Australian War Memorial, Research Centre "sympathycards.xml" Guide to the Sympathy Cards Souvenirs Collection Research Centre Printed & Special CollectionsCanberra, ACT © 2005 Research Centre, Australian War Memorial. All rights reserved. Processed by: Theresa Cronk 2005Encoded by: Theresa Cronk Date completed: December 2005 Finding aid written in: EN Descriptive summary Sympathy Cards Souvenirs Collection This collection contains sympathy cards sent during the First World War by individuals and official organisations. Items in this collection have been collected from a variety of different sources and donors. 1 folder Published and Digitised Collections, Research Centre, Australian War Memorial.

Memorial Services, Memorial and Funeral Services for Individuals

 Administrative information Processing history:

Collection arranged and re-numbered in 2005.

 Access:

Open.

 Publication rights:

Contact the Senior Curator, Published & Digitised Collections.

 Copyright:

Contact the Senior Curator, Published & Digitised Collections.

 Preferred citation:

Sympathy Cards Souvenirs Collection, Australian War Memorial, Souvenirs 17.

 Historical background

Funeral and mourning rituals in Australia were never as extravagant as in Britain, but the British and Irish rituals were transmitted in similar forms to colonial Australia. Writing condolence letters was an important mourning ritual, although Christian modes of consolation were in marked decline by 1918 and becoming increasingly secularised. There were no clear alternative resources for grieving and many still drew on traditional nineteenth century mourning customs to varying degrees, adopting them to a new secularist temper in society in response to the First World War. During the war, relatives were unable to say goodbye, view the body or attend the funeral of loved ones who died on active service but they were still able to find consoling ways to mourn their loss. They drew on those traditional customs which did not demand Christian faith, notably those that honoured and recalled their memory.

Condolence letters played a significant role in mourning rituals in colonial Australia by rallying the support and sympathy of extended family, friends and community around a family that reinforced the role of the funeral. Since colonial families were often isolated by distance from their original families and communities in Europe, this activity assumed greater importance. This is evident through the use of sympathy cards during the First World War. Black-edged stationery was used less and for shorter periods in colonial Australia than in Britain. In Britain, black-edged stationery was printed with varying border widths to allow for gradual dilution during the mourning period. Two years' mourning was held to be appropriate for a widow, one year for a widower and one year for a parent. The broadest border was usually 12.5mm, and black-edged stationery was very popular during the First World War. Bereaved families usually found condolence letters comforting, despite the additional burden of having to compose appropriate replies.

References:

Joy Damousi , The Labour of Loss: Mourning, Memory and Wartime Bereavement in Australia (Cambridge University Press, Melbourne, 1999) Pat Jalland , Australian Ways of Death: A Social and Cultural History 1840-1918 (Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2002) Maurice Rickards , The Encyclopedia of Ephemera: A Guide to the Fragmentary Documents of Everyday Life for the Collector, Curator and Historian (Routledge, New York, 2000)

