Historical information

Postcards were a common form of souvenirs for soldiers who were travelling either during World War 1, or just after, or while returning to Australia. These postcard scenes include the Sphinx, the Pyramids, Cairo, Alexandria, and Suez including mosques and marketplaces. The Suez Canal was used by troop ships, so this was often the first time soldiers from Australia saw Egyptians. Many troops in World War 1 were stationed first in Egypt (including near Cairo) to train before heading to Gallipoli, Turkey or on to the Western Front.
These were with other World War 1 memorabilia that has come from Private John Basil McLean, 2nd Reinforcements, 37th Battalion, A.I.F. There was a large collection of postcards so he may have been collecting them as souvenirs (none of these have been written on or posted). He also had a vesta (match) case from Belfast, so it is likely he visited there.
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. His full war record is available from AWM. 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 Portsea in 1920.

Significance

Postcards were a very common form of communication in the first World War. Postcards as souvenirs or as correspondence would have been familiar to the first Legatees as they had served in World War 1. These places in Egypt could have been visited by the first Legatees when they were soldiers in World War 1.

Physical description

Postcards x 16 with images from Cairo, Alexandria and Suez in Egypt and a purple card holder that once contained 12 views of Suez (only 3 here).

Inscriptions & markings

01137.1 Cairo - Sphinx and Pyramids
01137.2 Cairo - Arab Village near the Pyramids
01137.3 Cairo - The Citadel
01137.4 Cairo - General View of the Citadel
01137.5 Cairo - Sebil of Abbassia
01137.6 Cairo - Barrage Bridge
01137.7 Cairo - Native Woman
01137.8 Suez - Market Street
01137.9 Alexandria - San Stefano Casino
01137.10 Alexandria - Native Bazaar new Napoleon's Fort
01137.11 Alexandria - Mohamed Aly Place
01137.12 Alexandria - The Light House
01137.13 Alexandria - Column of Menasce
01137.14 Alexandria - Ramleh Boulevard
01137.15 Suez - The Port -Twefik Quay
01137.16 Suez - Railway Station
Each one has the word POST CARD on the reverse with room for an address and an area for Correspondence. Different makers.