forces postal history society journal whole number 304 · 2016-06-16 · forces postal history...

FORCES POSTAL HISTORY SOCIETY

JOURNAL

Whole Number 304

Summer 2015 Vol XXX No 10

ISSN 1752-0975

© Forces Postal History Society and Authors

Operation Rusty The light fleet carrier Vengeance was amongst units sent to the Arctic from 5 Feb to 8 Mar 1949 to test systems and personnel in extreme conditions. Some covers were manufactured aboard.

This one was transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Premier, detached from the force on 4 March for Rosyth, ahead of the main body, presumably with this mail.

Vengeance was later loaned to the Royal Australian Navy before being sold to the Brazilian Navy as the Minas Gerais. When finally decommissioned in 2001 she was the oldest operational carrier.

Forces Postal History Society Journal No 304 Summer 2015

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Contents Operation Rusty, 1949: 313 Members’ Discussion Forum 314 Falmouth Sailing Packets 1806-1830: Dr David Ball 315-325 The La Spezia Affair: Peter High 326-8 WW1 early Naval Covers – the Fothergill brothers: Andrew Brooks 329-332 Members’ Queries: Messrs Trapnell & Meyer 333 The Akpinar Provisionals: Bash Orhan 334-7 Hand stamped markings on WW1 POW/Internee Mail: Graham Mark & Cliff Gregory 338-341 Review: West African Censorship, 3rd edition 341 The battle for Krithia: Keith Tranmer 342 The story of HM Submarine UN37: Nick Colley 343-4 A Peninsular War Campaign Letter: John F Cowlin 344-6 A Swedish Military Post Office on Finnish Soil: Ulf Sjödén 346 A Swedish Military Post Office used abroad: Ulf Sjödén 347 Posted by Wounded Soldiers: Peter Burrows 348

Editorial The last edition was despatched by our printer, thus saving Alistair Kennedy a

considerable amount of work. This practice will continue as it was a successful operation. Will members please let me rather than Alistair know of any future problem?

A good spread of subjects this time – hopefully something of interest to everyone. Feedback has become very thin of late, as also Queries from Members. This may well be

as a result of the success of the Forum on our website, but these Posts are not shared by many of our members. If you have had a good response on the Forum please drop me a line and I can look it up. Please do let me know of any items – they will be published in the next Journal after receipt if submitted as soon as possible after receipt of the most recent Journal.

Editor’s Contact details: Colin Tabeart, 238 Hunts Pond Road, Fareham. PO14 4PG. [email protected]

Members’ Discussion Forum

This very lively part of our website is used extensively, but sadly by too small a

percentage of the membership. Here are a few much abbreviated examples of recent posts:

• Request for information on reference books for GB postage due markings: 4 replies in 2 days! Problem solved.

• Request to identify a warship: 2 replies in 3 days – jury still out.

• Request re whereabouts of NZ forces in Egypt in WW1 and what were the postage rates: two replies – both queries solved.

• Request for information on Spanish Internment Camp in WW1 – 20 members looked, none could help. Maybe you could?

We have a huge body of knowledge within the Society. No one collector knows everything, but usually someone can help if the query gets to them. If you have internet access do please log on and contribute to the Forum. We always have new members willing to learn and in need of help, but also old hands looking at something outside their normal interests.


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Falmouth sailing Packets 1806- 1830

Dr David Ball [This article first appeared in Melita, Journal of the Malta Study Circle, Autumn 2014, and is

reproduced by kind permission of the Author]. Preface

One of the most used books on my shelves is Colin Tabeart’s ‘Admiralty Mediterranean Steam Packets 1830 -1857’. The contents allow me to date covers of the period and identify the packets in which they travelled. However there is no companion volume for the period 1806 to 1830. This paper is an attempt to remedy that deficiency.

The information is known to be held in Lloyd’s Lists and The Cornwall Gazette, but I considered it likely that the Falmouth Maritime Museum might hold more primary source material and wrote to Tony Pawlyn, the Librarian, who replied that he was at work on the subject of the Falmouth Mediterranean Sailing Packets.

