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A love token sent by a soldier in the First World War
A MULTI-million pound museum is to be built in Bury dedicated to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. This week, project manager Rosemary Allen describes some of the love letters sent from First World War soldiers, which will go on show at the museum.
DID you get a valentine card this year? I didn't, my husband did get as far as buying one but left it at the office and the moment passed - never mind it will do for next year.
The tradition of sending Valentine cards is certainly a long one and is related to Austrian and German love tokens which were produced until around 1820. These were beautifully hand-made little items, given all year round and adorned with hearts and images of sweethearts.
Many had a transparent net background embossed with gold trimmings. Traditional hand-made Valentine cards became less popular in this country towards the end of the 19th century. The Post Office noticed a decline in the number being delivered, but then printed postcards were just becoming popular at this time, and this helped to continue the practice of sending Valentines.
During the First World War, postcards were often sent between soldiers and their families, and picture postcard Valentines sent home to loved ones were greatly treasured. These cards were a contrast to patriotic and propaganda cards, scenes of devastation on the Western Front, overseas campaigns, soldiers, weapons, ships, aircraft and personalities from both sides, which were produced in large numbers.
These are the types of exhibit which are particularly poignant and often plentiful in regimental museums and archives. When the new Fusiliers Museum opens in Wellington Barracks in April 2009, it will have two temporary exhibition areas, and opportunities to mount exhibitions on themes such as wartime romances.
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Museum curator Mike Glover said: "We will be able to take a more sparse approach to the display of collections in the main galleries because we will be bringing stored collections out regularly for use in temporary shows. We hope to mount four displays every year,"
The museum project which is now on site at the Arts and Crafts Centre still depends on raising a final £300,000, so please support our brick sponsorship scheme. If you haven't already, clip out the coupon below or visit our stand in the Mill Gate Shopping Centre. Every brick sponsor is issued with a certificate and their name and message will be preserved forever. Visit www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk for details.
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