Souvenir in Commemoration of the Navy's Joy Loan March's Celebrations in Trafalgar Square from June 25th to 28th 1919

Souvenir paper table napkin commemorating the Navy's Joy Loan celebrations that took place in Trafalgar Square in June 1919.
The napkin has a border decoration of coloured crossed union jack flags. In the centre is woodcut depicting 'The glorious Vindictive' warship flanked by two foot soldiers and a letterpress description of the day's events that included music from the Joy Loan choice and military bands. The napkin notes 'London will have a rare and long-looked-for chance this evening to greet the heroes of Zeebrugge....'Thousands of citizens - men and women - have felt disappointed that we have so seldom the chance to come face to face with these splendid fellows'. The Joy Loan has given us all a chance to cheer the boys of the Navy'. The wording of the souvenir encourages Londoners to attend the event where Victory loans were on sale.

In the years following the end of World War I official, grand ceremonial events commemorating Britain's war dead and military heroes provided Londoners with an outlet for their shared grief and attracted huge crowds. Similar souvenir napkins were printed for every large, popular public event, ceremony or procession that occured in London from the late 19th to mid 20th century. The squares were imported into London from Japan pre-printed with a decorative border in up to 5 colours and a blank central area. Burgess was one of the main printer of such napkins that would be sold for one penny (1d) by street hawkers moving amongst the huge crowds that attended such popular events. As well as providing practical information such as a programme and timetable of the day's events these napkins were also intended to be taken home and kept as a souvenir. Many were framed and used as decoration in working class homes.