WW I era Military Christmas & Other Holiday Cards

[world war I nerd]

1918 dated Red Cross Christmas postcard depicting injured soldiers receiving a Red Cross Christmas parcel.

[world war I nerd]

Another 1918 Red Cross Christmas postcard showing Santa as a Doughboy doling out cigarettes.

 

Photo courtesy of an unknown eBay seller

[world war I nerd]

The remaining six Christmas postcards for today were all printed in France for the YMCA.

 

This example, displays joyful French children cheering the arrival of St. Nickolas in an AEF biplane.

 

Photo courtesy of the New York Historical Society

[world war I nerd]

This French made YMCA Christmas card bears a naval theme.

[world war I nerd]

The message, written by Rosco T. Sill, on the back of this French made YMCA card is dated December 8, 1918, and informs the recipient that he is still in the hospital recuperating from some sort of an ear and throat ailment. The artwork depicts a Doughboy being tutored in the French language by a French child. I've no idea what the significance of the black elephant is though?

[world war I nerd]

French made YMCA Christmas card bearing French urchins examining the Christmas swag received from American Doughboys.

 

Photo courtesy of the Ephemera Society of America

[world war I nerd]

French made YMCA Christmas card with a scene showing Sammies and tanks in action.

 

Photo courtesy of the Ephemera Society of America

[world war I nerd]

The last card for today is ...

 

Another French made YMCA Christmas card showing the arrival of St. Nick wearing a French Army uniform with a sack full of American Doughboys in pursuit of a terrified German soldier.

 

I'll post another dozen or so WW I Christmas cards tomorrow.

[Salvage Sailor]

Just prior to the entry of the USA in WWI.....

 

Company A, 2nd US Infantry Regiment, Fort Shafter, T.H. Christmas 1916

[mikie]

Another 1918 Red Cross Christmas postcard showing Santa as a Doughboy doling out cigarettes.

 

 

Photo courtesy of an unknown eBay seller

Santa delivering cigarettes! How times have changed!

 

Merry Christmas!

Mikie

[world war I nerd]

In respect to Santa and cigarettes, maybe they're not cigarettes. Perhaps Santa stopped by McDonalds and he's handing out fries instead.

 

This series of YMCA Christmas cards all featured a frame around the artwork. I'll be putting up four cards, but I have no idea how many cards were in this series. I suspect there are more though.

 

This YMCA card depicting a U.S. Navy warship was signed "Al, somewhere in France," and dated November 22, 1918.

[world war I nerd]

The same frame, but inside this one is an American Doughboy giving a young French girl a doll and a miniature American flag.

 

Photo courtesy of the Ephemera Society of America

[world war I nerd]

The primary message on this framed YMCA Christmas card, dated Paris, November 24, 1918, and signed "Hugh", is "Advance" … presumably towards victory.

[world war I nerd]

This last example of framed YMCA Christmas cards is dated December 1, 1918, Sell-sur-Sheers, and signed by "Harry".

[world war I nerd]

This unused 1918 dated YMCA card bears no Christmas decorations whatsoever.

[world war I nerd]

Front cover of a two-page folded AEF Christmas card that was printed in France.

[world war I nerd]

Inside two-page spread of the above Christmas card. The back cover of this card is blank.

[world war I nerd]

Based on the following six Christmas cards, it would seem that a number of organizations within the AEF and the U.S. Navy had unit specific Christmas cards printed for use by their personnel.

 

This example was designed specifically for the battleship U.S.S. New York.

 

Photo courtesy of the Ephemera Society of America

[world war I nerd]

This Christmas card was provided to its men by the 328th Field Artillery Regiment, 85th Division, AEF.

 

Photo courtesy of the Ephemera Society of America

[world war I nerd]

French made Christmas card for the 145th Artillery Regiment, 40th Division, AEF.

[world war I nerd]

This Christmas greeting was printed exclusively for Company A, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Division, AEF.

[world war I nerd]

A Christmas card designed for the 105th Machine Gun Battalion, 27th Division, AEF.

[world war I nerd]

And finally, a Christmas Card made for the men of Company D, 15th Engineer Regiment (Construction), AEF.

[world war I nerd]

Last card for today ...

 

A combined Christmas and New Year greeting featuring a stars & stripe motif with a nicely done watercolor portrait of a youthful American soldier superimposed over a wreath of holly.

 

I'll post the last of the WW I era Christmas cards tomorrow.

 

[world war I nerd]

Combined Christmas & New Year greeting card printed in France.