I met Tony at Falmouth in July 2013 and he gave me a copy of his work; a heavy file containing a calendar of all the British packets calls at a multitude of Mediterranean and Atlantic ports on their passage to and from Malta and The Ionian Islands.

This very detailed work is more than is needed when assessing packets arrivals and departures to and from Falmouth and Malta and I have edited his very valuable work down to these essentials e.g. I have excluded the four entries per voyage for Gibraltar. I have added commentaries on matters affecting the Packet service and of Postal History interest.

This paper is entirely dependent on the original work of Tony Pawlyn to whom I hereby express my deepest gratitude. I also would like to thank Denis Van der Velde, President of ‘Pratique’ for his help with the commentary on Plague 1813 and to fellow- member John Birkett-Allan for his guidance on Malta Postal history. Introduction

The first official responsible for a British Postal Service was Sir Brian Tuke, Clerk to the Signet of King Henry VIII who was appointed Master of the Posts in 1512. Internal services were developed but it soon became evident that foreign trade and the expansion of a new British Empire required an effective Foreign Service.

A packet Service between Plymouth and Lisbon was established in 1664 but was short-lived. The English Post Office set up a more long-lasting service, between Falmouth and Corunna in Spain, in 1688 thus initiating the Falmouth Packet Service with the appointment of the first Packet Agent and three sea captains.

Throughout the eighteenth century, with increasing colonisation and improved shipping, the service rapidly expanded to North and South America and the West Indies. The Mediterranean did not feature in this on a regular basis for lack of British possessions and interest and potential conflict with the traditional traders of the area; meanwhile the mail to India continued to travel overland or round The Cape of Good Hope.This changed in the later years of the Napoleonic wars with the presence of the British in Malta from 1800 and the defeat of the French and Spanish Fleets at Trafalgar in 1805.

Alexander Ball, High Commissioner in Malta, confidently requested a regular Packet Service and in 1806 the joint Postmaster-Generals, the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Carysfort, were minded to agree, instructing Francis Freeling, Secretary of the Post Office to implement their wishes. Thus the first regular Falmouth Post Office Packet service to the Mediterranean was born. The Falmouth Post Office Packet to the Mediterranean

The Malta Handbook Chapter 3 pp 23-26, gives a full account of the establishment of the service and the earliest voyage, that of the Cornwallis from Falmouth, 19 July 1806, derived from the Post Office Archives. This paper supplies the dates of all Malta sailings of the


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Falmouth Sailing Packets until 1830 when the Service was taken over by the Royal Navy Steam Packets.

The contracted time for the round trip Falmouth – Malta – Falmouth was twelve weeks. Study of the lists reveal wide deviations from this for which a number of variables were responsible. • The Packets. The vessels used on the route initially were privately owned on individual

contracts and of variable size, type and quality. From 1792 standard designed fast but unarmed ships were built and gradually introduced into service replacing the old packets and the time of voyages improved so that in 1819 many vessels achieved the contract time despite the two week extra journey to Corfu. The process was extended by the introduction of Royal Navy sailing packets in 1823 and on two occasions in 1828 HMP Plover did the round trip in two months.

• The continuation of the Napoleonic Wars until the end of 1815 meant that packets were subject to attack by French and American warships and privateers, though rarely did this account for more than temporary delay.

• The route stipulated, particularly in the wartime years, was rarely constant. Gibraltar was always a port of call and in Spain Corunna and Cadiz were often included. In the Mediterranean Cagliari in Sardinia and Palermo and Messina in Sicily, when British troops occupied the islands, were included. (To include Gibraltar would require four more columns and these irregular variations would create an unnecessarily complicated document for the Malta Postal Historian. The addition of Corfu, however, is essential for the study of mail between the islands.)

• Finally these sailing packets were extremely sensitive to the variability of the weather, notably in the winter months. One of the major difficulties lay in leaving Falmouth in the face of the prevailing South-Westerlies. Delays in departure dates are almost entirely caused by this phenomenon.

