Holmes Family Ascot World War One memorabilia This postcard was sent from France during World War One. The writer, Gordon Spittle, enlisted with the brother of the recipient, Mary Coghill Holmes. Postcard with embroidered detail on white silk. The embroidery includes a crowned crest, and the flags of England, France, and Italy and the words "Souvenir d'Amiens".Verso "Somewhere in France July 14th '17 My dear Mary, In the first place I have to thank you for your letter of April 30th which came to hand by the last mail, and also very kindly the tin of biscuits sent per Miss B. which came to hand by the last Sunday. I also received a tin from Violet and will be writing her to-morrow and the next day it it is not to hot and muggy. I can assure you both that I appreciate your continued kindness more than words can tell, and only regret that I am unable to do something in return. Who can believe it is just two years ago since Harry & I enlisted, & the war doesn't appear to be any nearer ending than it did then, however let us hope and trust the end is not very far off, for goodness only knows how utterly tied (sic) of it we all are. His Majesty the King paid our division a visit on Thursday, & yesterday I went to Amiens for the day. Must now ring off for the present with kindest regards to your Mother, Violet, Willie and Self. From S. Gordon S." chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, harry holmes, mary holmes, amiens, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, gordon spittle, embroidery, france, western front, mary coghill holmes, postcard

Four uniformed Australian soldiers pose for a photograph during World War One. The two seated soldiers wear gas masks. Standing left to right: Gordon Spittle, Harry Holmes Sitting: Jack Nase, Joe FawcettVerso: Snap taken in our fighting headgear. We always were (sic) the iron helmets when near the trenches, and the front helmets are gas helmets.chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france

A number of uniformed Australian soldiers are photographed sitting and standing around a table while they eat. chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, harry holmes, eating, camp

Horace Pickford was born at Clunes. His mother was Bessie and his wife was Ida. Horace enlisted on 22 June 1915. He was killed in action on 27 September 1917. He was buried in the vicinity of Polygon Wood. Horace was the brother of Edith Pickford ( m Holmes) and the maternal uncle of Elizabeth Mary Holmes ( m Chatham)Images relating to Australian World War One Soldiers from Ascot. . 2 Black and white carte postale of 17 Australian soldiers in uniform. Many hold a bugle and 5 drums are placed in the foreground. The Battalion colonel sits in the centre. The card was written by Horace Pickford (2282) of 'C' Company, 58th battalion. .3 Certificate of Marriage for Henry Robbins Pickford Family Tree .7 John Pickford Written in ink verso "France 14 July 17 Dear Edie I received your ever welcome letter a few days ago, this is but a card, but you will hear from other letters Ed. This is our batt bugle band, one of my friends belongs to it. I will march him out. Our colonel is in the center. Keep this little photo, it will be a little momento of the old battalion. We have a brass-band also. I have just received a letter from Ethel Pickford from England. Ta Ta now old kid with love. Horace (2882)chatham family collection, chatham, world war one, world war 1, france, horace pickford, ethel pickford, polygone wood, band, music, edith pickford, clunes, brass band, bugle band, henry robbins, family history, william pickford, charles pickford, elizabeth millard, sarah pickford, john pickford, alexander pickford

Australian World War One Soldier memento. This postcard was possibly sent home from France during World War One, most probably from Harry Holmes of Ascot, Victoria. HENRY SMERDON (Harry) HOLMES was born in 1897 at the family property, ’Sauchieburn’, 17 km north of Ballarat, in the Ascot district. He was the youngest of four children. After finishing his education at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, Henry joined the Holmes family farming interests. At the age of 18 he enlisted and served with AIF in Egypt, France and Belgium 1915-1918. Henry served at the famous battlegrounds of Ypes and Somme in the Australian Army 8th Battalion. He was a Driver with the 4th D.A.C. The postcard is of "The Ascot" boys. Includes [Samuel] Gordon Spittle, Henry [Harry] Holmes's first cousin, and other Ascot and Tourello lads and district connections: neighbours (including a Wrigley boy), Ascot State School classmates and football mates from Clunes / Creswick districts. (Research by Jane Dyer) Postcard with embroidered detail on white silk, with top flap. The central embroidery depicts two small soldiers dressed in brown outside a gate leading to house in a peaceful setting surrounded by trees. Below is a blue embroidered "Best Compliments" and red embroidered garland of red flowers.chatham family collection, chatham, world, war, world war one, world war 1, world war i, france, harry holmes, holmes, embroidery, postcard

