Embedded Files
An Illustrated History of the Embroidered Silk Postcards is the standard reference book on embroidered silk postcards. It contains references to over 2600 different cards with over 270 illustrations. The section on British Army lists xxx cards. The cards listed below are additional cards discovered since the book was published. The latest additions are shown in RED.
Many of the designs of embroidered silk postcards during the First World War period were patriotic in nature. In the early days of the war, they were based on the flags of Britain, France, Belgium and Russia and this gave great scope for a wide variety of designs. Britain had the Union flag (or Union Jack), and the Red, White and Blue Ensigns. The French flag has vertical red, white and blue stripes. The Belgian flag has black, yellow and red vertical stripes. Russia had two flags: the Imperial flag of a double headed eagle on a yellow ground and the Civil flag of white over red over blue horizontal stripes, often with the Imperial standard in the top left corner. There were also the flags of other Allies at this time: the Serbian flag of red over white over blue horizontal stripes; the Japanese red rising sun flag; and the Portuguese green and red flag.
The Italians joined the war in May 1915 and their flag of green, white and red vertical stripes began to appear on the design of cards. Clearly, cards with their flag were not available before this date and this is an aid to dating the introduction of a card. The United States joined the war in April 1917, which gives another aid to dating. Often the US flag replaces the Russian flag in designs as they left the war in March 1918.
The designs of cards were extremely inventive with flags arranged as flowers, hearts, bells, etc. Many cards use the common flowers: poppy, marguerite and cornflower, which are found growing wild on upturned land, such as a battlefield. I have termed these as a group the "battlefield flowers".
Most cards have a caption and this is used to arrange the listings in alphabetical order. If a caption is listed in the section on Patriotic Cards with Better Designs, it is NOT listed on this page. In addition, there are over 100 designs of patriotic embroidered silk postcards based on flag designs alone with no caption.
English and French are the most common languages used for patriotic embroidered silk postcards. It must also be remembered that a single caption can cover many designs, both horizontal and vertical, with and without an envelope front to carry a printed greetings card. Cards with single dates are listed in the section on dated cards.
See below the listings for representative images of embroidered silk postcards with Flag Designs.
Information and images on this site are © Ian Collins 2021.
No part may be reproduced, stored, transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the author.
ABSENT BUT FONDER A BUNCH OF WHITE HEATHER JUST FOR LUCK
A GLAD BIRTHDAY A GREETING FORGET ME NOT AFFECTIONATE KISSES
A HEARTY SHAKE HANDS (sic) A KISS A KISS FROM THE TRENCHES
ALL AMERICAN ALL BIRTHDAY JOYS ALLE FUR EINEN EINEN FUR ALLE
ALL FOR AMERICA ALL FORT (sic) THE RIGHT ALLI’ANCE
ALLIED IN GLORY ALLIES AGAINST THE HUNS ALLIES FOR EVER
ALL FOR AMERICA ALL FOR JUSTICE 1914-15 ALL UNITED
ALL WELL, OR NOTHING ALL'S WELL WITH THE OLD FLAG A LOVING GREETING
ALWAYS ONWARD AMERICA FOR EVER AMITIE
ANGLETERRE FRANCE ANGLETERRE FRANCE SOUVENIR ANGLETERRE POLOGNE FRANCE SOUVENIR
A NOS PEPERES A SWEET THOUGHT A THOUSAND KISSES
