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State Library of New South Wales
Hand-written notes placed inside knitted socks received by soldier Jack Pickrell

Hand-written notes placed inside knitted socks received by soldier Jack Pickrell

Hand-written notes placed inside knitted socks received by soldier Jack Pickrell

Ink on notepaper

Present by Tony Pickrell, November 2012

MLMSS 8836

‘God bless you soldier boy’

Eleven year old Joe Barlow wrote this endearing message on a small piece of notepaper and placed it inside a freshly knitted sock. His socks were received by Jack Pickrell, a young soldier serving in France. Jack also received notes from Maud Schafer from Willaura in Victoria and Dorothy Smith from Cudal, New South Wales.

Pickrell kept these notes for the rest of his life. His son donated his papers, including these sock notes to the Library in 2012.

Note to a soldier from Maud Schafer

By Maud Schafer

Main Street

Millaura

Victoria 17.2.17


Dear Soldier,

Wishing you God-speed and a safe return.

Yours faithfully

Maud Schafer


Note to a soldier from Dorothy Smith

By Dorothy Smith

Good luck & best wishes

To the one who receives these socks

From

Miss Dorothy Smith

C/O Post Office

Cudal

N.S.W. Australia


Note to a soldier from Joe Barlow

By Joe Barlow

Knitted by Joe Barlow aged 11

Glenvale Park

Whittlesea

Victoria Aus

God bless you soldier boy