World War II Hand Drawn "Raids on Britain" Envelope
January 2, 1943 (5PM)
Paper, ink, graphite, color
Work: 16,5cm X 9,2cm
Work & Frame: 27,9cm X 22,9cm
Collection Date: 2010
Collection Number: 117

A historical envelope from World War II, sent from a Canadian soldier stationed in Britain to his hometown in Ontario, Canada. Stamped with the date and time of January 2, 1943 (5PM). Addressed to "Hugh Forbes, 94 Burton St., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada".

The envelope is hand drawn from which a reaching hand holds three Canadian soldiers with houses in the background. The description reads, " RAID'S ON BRITAIN TAKE 47,000 LIVE'S 56,000 INJURED! 2,750,000 HOUSE'S DESTROYED! BLITZ OF 57 NIGHT'S". The drawing was restored at some point in time with the original faint writing in graphite below. Framed in a contemporary gallery float frame. An interesting historical war memorabilia piece that offers first-hand insight from the Blitz on Britain on a personal account.

The Blitz (September 7, 1940 – May 11, 1941) was an intense bombing campaign undertaken by Nazi Germany against the United Kingdom during World War II. For eight months, the Luftwaffe dropped bombs on London and other strategic cities across Britain. The attacks were authorized by Germany’s chancellor, Adolf Hitler, after the British carried out a nighttime air raid on Berlin. The offensive came to be called the Blitz after the German word blitzkrieg “lightning war”.