A TOI MA PENSEE A TOI PATRIE A TOI TOUJOURS
A TOKEN OF LOVE
BEHUTE GOTT DIE SCHWEIZ BEST GREETINGS BELGIQUE TOUJOURS
BEST KISSES BEST THANKS BONHEUR AUX BRAVES
BONS VOEUX BUON COMPLEANNO BRITANNIA RULE THE WAVES (sic)
BRITONS
CARRY ON CHEER UP GIRLIE CHEER UP SWEETHEART
CONFIANCE COURAGE ESPOIR COURAGE QUAND MEME
CUEILLIES POUR TOI
DEAR HEART FORGET ME NOT DEATH OR TRIUMPH DEUTSCHLAND UBER ALLES
DE TOUT COEUR DINNA FORGET ME LASSIE DON’T FORGET YOUR SOLDIER BOY
DON’T WORRY DOWNHEARTED NO! DURCH KAMPF ZUR SEIG
DUTY AND RIGHT
EINIGKETT MACHT STARK EINTRACHT MACHT STARK ETOILE DE LA VICTOIRE
EVER TRUE EVERYTHING IN THE PINK
FAITH AND TRUST FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT FLEURS DE FRANCE FLEURS D’ESPERANCE
FLEURS D'ESPERANCE FLOWERS OF HOPE FORCE ET DROIT
FOR A VICTORIOUS PEACE FOR FREEDOM FOR FREEDOM AND VICTORY
FOR LIBERTY FOR MY COUNTRY FOR RIGHT AND HUMANITY
FOR RIGHT AND LIBERTY FOR THE COUNTRY FORWARD
FORWARD AMERICA FORWARD THE VICTORY FOR YOU
FRAE BONNIE SCOTLAND FRANCE ANGLETERRE FROM A MOST LOVING FRIEND
FROM A SINCERE FRIEND FROM A SOLDIER FROM A SOLDIER BOY
FROM A SOLDIER OF THE KING FROM KHAKI BOY TO YOU FROM THE DEAR HOMELAND
FROM THE FRONT FROM YOUR AFFECTIONATE BOY FROM YOUR AFFECTIONATE BROTHER
FROM YOUR AFFECTIONATE SON FROM YOUR HUSBAND FROM YOUR LOVING BOY
FROM YOUR LOVING HEART FROM YOUR LOVING SISTER FROM YOUR LOVING SOLDIER BOY
FROM YOUR LOVING SON FROM YOUR LOVING SWEETHEART
GLOIRE A LA FRANCE GLOIRE A LA FRANCE ETERNELLE GLOIRE A NOS SOLDATS
GLOIRE AU BLUETS A LA CLASSE 17 GLOIRE AUX HEROS 1914 1915 GLORY FOR US
GLORY TO THE ALLIES GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU GOD BLESS OUR HEROES
GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED GOOD DAY FROM FRANCE
GOOD LUCK RF GOOD LUCK TO GIVE YOU GREETINGS GOOD MOOD
GOOD MORNING DEARY GOOD OLD BLIGHTY GOOD ROAD
GOOD TIME GOOD WISCHES (sic) GRACE A LA BELGIQUE 1914 1915
GREETINGS FROM SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE GREETINGS FROM YOUR TOMMY
GROETEN UIT BELGIE GUERRE 1914 1915
HAPPY DAYS HAPPY FEAST HE COMES FROM FRANCE RF
HIP HIP FOR TOMMY HONNEUR A JOFFRE HONNEUR A JOFFRE
HONNEUR A NOS AMIS HONNEUR AUX ALLIES HONNEUR AUX BLESSES
HONOUR AND GLORY HONOUR FOR THE ALLIES HONOUR TO OUR FLAG
HONOUR TO THE BRAVE HONOUR TO THE FLAG HOPE OUR HEARTS ARE FULL OF CONFIDENCE
HOPE YOU ARE OK HOSTILE TO TYRANTS HOW I MISS YOU
HURRAH FOR AMERICA HURRAH FOR BELGIUM HURRAH FOR BLIGHTY
HURRAH FOR THE ALLIES
IL VIENT DE FRANCE RF IN REMEMBRANCE I LOVE YOU
I LOVE YOU GOOD WISHES I’M TINKING OF YOU (sic) I’M THINKING OF YOU EVERY MINUTE
INDEPENDENCE DAY I THINK OF YOU IT’S OUR FLAG FIGHT FOR IT WORK FOR IT
JE ME SOUVIENS JE NE PENSE QU’A VOUS JE PENSE A TOI
JE PENSE A VOUS JE PORTE BONHEUR JE T’AIME
JUSQU’AU BOUT JUST FOR YOU, DEAR, AND I
KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART KEEP THE HOME FIRE BURNING KEEP THE HOME FIRE’S BURNING (sic)
LA BANDERA DE LOS NOBLES LA VICTOIRE AUX ALLIES LE DROIT FAIT LA FORCE
LE DROIT PRIME LA FORCE 1914 1916 LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED L’ETOILE DES ALLIES 1914 1916
LIBERTE LIBERTY LIBERTY AND HOMELAND
LIKE IVY I’LL CLING TO THEE LONGING TO SEE YOU LONG MAY IT WAVE
LONG MAY SHE WAVE LOVE FROM ENGLAND LOVE FROM THE FRONT
LOVINGLY YOURS LOYAL AND TRUE
MANY HAPPY RETURN (sic) MA PENSEE EST AVEC VOUS MA PENSEE L’ACCOMPAGNE
MA PENSEE VA VERS VOUS MAY GOD BLESS YOU UNTIL I RETURN MAY PEACE REIGN IN YOUR HOME
MAY THE BEST OF HEALTH (sic) MEILLEURS VOEUX MERRY BIRTHDAY