Photograph of William (Bill) Holmes brother of Jack, David and Elizabeth Holmes originally from Ascot and wife of Margaret nee Coghlan.Black and white photograph of male in glasses. Tie pin possibly a badge.holmes family, chatham-holmes family collection, bill holmes, william holmes

Chatham family flew on a day trip to Wilpena Pound. Polaroid imagechatham-holmes collection, philip chatham, elizabeth chatham, wilpena pound, south australia, plane flight

Edith Louisa Cavell (4 December 1865 – 12 October 1915) was a British nurse and patriot. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from all sides without distinction and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during World War I, for which she was arrested. She was subsequently court-martialled, found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Despite international pressure for mercy, she was shot by a German firing squad. Her execution received worldwide condemnation and extensive press coverage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Cavell)Black and White postcard showing the memorial erected in Brussels to Edith Cavell. A portrait of Edith Cavell in nurses uniform is inset. This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One. edith cavell, chatham-holmes family collection, nurse, world war one, world war, sculpture

This card was most probably purchased by Harry Holmes while on service with the Australian Imperial Forces during World Way One.Black and white postcard showing a three story brick building. It is the Watter-mill, Le Moulin, Somme. This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One. chatham - holmes family archive, chatham, holmes, harry holmes, world war, world war 1, world war one, world war i, france, somme, wtter-mill, meaulte, le moulin, amiens, aif

Lakes Entrance is a tourist resort and fishing port in eastern Victoria, Australia.Black and white photographic postcard showing a wave breaking over a large vessel, with the timber lakes entrance Pier in the foreground. chatham-holmes family collection, lakes entrance

Black and white photographic postcard showing a lake with mountains in the background. The view is in the Northern Italy pre-Alps.This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One. chatham-holmes family collection, sogno, alps, italy, lombardy

Black and white photographic postcard showing 5 views including Col D'Allos, Col, de Vars, Col dela la Cayolle and Col D'oeoarochatham-holmes family collection, alps, france

Colour postcard showing a number of Venetian buildings surrounded by water.chatham-holmes family collection, venice, lagoon

Colour postcard of a white yacht on Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. Alps are evident in the background.chatham-holmes family collection, lucerne, boat, alps, lake

This card was most probably sent from Harry Holmes to a family member in Ascot, Victoria during his overseas service during World War One.Black and white postcard with a photographic impression of London including Trafalagar Square. The postcard has writing on the back. This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One and sent to his sister, Mary Coghill HolmesLondon 16.4.17 Dear Mary Received your welcome letter a few weeks back, pleased indeed to hear from you & to know that you were OK. Sorry I have been so long in answering it, but I suppose it is better late then never. Still in the same old job at present, but all 'A' class chaps are to go back to the units 20 per weeks, so it may not be very long before I will be having a move on, Girls seem to be taking the vacant gaps. chatham-holmes family collection, world war one, ascot, trafalgar square, london, holmes

Catherine Holmes married William Coghill Junior. William died in 1884. This is possibly a photo of Catherine in her mourning clothes. They had no children. His estate passed to Catherine. In 1886 Catherine accompanied by her brother, Edward Carter Holmes, Mr. Holmes a farmer at Ascot and her companion Mrs. Mark Gardiner [Gardner], wife of the contractor for laying down the wood pavement in Elizabeth- street, sailed for Queensland aboard the elegant steamship, ‘Ly-ee-Moon’ to visit her sister Adelaide Reid and purchase a property in the Darling Downs, Qld. Tragically all three, and the gold sovereigns they were carrying to purchase same, were lost when the steamship struck rocks and was wrecked off the rugged Green Cape Coast, just south of Bega, New South Wales [Jane Dyer, 15 June 2024]Black and white photograph of a seated woman wearing black clothing, a cap with centrally parted hair. The woman is Catherine Coghill (formerly Holmes), who married William Coghill Jnr. catherine coghill, catherine holmes, william coghill, william coghill junior, holmes family collection, chatham-holmes family collection, ly-ee-moon, mourning, shipwreck, women, pioneer women, family history