 Series list Series number Series title and date General Sympathy Cards Official Sympathy Cards and Letters Appreciation of Sympathy cards Series description SERIES 1: General Sympathy Cards The series contains general examples of sympathy cards that were sent by friends and relatives to families of service personnel who died whilst on active service during the First World War. They feature military themes as well as traditional Christian images and sentiments. Use has been made of black borders and bible verses as well as verses by well-known poets. Most have been designed in booklet form and are tied together with ribbon or wool. (27 items) 1/1/1 With Sincere SympathyMap of Australia with crossed rifles and hat. Black border on cream background with embossed frame. Interior features a bible verse from St John 15:13 and a condolence message. Tied with black ribbon. 1/1/2 With Sincere SympathySame as above but interior verse is "He Hath Fought the Good Fight." 1/1/3 With heart-felt sympathy Silver wreath around words with silver flowers featured across solid blocks of black. Thick black border incorporating silver outline with silver writing. Inside has a verse from Revelations XXII, 3.4.5 1/1/4 With all true sympathy Silver writing with grey flowers and silver embellishments. Black border with silver edging. Inside features a verse from Albinus and a message of condolence. Tied together with black wool. 1/1/5 SympathyRising Sun badge of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces. Inside features a message of sympathy. Tied together with a black and white bow. 1/1/6 With Sincere SympathyBlack and white image of an artillery gun with a grey cityscape in the background. Thin silver box border on white background. Inside features a ribbon and wreath illustrated verse from John 15:3 above a verse from Leuname. Also features a message of sympathy. Tied together with purple wool. 1/1/7 With Sincere Sympathy: Greater Love Hath No Man Than This Embossed type of scroll. Image of Australian and Union Jack flags tied together with red ribbon. Thin black box border. Inside features a verse by Leuname and message of sympathy.Tied together with black wool. 1/1/8 With Deepest Sympathy: Thy Will Be Done Image of Australian and Union Jack flags tied together with red ribbon. Thin black box border. Inside features a verse titled For King and Country and a message of condolence. 1/1/9 Sincere Sympathy Two purple and white bows and evidence of flowers once attached underneath silver embellishments. White card with disintegrating white and purple ribbon border.Inside features message of sympathy and verse. 1/1/10 Sympathy Sincere Embossed torn page with grey shading featuring a quote and a message of condolence.Thick black border. Inside has a message of sympathy.Tied with twisted black and white cotton. 1/1/11 With Deepest SympathyAustralian Blue Ensign at half mast. Black border. The interior has a verse and image of soldiers fighting from the trenches with a weeping angel above. 1/1/12 With Deepest SympathyCrossed Red Ensign and Australian Red Ensign, with cross and wreath and the phrase "On Active Service" on the cover. The interior contains a poem and message of condolence. 1/1/13 Sympathy SincereSilver and black cup holding embossed white and green flowers. Thick black border. Interior features message of sympathy. 1/1/14 With Loving SympathySilver cross with white flowers laying on top. Black border. Interior features verse and message of condolence. Tied together with black ribbon. 1/1/15 In Deepest SympathyUnion Jack behind Australian Red Ensign flag. Thick black border. Interior features verse and message of condolence. Tied with khaki wool. 1/1/16 On the Roll of HonourFeatures white wreath around the message In Loving Sympathy and the Union Jack and Australian Ensign flags at the top with a boxed verse at the bottom. Black border. Inside features verses from Tennyson and Matthew, 4. 1/1/17 In Honour's Cause: With Sincere CondolenceGrey and white image of daisies surrounding a circle incorporating crossed Union Jack and Australian flags. Silver border. Inside features a verse from Robert Louis Stevenson and a message of condolence. Tied together with black wool. 1/1/18 Australia's Fallen Heroes: With Sincerest SympathyBlack and white image of Australian flag at top. Thin black box border. Inside features a verse and message of condolence. Tied together with black wool. 1/1/19 For King and CountryUnion Jack flag at half-mast. A ribbon with the words For King and Country is wrapped around the flagpole. Grey embossed border. Interior features a verse and message of sympathy. 1/1/20 Greater Love Hath No Man than this that a Man Lay Down his Life for his Friends.A British and Australian soldier standing with arms reversed and heads bowed alongside their country's flag. Black border. Includes verse and message of condolence. 2 copies 1/1/21 A Tribute of Love and Respect White flowers with grey or black leaves and silver embellishments. Grey background with black border. Inside features verse from Longfellow and message of condolence. Tied with a black and white ribbon. 1/1/22 RemembranceWord 'Remembrance' in silver lettering in an embossed oval underneath an embossed basket of flowers. Thin black border. Inside features a bible verse 18.11.12 and message of sympathy.Tied with white wool. 1/1/23 A Token of RemembranceBlack and white image of crown inside an embossed silver wreath hanging from a window. Interior features a verse from Charlotte Murray and a message of sympathy. Tied together with black and white ribbon. 1/1/24 Thy Will Be DoneSilver picture of angels, clouds and stars in front of a church window. Black border on front and inside card. Inside features verse from Longfellow and message of sympathy. 1/1/25 He Hath Fought the Good FightBlack and white image of crossed Union Jack and Australian Ensign flags. Interior includes a verse and message of sympathy. 1/1/26 Be Thou Faithful Unto Death and I Will Give Thee a Crown of Life. Centre image of crossed Union Jack and Australian flags tied together with red ribbons. Thin black border. Interior has two quotes and a message of sympathy. SERIES 2: Official Sympathy Cards and Letters This series contains official sympathy cards and letters that were sent to families who had lost loved ones by state governments and other organisations. They feature condolence messages to these families as well as information about memorials for service personnel and details of available assistance for family members. (3 items) 2/1/1 With the Compliments of the Queensland Government 1916-17 Cream background with blue writing and a military badge under the word Anzac. Inside features a handwritten verse of condolence and a picture of the tablet erected in vestibule of Executive Building, Brisbane. 2/1/2 South Australian Soldier's FundFeatures a message of sympathy and offer of monetary assistance. 2/1/3 Australia Mourns Her DeadThin black border on cream background. Inside features message In Loving Memory of the Australians who fell in the World's Great War of 1914-18 and three verses written by A C Gardiner. SERIES 3: Appreciation of Sympathy cards This series contains examples of cards sent to friends and relatives acknowledging the sympathy received by families who lost loved ones on active service during the First World War. (4 items) 3/1/1 [Return thanks for kind sympathy] Return thanks for sympathy pre-printed card from Mr and Mrs Howard and family. Cream card with thick black border. 3/1/2 [We sincerely appreciate your comforting sympathy in our very sad loss]Pre-printed card with a thin black border from Mr and Mrs Menerey and Family. 3/1/3 For King and CountryBlank card with the pre-printed message "Sincerely thank you for your kind sympathy in their sad bereavement." Thin black border with small image of crossed Union Jack and Australian Red Ensign flags. Space left for family signature. 3/1/4 Sincere ThanksWhite card featuring a silver cross with leaves wrapped around. Return sympathy card from Nancy, Peter and Lesley Wood.