Historical information

A post card of Edinburgh from John Basil McLean, who signs himself Basil.
This postcard was with other World War 1 memorabilia that has come from Private John Basil McLean, 2nd Reinforcements, 37th Battalion, A.I.F. Possibly these were with him during his time in the First World War and kept them as a mementos. J.B. McLean (Service No. 13824) was from near Maffra, Victoria and enlisted on 22 January 1916. He embarked on 16 December 1916 for Europe. He spent time with the Australian Field Artillery (Pack Section). At the end of the war he worked for a year at the A.I.F. Headquarters in London before returning to Australia on the 'Ceramic', arriving in Portsea in 1920. His full war record is available from the National Archives of Australia (B2455, MCLEAN JBM).

Significance

A record of correspondence from a soldier serving in World War 1, home to his family. It shows Australian soldiers travelled to see places when they were on leave.

Physical description

Standard size postcard with colour image of Edinburgh, Scotland from 1918.

Inscriptions & markings

Front - “Edinburgh from the Castle”
Back - “THE MILTON POST CARD / FOR COMMUNICATION THIS SPACE MAY BE USED / THE ADDRESS ONLY TO BE WRITTEN HERE / PRINTED AT OUR WORKS IN SAXONY / AFFIX STAMP / THE MILTON “ART RECORD” Series No. 505 Woolstone Bros, London E. C. / Edinburgh/ 16.2.18 / Just had breakfast!/ Dearest Ril? / I am having a lovely trip. The only thing is my leave / is not long enough. I have to / report for France next Tuesday / morning 19/2/18. If I had arrived / in Edinburgh a days sooner / I would have gone to see ???? / ????? as they call it here. I was in / a shop yesterday and read the history / of the castle. I had tea at Mrs Coulsons two nights ago and I / took Mrs Coulson to the theatre. / I have not time to write now / I love Scotland and I love to hear the people speaking, especially the kiddies. Kindest and dearest / Basil