Brief Description |
This battered old Christmas card from The Royal Naval Division was produced while sailors fought on land during World War I.
The 63rd (Royal Naval) Division was a United Kingdom infantry division which served during World War I. It was originally formed as the Royal Naval Division at the outbreak of the war, from Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists and volunteers who were not needed for service at sea. They fought at Antwerp and at Gallipoli. In 1916, following heavy losses among the original naval volunteers, RND was transferred to the British Army as the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, re-using the number from a disbanded Territorial Force division. As an Army unit, it fought on the Western Front for the remainder of the war.
The cover shows the crest of the Royal Naval Division and the text, "With best wishes for a Happy and Victorious New Year / From ...". Inside the card are line sketches in blue print of sites associated with Gallipoli, a short history and the war record of the Royal Naval Division. The back cover has a cartoon of a British and a Turkish serviceman lobbing bombs at each other.
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