The SAILING LISTS, together with NOTES of significant incidents involving the

PACKETS follow. (1813 is expanded to allow for variations due to presence of Plague in Malta during that year.) Plague at Malta - May to November 1813

There was a severe and persistent outbreak of Plague in Malta and at other ports in the Mediterranean in 1813. The Packet Service to and from Malta continued but Quarantine had to be observed particularly on return to England. Quarantine regulations laid down that year obliged vessels, arriving at Falmouth from the port of a country believed to be affected by contagious disease, to perform Quarantine at Stangate Creek, an isolated anchorage off the Medway in Kent. Passengers and crew of the packet would have to stay there, usually two to three weeks, but in the case of Plague up to forty days, until deemed free of infection by the Quarantine Officer. But on arrival at Falmouth letters were landed and disinfected at the quarantine station at St. Just Pool, across Carrick Roads, from the Packet Station. Disinfection was effected by dipping in vinegar and scorching the letter in sulphurous fumes, which process was known as fumigation. Slitting of letters in two places by a chisel was only made obligatory by the Surgeon-General in September 1813.

A typical entry in Lloyds List reads: “Tuesday July 27th 1813. The Townsend Packet arrived at Falmouth 22nd July, from Corunna in 4 days; sailed for Stangate Creek to perform Quarantine, having been at Malta the preceding voyage.” This referred to her arrival at Falmouth on July 3rd when she discharged the Malta mails prior to departure to Corunna on July 10th. On return on the 22nd it was found she had not a Clean Bill of Health from Malta and so was sent to Stangate.


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TABLE - Plague at Malta. Packet voyages.

Packet Left Falmouth

Arrive Malta

Left Malta

Arrive Falmouth

Arrive Stangate

Townshend 18/03/13 13/05/13 22/07/13 26/07/13 Montagu 08/04/13 07/05/13 23/05/13 06/07/13 20/07/13 Lady Wellington 01/05/13 22/06/13 24/07/13 29/07/13 Nymph 28/05/13 04/09/13 09/09/13 Francis Freeling 19/06/13 06/09/13 09/09/13 Princess Charlotte 10/07/13 03/11/13 09/11/13 Speedy 28/07/13 12/09/13 30/10/13

(Plymouth) 06/11/13

Windsor Castle 09/08/13 27/09/13 19/11/13 24/11/13 Eliza 14/09/13 02/11/13 18/12/13 24/12/13

These dates accurately reflect the dates of the infection, 19/05/13 to 29/11/13 published in the Malta Government Notices. There is an additional entry for the packet Snake leaving Malta 06/01/16 arriving at Falmouth 23/02/16 and at Stangate on 27/02/16.

Sale Catalogues describe covers of the period 1807 to 1816 from Malta as showing evidence of disinfection; chisel slits, tong marks, singeing and staining probably by vinegar and this was made necessary by the widespread presence of Yellow Fever at this period.

A trawl through catalogues revealed no packet letters from Malta dated 1813. There were however two Rochester Ship Letters ex-Malta dated 1810 and 1812 described as “Disinfected at Stangate Creek “ in the “ Coates “ Sale, C.R.L.7 Nov.1990, Lots 1132 and 1133. However there is the recent discovery of a letter from the “Hoste” correspondence dated April 19 1813 at Malta and bearing the MALTA handstamp MSF 1R. It is addressed to Hoste’s mother in Norfolk with a London arrival of July 31 1813; a very long transit time of over 13 weeks. Hoste had returned from the unhealthy Adriatic and notes “We are in Quarantine which is a hard case …” This would result in the letter missing the Lord Hobart on April 22nd and the subsequent introduction of Plague Regulations in May could account for further delay. The most likely carrier was the Lady Wellington arriving Falmouth July 24th and Stangate July 29th. Probably the mail was landed and disinfected at Falmouth causing some delay in arrival in London, July 31st. The Main Sailing Tables. Packet Left Falmouth Arr Malta Left Malta Arr Falmouth Cornwallis 18/07/06 20/08/06 28/08/06 07/10/06 Carteret 09/08/06 17/10/06 Princess Augusta 30/09/06 24/12/06 Princess Elizabeth 11/10/06 07/11/06 15/01/07 Cornwallis 11/11/06 16/12/06 25/02/07 Carteret 08/12/06 05/04/07 Princess Augusta 23/01/07 14/03/07 14/04/07 Princess Elizabeth 18/02/07 09/06/07 Cornwallis 14/03/07 25/04/07 07/05/07 11/07/07 Carteret 17/04/07 10/07/07 Princess Augusta 18/05/07 30/06/07 16/08/07 Princess Elizabeth 19/06/07 05/08/07 22/09/07 Carteret 07/08/07 10/09/07 08/11/07 Cornwallis (note a) 17/08/07 07/10/07 08/11/07 Princess Augusta 07/09/07 25/12/07 Princess Elizabeth 15/10/07 13/11/07 01/02/08