The Somerset Inn was built for Edward Carter Holmes by carpenter Isaac Sutherland and his two sons in 1855/1856. Situated on Bruce's Creek on the Shelford - Bannockburn Road. Bruce's Creek was the original name for current day Bannockburn. Black and white photograph of a house with slate roof and window shutters. The front fence is stone. The house is the former Somerset Inn (later a private residence). This building is located on the Leigh River at Bannockburn and was the home of Edward Carter and Sarah Holmes. Verso in blue ball point pen. "Somerset Inn on Leigh river Bannockburn. Home of Edward C. & Sarah Holmesholmes, leigh river, sarah holmes, ec holmes, holmes family collection, chatham-holmes family collection, edward carter holmes, farm, bannockburn

Ismalia is a city in north-eastern Egypt. It would have been part of a booklet available during World War One. A black and white postcard showing a row of double storey housed behind a row of trees. This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One. chatham-holmes family collection, ismailia, egypt, world war one, world war

This item most probably dates from the World War One era. Boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle in the 9th district of the city of Paris.Buses and cars travel along a Paris street lined with buildings.chatham-holmes family collection, paris, bus, car, horse, world war one, paris, france

At Mont-des-Cats Abbey a first community of the Hospital Brothers of St. Anthony was settled in 1650 and lasted until the French Revolution which closed the monastery in 1792. In 1826, a new community of Trappists (Reformed Cistercians) was funded, and this congregation has run the abbey ever since. (wikipedia). This card was most probably purchased during an Australian soldier during World War One. A black and white postcard showing a french abbey which is sitting behind a garden in winter.chatham-holmes family collection, france, church, abbey, mont des cats, world war 1, world war, world war one

Colonne Vendôme is located in the centre of the Place Vendome square and was erected by Napoleon as the Colonne d'Austerlitz. The column in 44 metres tall and is modeleld after Rome's Trajan Column. It was built to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz in 1805, one of Napoleon's greatest. The column's continuous ribbon of bas-relief bronze plates by the sculptor Pierre-Nolasque Bergeret were made from 1200 cannons taken from the combined armies of Russia and Austria during that battle. The reliefs depict scenes during the Napoleonic Wars between 1805 and 1807. The Column was later was given the names of Colonne de la Victoire (Victory Column) and Colonne de la Grande Armée (Column of the Great Army). Today it is commonly known as the Colonne Vendôme. A statue of Napoleon was installed at the top of the column in 1810. Later, the statue of the emperor was removed and the bronze melted down to provide the bronze for the recast of the equestrian statue of Henri IV on the Pont Neuf. A new statue was installed in 1833 which was later replaced by the statue that is seen today. It was erected by Napoleon III and depicts Napoleon I as a Roman emperor.Black and white postcard of a sculptural column in Paris. chatham-holmes family collection, sculpture, napoleon, paris, vendome, world war, world war 1, world war one, column

Le Bizet is a village in the Belgian province of Hainaut . It lies in the district of Ploegsteert and is near the French border. This postcard was purchased by an Australian soldier during World War One. Black and white postcard showing houses in Le Bizet, Belgium in ruins after bombing during World War One. This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One. chatham-holmes family collection, le bizet, belgium, ploegsteert, world war, world war 1, bombing, world war one, western front

A Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial ground, the Dickebusch Old Military Cemetery, is a burial ground for the dead of the First World War and the Second World War. It is located at Dickebusch in the Ypres Salient in Belgium on the Western Front of the first war. Dickebusch (now Dikkebusch) is a village and commune in the Province of West Flanders, 5 kilometres South-West of Ypres on the road to Bailleul.Black and white photograph of a church with a steeple with a clocktower. The church was bombed in 1917 during World War One. This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One. chatham-holmes family collection, dickebusch, belgium, ypres salient, dikkebusch, world war one

Minnie Tittell Brune was born in 1875 and died in 1974. She was an American actress, little known in her own country, but a major figure in the history of the Australian stage. The peak of her career coincided with an Antipodean tour from 1904 to 1909. She was brought to Australia by J. C. Williamson, A sepia postard whowing a seatedwoman in elaborate costume. She is American actress Minnie Tittle Brunechatham-holmes family collection, tittell brune, actress, theatre

Great Pulteney Street is a grand thoroughfare that connects Bathwick on the east of the River Avon with the City of Bath, England via the Robert Adam designed Pulteney Bridge. Famous former residents of the street have included the novelist Jane Austen and the anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce.A black and white postcard showing Great Pulteney Street in Bath. The street is lined with triple storey building. A fountain and small shelter is located in the foreground.This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One. chatham-holmes family collection, bath, gret pulteney street, fountain

South Parade in Bath, Somerset, England is a historic terrace built around 1743 by John Wood, the Elder.Black and white postcard showing South Parade Bath lined with triple storey buildings and trees. A lady posts a letter in the foreground of the image.chatham-holmes family collection, bath, south parade

The Great Bath is a massive pool, lined with 45 sheets of lead, and filled with hot spa water. It once stood in an enormous barrel-vaulted hall that rose to a height of 40 metres. For many Roman visitors this may have been the largest building they had ever entered in their life. The bath is 1.6 metres deep, which was ideal for bathing, and it has steps leading down on all sides. Niches around the baths would have held benches for bathers and possibly small tables for drinks or snacks. A large flat slab of stone is set across the point where hot water flows into the bath. It is known today as the diving stone. The Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath. The house is a well-preserved Roman site for public bathing. The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum, holding finds from Roman Bath. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century. Sepia postcard of a section of the Great Roman Bath at Bath, Somerset featuring the Diving Stone.printed verso: The Diving Stone in the great roman bath. The Diving stone, at the north-west corner of the great Roman Bath, still shows where the feet of bygone bathers wore away its surface. The hot mineral waters flowed into the bath through a channel under this stone. chatham-holmes family collection, bath, great roman bath, swimming pool

auchiehall Street /ˈsʌxihɔːl/ is one of the main shopping/business streets in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Along with Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, it forms the main shopping area of Glasgow, containing the majority of Glasgow's high street and chain stores.[1] Although commonly associated with the city centre, Sauchiehall street is over 11⁄2 miles (2.5 km) long, finally meeting Argyle Street in the West End, in front of the Kelvingrove Museum, where they form Dumbarton Road which continues through Partick. The two streets run parallel through the city centre, before starting to conjoin westward of the M8 motorway at Charing Cross. (Wikipedia)Colour postcard of a street with cars, double decker buses and four storey buildings. The street is Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland.chatham-holmes family collection, glasgow, scotland, double decker bus

Volcanic activity in this region ceased about 50 million years ago, after which the landscape was shaped by glaciation from about 1.8 million years ago to the end of the Great Ice Age about 10,000 years ago. The U-shaped glen of Glen Docherty is typical of a glen formed by the action of glaciers. (wikipedia)Black and white photographic postcard showing a road running between Glen Docherty and Loch Maree. The A832 road runs through the glen.chatham-holmes family collection, rosshire, glen docherty, loch maree, mountains, scotland

La Joliette is a neighbourhood of the 2nd arrondissement of Marseille located at the start of the autonomous port of Marseille. Black and white photograph of a sea going vessel carrying the outgoing mail of the Port of Joliette. A lighthouse is located to the left.chatham-holmes family collection, la joliette, marseille, france, port, boat, ship, vessel, phare sainte marie