The humour, pride and propaganda of First World War Christmas cards sent home from soldiers fighting on the front line one hundred years ago have gone on show as part of Christmas at York Castle Museum.

British Bull Dogs, “Somme Pudding” and a “Father Christmas” delivering alcohol all feature on the Regimental cards.

Others picture the resolve and determination of the regiments, while a card sent by a prisoner of war tries to portray a positive slant on Christmases spent captured behind enemy lines.

Faye Prior, collections facilitator at York Museums Trust, said:

“Regimental cards were not new to the First World War, but the growth of the regiments and the recruitment of Kitcheners’ new armies meant the market for regimental cards grew exponentially. These cards often portrayed the dark humour and “stiff upper lip” attitude which were strongly associated with British trench warfare.

“’Cards were also produced by German prisoner of war camps, to try to convince British families that imprisoned soldiers were being treated well.

“In both cases the cards portrayed images that each side wanted to put into the public domain, disguising the horror many were actually experiencing.”

The regimental cards were professionally printed, and would have been sold to soldiers all over the world.

Some of those on show include:

 

 

A British Tommy and a French soldier holding a circular bomb in the snow with the caption “Somme” Pudding.

A British Bull Dog under the Union Jack with the caption “And our Banner unfurled, Shall proclaim to the world, That there’s life in the Old Dog yet.”

A British soldier going “Over the top” declares “By Gum! Father Christmas!!!” when he sees a large man with a beard delivering bottles of alcohol.

A British soldier marching to Berlin with the caption: “21 Division, Born 1914, still going strong – Christmas 1917”

The cards from the prisoner of war camp were produced by/for the camps, and were sent as propaganda to the families of prisoners back home.

The people running the camps wanted families in Britain to think the prisoners were being treated fairly and humanely.

This particular card shows a pleasant snowy scene as the “View from the Camp.”