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Packet Left Falmouth Arr Malta Left Malta Arr Falmouth Carteret 28/11/07 05/01/08 23/01/08 20/03/08 Lord Auckland 11/12/07 20/03/08 Princess Elizabeth 15/01/08 05/03/08 07/04/08 Walsingham 09/02/08 08/04/08 10/05/08 Townshend 06/03/08 15/04/08 23/05/08 Princess Elizabeth 09/04/08 11/07/08 Duke of Marlborough 15/05/08 21/07/08 30/08/08 Princess Elizabeth 15/06/08 05/08/08 30/09/08 Lady Arabella 11/07/08 06/09/08 15/10/08 Lord Auckland (note b) 09/08/08 Princess Charlotte 27/08/08 23/10/08 07/12/08 Duke of Kent 12/10/08 20/11/08 27/01/09 Nocton 12/10/08 16/12/08 10/02/09 Lady Arabella 08/11/08 12/12/09 06/01/09 05/03/09 Lady Hobart 10/12/08 27/02/09 02/03/09 15/04/09 Prince Edward 01/01/09 14/03/09 19/05/09 Princess Elizabeth (note c) 21/02/09 07/06/09 Manchester 04/03/09 08/05/09 04/07/09 Duke of Kent 29/03/09 16/05/09 18/07/09 Lady Arabella 17/04/09 29/06/09 14/08/09 Princess Mary 06/05/09 10/06/09 14/07/09 31/08/09 Cornwallis 08/06/09 10/0709 02/08/09 09/09/09 Prince Earnest 18/06/09 11/07/09 10/08/09 24/09/09 Queen Charlotte 09/07/09 03/08/09 17/10/09 Townshend 01/08/09 10/09/09 15/10/09 Carteret 23/08/09 02/10/09 05/11/09 Eliza 10/09/09 02/11/09 05/12/09 Duke of Montrose 20/10/09 01/12/09 17/12/09 31/01/10 Mary (note d) 27/10/09 22/11/09 Dispatch 11/11/09 02/12/09 10/12/09 19/01/10 Princess Augusta 19/12/09 24/02/10 14/04/10 Diana 15/01/10 14/03/10 08/05/10 Snake 25/01/10 18/03/10 09/05/10 Lord Chesterfield 10/02/10 31/03/10 08/05/10 Townshend 05/03/10 02/05/10 18/06/10 Prince Ernest 22/03/10 05/05/10 19/06/10 Express 23/04/10 28/06/10 29/07/10 Carteret 04/05/10 08/06/10 20/06/10 10/08/10 Snake 28/05/10 22/07/10 31/08/10 Princess Augusta 16/06/10 01/08/10 04/09/10 Prince Ernest 11/07/10 11/08/10 30/08/10 06/10/10 Princess Elizabeth 24/07/10 03/10/10 17/11/10 Lady Arabella 26/08/10 13/10/10 05/11/10 28/12/10 Princess Mary 14/09/10 13/10/10 11/11/10 14/01/11 Eliza 26/09/10 01/11/10 27/11/10 12/01/11 Prince Adolphus 04/11/10 05/01/11 03/02/11 Princess Elizabeth 08/12/10 19/01/11 20/02/11 09/04/11 Earl of Sandwich 08/01/11 11/03/11 08/04/11 Princess Mary 13/02/11 09/03/11 06/04/11 18/05/11 Countess of Chichester 09/03/11 14/04/11 06/05/11 23/06/11 Prince Adolphus 25/03/11 26/05/11 27/06/11


