Lady Edwina Mountbatten, wife of Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma, speaking on behalf of the Red Cross at the Central Bandstand, Herne Bay, Kent, England; in 1939.

On the back is written in pencil: "Bandstand Herne Bay. Give a Penny a Week to the Red Cross. Lady Mountbatten speaking, chairman of the British Red Cross Society. Chairman of Council, Mr Parker"

Points of interest

• Although Edwina Mountbatten's WW2 work on behalf of the Red Cross has been publicised, there is apparently no mention of WWII on the Red Cross posters here - only an appeal on behalf of prisoners. The "Give a Penny a Week" fund was started on 9th September, 1939. In addition, there are small posters showing the insignia of the Joint War Organisation, a committee re-established after the outbreak of the Second World War by the Order of St John and the British Red Cross. This photograph would then post date both the start of the fund and the re-establishment of the JWO.