‘Britain’s aircraft duel in the air’

First World War handkerchief, 1916. BT 52/3130.

Many handkerchiefs were produced during the First World War with designs which commemorated or recorded aspects of war. They were commercially produced for soldiers to carry with them, or to give to those back home as mementos. It is likely that the authors of these letters would have done so.

Manufacturers and designers would send illustrations or examples of their work to the Board of Trade in order to obtain copyright protection, and The National Archives now holds these records. This design celebrates some of Britain’s aircraft and gun technology.

Return to Letters from the First World War, part two