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Packet Left Falmouth Arr Malta Left Malta Arr Falmouth Windsor Castle 22/04/11 12/06/11 04/08/11 Townshend 27/04/11 20/06/11 05/08/11 Duke of Manchester 13/05/11 09/06/11 02/07/11 07/08/11 Express 14/06/11 02/08/11 15/09/11 Nocton 01/07/11 29/08/11 21/10/11 Princess Amelia 20/07/11 11/09/11 21/10/11 Ann 09/08/11 15/09/11 03/10/11 16/11/11 Lapwing 29/08/11 28/09/11 10/10/11 01/12/11 Adventure 21/09/11 01/11/11 18/01/12 Earl of Sandwich 27/10/11 10/12/11 04/01/12 05/02/12 Princess Charlotte 11/11/11 22/12/11 24/01/12 06/03/12 Nocton 02/12/(11/12/11) 14/01/12 07/02/12 21/04/12 Prince Adolphus 11/12/11 13/01/12 16/02/12 21/04/12 Duke of Montrose 04/01/12 08/02/12 03/03/12 10/05/12 Prince Earnest 04/02/12 02/03/12 29/03/12 06/05/12 Speedy 01/03/12 08/04/12 07/05/12 Princess Charlotte 25/03/12 06/05/12 19/06/12 Princess Amelia 17/04/12 28/06/12 Swiftsure 08/05/(14/05/12) 01/07/12 03/08/12 Duke of Manchester 06/06/12 03/07/12 12/07/12 23/08/12 Windsor Castle 17/06/ 25/07/12 09/09/12 Princess Mary 17/07/(20/07/12) 29/08/12 01/10/12 Duke of Kent 29/07/12 12/09/12 17/10/12 Eliza 16/08/12 03/10/12 12/11/12 Francis Freeling 14/09/12 31/10/12 03/12/12 Lady Mary Pelham 29/09/12 24/10/12 05/11/12 06/12/12 Princess Mary 04/11/12 13/12/12 17/01/13 Windsor Castle 21/11/12 14/02/13 Lady Emily 09/12/12 24/01/13 03/03/13 Hinchinbroke 24/01/13 18/03/13 04/05/13 Lapwing 23/02/13 14/04/13 02/06/13 Lord Hobart 02/03/13 10/04/13 22/04/13 08/06/13 Walsingham 30/09/13 21/11/13 06/01/14 Duke of Manchester 23/10/13 28/02/14 Nocton 13/11/13 31/12/13 13/03/14 Countess of Chichester 14/12/13 29/01/14 25/03/14 Osbourne 04/01/14 17/02/14 16/04/14 Fox 30/01/14 25/03/14 04/04/14 23/05/14 Darlington 19/02/14 01/04/14 16/04/14 10/06/14 Princess Elizabeth 04/04/14 16/05/14 10/07/14 Countess of Chichester 22/04/14 23/05/14 18/07/14 Duke of Manchester 09/05/14 16/06/14 28/07/14 Grace 27/05/14 17/07/14 07/09/14 Lord Chesterfield 15/06/14 29/07/14 17/09/14 Lady Mary Pelham 11/07/14 17/08/14 03/09/14 15/10/14 Osborne 26/07/14 04/09/14 18/09/14 09/11/14 Countess of Chichester 19/08/14 02/10/14 28/11/14 Walsingham 05/09/14 17/10/14 30/10/14 18/12/14 Lady Wellington 29/09/14 27/10/14 08/11/14 27/12/14 Snake 20/10/14 17/11/14 19/11/14 03/01/15 Windsor Castle 08/11/14 15/12/14 28/01/15


