More of Andy’s Rubbish and Ramblings for you.
We are on the fringe a little this time with some ephemera, don’t you just love that term? It sounds very important. If it’s new to you, ephemera is essentially something produced with the expectation it would be of short term use or popularity, the two pocket translators depicted are prime examples of ephemera.
Both books were brought back to New Zealand and retained as keepsakes until the original owners passed away. “ Uncle Jacks Travel Talk” was a Bristol Times publication, possibly handed out to troops heading off to the western front.
The “Diggers” Guide To German is a NZ Divisional Press publication, which may have been given out part of the issue of kit, again for those destined for the front. Interestingly, the Diggers Guide also contained a brief letter sent from an unidentified soldier to his Mother from Zeitoun camp (A military camp in Egypt used by NZ units)this predated the issue of the Diggers Guide, at least that’s my assumption. Another assumption is that the letter was reunited with the author some time after his return from the Great War and the booklet deemed a suitable receptacle to protect and preserve the letter.
No doubt these books would be a handy reference when trying to convince with German prisoners , or French soldiers and civilians. The thing I find interesting is I also have a letter in my possession, sent from another Kiwi lad ( local to me) to his Mother, soon after his convoy arrived in Egypt. This lad was quite good at composing a comprehensive letter and his work included mentioning the interception and sinking of the SMS Emden by the Sydney. The Prisoners taken were distributed throughout the convoy ( he was on NZ troop ship, the Arawa). His letter clearly stated that speaking to the prisoners was forbidden and one lad had been caught chatting with the Germans and was subsequently charged and locked up. If the NZ Divisional Press was putting such books in circulation, one can assume they were deemed a necessity.
The two books came to me many years apart, Uncle Jacks Travel Talk was rescued from the rubbish dump when I was a kid, along with a few other ephemera type items, unceremoniously dumped when the ex serviceman had passed away , a vary sad fact, many had no interest in the “ rubbish” that their relatives held dear, uncles there was some monetary value.
The Digger Guide came via a local auction site, I was very pleased to add this into my collection (hopefully someone will realise the historical significance of these when my time comes).
Again, they are on the fringe, but they are intended for assisting in communication with German Soldiers. I wonder how many struggled through attempting to communicate using these types of booklet? Definitely the Kiwi boys would be unlikely to have much German in their vocabulary, unless they were of European/ German descent.
Regards to all
Andrew