Historical information

This postcard belonged to Blanche Constance (Nina) Casement 1891-1972 whose fiancé, Arthur Woodzell Ayers (1887-1964), enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force in 1914 and served at Gallipoli and the Western Front. Arthur was completing officer training at Oxford New College 23 Feb 1917 - 27 May 1917 when he sent this postcard. This postcard is a group of trainee officers of which Arthur was one. Nina and Arthur married in 1919 and moved to Avonsleigh in 1929. This postcard was passed to their daughter Frances Nobelius (Ayers).

Significance

This is an example of communications between Australian soldiers and family members during World War I.

Physical description

Postcard photograph of group of thirty-six trainee officers arranged in four rows in front of an Oxford college building. On the back is a handwritten message postmarked 18 April 1917.

Inscriptions & markings

On back of postcard:
Left hand side of postcard a handwritten message: "With very/fondest love/ Woodzell".
The middle top printed words "POST CARD"
Left hand side printed "Norman ??VIOR, Day and Electric Studios Carfax House/142 High Street and 4 Cowey Road Oxford/ Portraits taken day or night".
No stamp in the place provided on the top righthand corner