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Montague 11/09/15 26/10/15 25/11/15 Earl of Sandwich 02/10/15 31/10/15 10/11/15 16/12/15 Marquis of Queensferry 27/10/15 26/11/15 29/11/15 09/01/16 Snake (note e) 16/11/15 19/12/15 06/01/16 23/02/16 Frederick 09/12/15 10/01/16 03/03/16 Rapid 30/12/15 21/01/16 31/01/16 07/03/16 Earl of Sandwich 14/01/16 04/02/16 22/02/16 06/04/16 Lady Louise 08/02/16 21/03/16 28/04/16 Lord Chesterfield 26/02/16 29/03/16 26/05/16 Fox 19/03/16 15/04/16 24/04/16 10/06/16 Lady Louisa 17/04/16 14/05/16 23/05/16 02/07/16 Hinchinbrooke (note f) 27/04/16 30/05/16 LOST Countess of Chichester 20/05/16 10/04/16 19/06/16 23/07/16 Walsingham 07/06/16 14/07/16 30/08/16 Lord Chesterfield 29/06/16 22/07/16 30/07/16 03/09/16 Queen Charlotte 24/0716 28/08/16 08/10/16 Diana 15/0816 07/09/16 15/09/16 16/10/16 Earl of Sandwich 30/08/16 26/09/16 08/10/16 25/11/16 Countess of Chichester 20/09/16 02/11/16 08/12/16 Lord Chesterfield 12/10/16 16/11/16 13/12/16 Osborne 02/11/16 27/11/16 07/12/16 07/01/17 Lord Hobart 23/11/16 16/12/16 26/01/17 Princess Elizabeth 18/12/16 19/01/17 18/02/17 Lady Louisa 07/01/17 21/02/17 14/04/17 Swiftsure 29/01/17 02/03/17 13/04/17 Lord Hobart 16/02/17 18/03/17 30/04/17 Princess Elizabeth 16/03/17 28/04/17 30/05/17 Grace 01/04/17 07/05/17 17/05/17 25/06/17 Fox 21/04/17 26/05/17 25/06/17 Lady Louisa 10/05/17 11/06/17 27/07/17 Countess of Chichester 10/06/17 15/07/17 27/08/17 Nacton 21/06/17 29/07/17 06/08/17 25/09/17 Fox 17/07/17 25/08/17 14/10/17 Princess Elizabeth 02/08/17 29/08/17 08/09/17 16/10/17 Walsingham 24/08/17 26/09/17 09/10/17 14/11/17 Lady Louisa 26/08/17 16/11/17 Princess Charlotte 12/09//17 12/10/17 26/10/17 23/11/17

Packet Left Falmouth Arr Malta Left Malta Arr Falmouth Blucher 06/12/14 12/01/15 07/03/15 Duke of Montrose 25/12/14 19/01/15 27/01/15 08/03/15 Countess of Chichester 12/01/15 02/02/15 15/02/15 23/03/15 Lady Louise 31/01/15 01/04/15 28/05/15 Express 28/02/15 16/04/15 09/06/15 Lord Hobart 03/04/15 16/05/15 09/07/15 Frederick 17/04/15 25/05/15 06/08/15 Princess Charlotte 16/05/15 25/06/15 14/08/15 Montague 26/05/15 24/06/15 05/07/15 22/08/15 Grace 21/06/15 02/08/15 16/09/15 Hinchinbroke 13/07/15 16/08/15 25/08/15 02/10/15 Walsingham 08/08/15 26/09/15 04/10/15 21/11/15 Swiftsure 29/08/15 12/10/15 19/11/15


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Packet Left Falmouth Arr Malta Left Malta Arr Falmouth Lord Chesterfield 06/10/17 02/11/17 28/11/17 Fox 25/10/17 01/12/17 14/12/17 30/01/18 Duke of York 18/11/17 22/12/17 02/01/18 08/02/18 Lady Mary Pelham 06/12/17 13/01/18 19/02/18 Lady Louisa 31/12/17 26/01/18 10/02/18 22/03/18 Marquess of Salisbury 18/01/18 02/03/18 09/04/18 Marquis of Queensbury 07/02/18 16/03/18 13/04/18 Lord Sidmouth 13/03/18 21/04/18 14/06/18 Stanmer 25/03/18 27/04/18 29/04/18 14/06/18 Lady Louisa 16/04/18 24/05/18 24/05/18 20/06/18 Countess of Chichester 02/05/18 31/05/18 10/07/18 Walsingham 22/05/18 01/07/18 21/08/18 Lord Chesterfield 12/06/18 13/07/18 21/07/18 29/08/18 Lord Sidmouth 03/07/18 12/08/18 07/09/18 Lady Louisa 27/07/18 21/08/18 29/08/18 25/09/18 Countess of Chichester 19/08/18 20/09/18 02/10/18 09/11/18 Fox 06/09/18 15/10/18 14/11/18 Lord Chesterfield 28/09/18 10/11/18 19/11/18 22/12/18 Swiftsure 21/10/18 17/11/18 07/12/18 04/01/19 Lady Louisa 07/11/18 22/12/19 11/01/19 Lord Hobart 09/12/18 12/01/19 23/02/19 Countess of Chichester 21/12/18 21/01/19 28/01/19 22/03/19 Duke of York 18/01/19 19/02/19 26/03/19 Osborne 30/01/19 04/04/19 09/04/19 Corfu 1819

