Postcard of the Month: May 2021
/Arundel Park 1907
This card shows a parade of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the East Kent Regiment somewhere in Arundel Park in 1907, which was a regular venue for military camps and for other organisations, such as the YMCA. Notice the range of ages, presumably a mix of new recruits and ex-servicemen. The publisher was Mezzotint of Brighton, recognisable from their characteristic design under the heading on the back of the card.
The text is unusual as it is written in semaphore, no doubt demonstrating one of the skills practised at the camp. It was sent to Miss Parker, High Street, Cranbrook, Kent. We might have expected some coded endearment but instead it translates as: "Just one at last. Yours, Charlie!”.
Our Burpham video features another glimpse of military training manoeuvres in the area.