with the help of la maestra who I was tempted to call by the northern hemisphere round ball footballer El Maestro but because I need help I’ll call him MF

      And because like him I am under the thumb of the missus (ha ha) I’d better get to it and continue to cook our evening meal – “Tea” – “Dinner”

      Oh and by the way – I have in my possession a recent photo of a pussy cat on someone’s lap so perhaps he is a cat – no, I don’t believe that

      • Margaret Draycott says:

        MF will suffice Sid. He’ll be thinking he is to good for us. Glad to see the missus has got you well trained enjoy your evening meal. Catch you later oh and by the way never thanked you for the information about Australia had a look at the map and have a better idea of where you are and how things work. Had no idea you were bombed by the Japanese in ww2.
        By the way he has 3 cats

        • Sid from Down Under says:

          Oh has he now (three cats) … and what about the doggy that takes him for walks to the local Pub?

          Many even in modern days Australia forget (or don’t know) those who were bombed or strafed by the Japanese

          My father was too old and wounded to go overseas for WW2 but he was a Captain (Adjutant) at the Geraldton Garrison and led a party to north of Broome selecting defensive positions.

          I can tell personal stories of my 1942 experiences and those of my older sister – some quite funny – 1942 being the year we feared Japanese invasion

          • Margaret Draycott says:

            Would love to hear some of those stories sometime Sid when you have time.
            Your father obviously quite a man and his knowledge from ww1 would have been invaluable.

            Sadly Sid MF had to have his dog put down hope he doesn’t mind me saying

  5. Sid from Down Under says:

    Thank you for reminding me Margaret and I should have remembered and not said that BUT doggy used to take him for a walk to said Pub – MF cannot deny that fact …… RIP …. and during lock down he currently yearns for his alone Pub walk. Heh heh.

    Me – Missus and I pre-planned and have a good stash of wine, smoked salmon, Caviar, various cheeses, pates, biscuits, olives etc (got the picture?) and as an emergency stand-by our neighbours have a stash of cheap cask wine to ensure we get through this crisis (we are all now officially limited for alcohol purchases to minimise no-hopers clogging EDs and hospital beds with alcohol related illnesses – but no special limits on illegal drugs, so go figure). We’re having said neighbours to our front courtyard on Wednesday morning to enjoy a socially distanced coffee and natter. Oh, nearly forgot, we also have a sufficient supply of toilet paper.

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