Hand made birthday card by Donald Millbank made in England in the 1930s

A small birthday card made of folded paper with a watercolour drawing on the front depicting a red sports car in the foreground and a large, red roofed house on a hill in the background. The words 'A Happy Birthday' are written across the top of the card with the block letters painted in red, orange and blue watercolour.

Given by Christine Adams

The following was written by Christine Adams, Donald's niece and donor of his childhood objects:

Donald Gerald Balfour Millbank

Donald was born in Surrey in 1927. His father, Fred, was an officer for the Port of London Authority and his mother, Lou, stayed at home to look after her family. He had an older brother and sister, Alan and Mildred (Millie - known as 'Weenie' by the family as she was a particularly tiny baby.) Another younger brother died at a few months old.

On 18 November 1940, when Donald was 13, he was killed by a bomb dropped directly on the house. His sister Weenie, a few years older, was buried under the house with him for several hours, holding his hand. She felt him grow weaker as he gradually passed away. His mother never recovered from losing two children and was in mourning for the rest of her life, only wearing black.

Donald grew up in the years before the Second World War, in what was then the village of Mitcham, in a family house with a rabbit, cat and dog. His family remember a bright, kind, funny boy, artistically talented as can be seen by a selection of [his] drawings.

His brother Alan became a teacher and Weenie a nurse - both were excellent painters. As for so many children on both sides of the War, Donald was denied his life but his potential was clear as can be seen here.

This birthday card was made by Donald Millbank for his father, sometime during the 1930s. Donald tragically died at a young age; he was killed during the Second World War in 1940 when a bomb made a direct hit on his house. Donald was remembered by his family as a bright, kind, funny boy who was artistically talented. His accomplished drawing skills are evident from this detailed picture, which he drew in the late 1930s, and the illustrations and drawings in his school books from the same period.

This card is part of a collection of objects that belonged to Donald which includes several colourful drawings, the nightgown he wore as a baby and several school exercise books, as well as three memorial cards made for Donald following his death. These provide a snapshot of a young boy's life and work from a turbulent time in British history and they are a rare survival.

B.572-2016