Napkin, handkerchief, serviette

Souvenir paper napkin handkerchief printed to commemorate the victims of a German air raid on London, 13 June 1917. This, the first daylight raid on London of the First World War, involved 17 Gotha biplanes flying in tight formation over east London.
The raid killed 97 civilians including 18 children who died when a bomb destroyed Upper North Street School, Poplar.

Most of the school victims were only five years old. Street sellers would have sold the handkerchiefs for one penny to the crowds lining the route of the children's funeral procession to All Saints Church, Poplar although napkins were also presented to all the children who survived the bombing.

Similiar souvenir paper handkerchiefs or napkins were produced for all major events that passed through London's streets and drew a crowd such as royal processions and political demonstrations. The squares were imported into London from Japan pre-printed with a decorative border in up to 5 colours and a blank central area. S.Burgess was one of the main London printers of such napkins.