Missel, and cards from missel
This missel (prayer book) was ‘souvenired’ by Australian troops from Chateau Delcaour in France, near Villers-Bretonneux, where several battles took place. Accompanying cards from within the missel are shown to contain family names. Souveniring (looting) was common during the war. The chateau, once home to the Delacour family, was used as headquarters during the war, in 1917 – 1918 by the British Fifth Army, and also as an observation post by the 10th Australian Field Artillery Brigade (see photo of Jim Booth, from the 38th Australia Artillery). The home was damaged in the war, and Jean Delcaour (a renowned ornithologist) presented his family estate to the municipality and left the area.
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