MESSAGERE D’ESPERANCE MESSENGER OF LOVE MES VOEUX LES PLUS SINCERES ACCOMPAGNENT CES FLEURS
MIGHT IS RIGHT MIL FELICIDADES MILLE BAISERS
MY BEST GREETINGS MY BEST KISSES MY BEST LOVE
MY COUNTRY’S FLAG MY DARLING MY FOLLOW YOU (sic)
MY HEART IS WITH YOU TONIGHT MY HEART’S RIGHT THERE MY THOUGHTS FLY TO YOU
MY THOUGHT FOLLOW YOU (sic)
NE MOUBLIEZ PAS NEVER CONQUERED NOUS MAINTIENDRONS
OLD GLORY ONE WISH ONE HOPE VICTORY! OUR FAITH OUR HOPE
OUR HEARTS ARE FULL OF CONFIDENCE
PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES IN YOUR OLD KIT BAG AND SMILE PEACE
PEACE WITH HONOUR PENSEE DE FRANCE PERSEVERANCE
PER LA LIBERTA PORTE BONHEUR 13 PORTE BONHEUR DES ALLIES
POUR LA PATRIE POUR LE DROIT POUR VOUS DIRE MA TENDRESSE
QUAND MEME FRANCE QUAND MEME RF
RECORDACAO DA FRANCA REMEMBER ME LOVE WHILE AWAY REMEMBER ME TO ALL
REPLY AT ONCE REST AND WAIT PATIENTLY UPON HIM RESTONS UNIS
RIGHT AND MIGHT
SALUTI D'AMERICA SANG LATIN NE MENT JAMAIS SENT WITH LOVE
SINCERE GOOD WILL SINCERES VOEUX SOUHAITS DE FRANCE
SOUVENIR A KISS FROM YOUR DADDY SOUVENIR D’AMITIE SOUVENIR DES ALLIES
SOUVENIR DE L’OCCUPATION SOUVENIR DU REGIMENT SOUVENIR ET REMERCIEMENTS
SOUVENIR FRANCE SOUVENIR FRANCE ENGLAND SOUVENIR FROM SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE
SOUVENIR FROM THE GREAT WAR SOUVENIR FROM YOUR TOMMY SOUVENIR OF THE FRONT
SOUVENIR OF THE WAR SOUVENIR OF THE WORLD’S WAR SOUVENIR REMERCIEMENTS
SOUVENIR VAN HOLLAND SPIRANZA STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
STARS AND STRIPES FOR EVER STARS STRIPES FOREVER STAR SPANGLED BANNER
STILL UNCONQUERED STRENGTH AND BEAUTY STRENGTH AND VALOUR
SWEET MEMORIES
THE CROSS OF THE ALLIES THE DAYS ARE LONG WITHOUT YOU THE FLAGES (sic) OF CIVILISATION
THE FLAG OF LIBERTY THE FLAG OF THE BRAVE THE FLAY (sic) OF THE FREE
THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US THE LORD GIVE THEE PEACE
THE MAGES (sic) OF CIVILISATION THE NATION'S PRIDE ARMY NAVY THE UNION JACK
THE VICTORIOUS COLOURS THE WHITE ENSIGN THINK OF ME
THOUGHTS OF YOU BRING SUNSHINE THREE CHEERS FOR THE USA TO BRING YOU LUCK
TO MUM AND DAD TO MY BOY TO MY DARLING GIRL
TO MY DEAR AUNT TO MY DEAR COUSIN TO MY DEAR DAD
TO MY DEAR GIRLIE TO MY DEAR LITTLE GIRL TO MY DEAR MOTHER-IN-LAW
TO MY DEAR NIECE TO MY DEAR ONES TO MY DEAR SISTER SOUVENIR FROM FRANCE
TO MY DEAR SWEETHEART SOUVENIR TO MY DEAR UNCLE TO MY OLD PAL
TO MY SOLDIER BOY TO THE ALLIES TO THE BEST OF FRIENDS
TO WISH YOU GOOD LUCK TO YOU FOR EVER TOUS VICTORIEUX
TOUTES MES PENSEES TO YOU FOR EVER TRADITION
TRIOMPHE TRIUMPH TRUE JOY AND PEACE ABIDE WITH YOU
TRUE TILL DEATH
UN BON SOUVENIR UNDER THIS SIGN THOU SHALT CONQUER UNE PENSEE DE FRANCE
UNIS POUR LE DROIT UNION SACRE UNIS CONTRE LA BARBARIE
UNIS DANS LA VICTOIRE UNIS JUSQU’A LA VICTORE UNIS PAR LA PENSEE
UNIS POUR LE DROIT UNITED BY THOUGHTS UNITED FOR ONE IDEAL
UNITED VICTORY UNITE PER L'INDIPENDANZA UNITY IS POWER
UNITY LIBERTY US USA
USA FOR EVER
VAINCRE OU MOURIR VERS LA GLOIRE VICTOIRE AUX VAILLANTS
VICTOIRE ET LIBERTE VICTOIRE PAIX VICTORY
VICTORY VICTORY BE OURS VICTORY AND GLORY
VICTORY BY USA VIVA LA FRANCE VIVE LA BELGIQUE
VIVE LA CLASSE VIVE LES 3 COULEURS 1914 1915 VIVE LES ALLIES
VIVE L’UNION
WAIT THOU ONLY UPON GOD WE ARE ALL FOR AMERICA! WE FIGHT FOR RIGHT AND LIBERTY
WE KEEP THE OLD FLAG FLYING WE’LL COME OUT ALL RIGHT WHEREVER I GO I THINK OF YOU
WHITE HEATHER GOOD LUCK WILL SOON BE HOME WITH KIND REGARDS
WITH LOVE WITH LOVE AND DEAREST MEMORIES WITH LOVE AND KISSES
WITH MY BEST WISHES
YOURS AYE YOUR TOMMY
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