The Southern Ionian Islands of Zante and Cephalonia had been taken from the French in November 1809 but the more heavily fortified island of Corfu had been allowed to remain under French control until 1814 when Napoleon’s defeat on the Russian front had allowed a peaceful transition to British occupation.

By the Treaty of Paris in 1815 a British Protectorate of ‘The United States of the Ionian Islands’ was established and a large garrison installed to implement control of the entrance to the Adriatic. Sir Thomas Maitland, Governor of Malta 1813-1824, was appointed in addition High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands 1815-1823. The Ionian Islands were more turbulent than Malta and to facilitate their governance Maitland elected to move his headquarters to Corfu and thereby required better communication with London than was presently available.

Maitland, through the Foreign Office, put pressure on the Joint Postmaster-Generals to provide the service but it was not until 1819 that the Secretary of the Post Office, Francis Freeling, was given orders to effect it. A letter in the Falmouth Packet records to Captain Bullock (Captain of the Falmouth Packet Walsingham) from Christopher Saverland, Packet Agent at Falmouth, dated 16 February 1819 reads: ‘Sir, I beg to acquaint you it is the Postmaster General’s Order that on your arrival at Corfu you do immediately wait upon the Governor, to receive His Excellency’s Command into whose hands the Mail is to be delivered.’ Their Lordships having written to Sir Thomas Maitland to request he have the goodness to nominate a proper person to fill the Office of Postmaster of that Island. Walsingham inaugurated the Corfu extension of the Service arriving there at the end of April. The extension of the journey of the packets took two to three weeks, which included a stay of two days at Corfu. However the overall voyage was often achieved within the original allowance of twelve weeks.


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Arr Malta

Corfu Left Malta

Arr Falmouth

Walsingham 07/03/19 19/04/19 08/05/19 28/06/19 Princess Elizabeth 08/04/19 32/05/19 05/07/19 Lady Wellington 07/05/19 29/05/19 16/06/19 26/07/19 Diana 08/06/19 19/07/19 31/07/19 02/09/19 Swiftsure 09/07/19 03/08/19 11/08/19 18/08/19 26/09/19 Walsingham 06/08/19 22/09/19 28/09/19 07/11/19 Mss. of Salisbury 10/09/19 25/10/19 07/11/19 18/12/19 Earl of Sandwich 12/10/19 03/11/19 14/11/19 22/11/19 24/12/19 Duke of York 07/11/19 24/11/19 08/12/19 21/01/20 Walsingham 13/12/19 03/02/20 11/02/20 26/03/20 Princess Elizabeth 11/01/20 04/02/20 18/02/20 28/02/20 31/03/20 Earl of Sandwich 14/02/20 17/03/20 24/03/20 06/05/20 Osbourne 11/03/20 06/05/20 16/06/20 Diana 09/04/20 04/05/20 19/05/20 02/07/20 Lord Sidmouth 05/05/20 22/06/20 29/06/20 04/08/20 Lady Louisa 09/06/20 18/07/20 27/07/20 02/09/20 Duke of York 09/07/20 05/09/20 13/09/20 15/10/20 Lady Wellington 07/08/20 31/08/20 10/09/20 22/09/20 28/11/20 Princess Elizabeth 11/09/20 09/10/20 18/10/20 29/10/20 07/12/20 C’ss of Chichester 06/10/20 27/10/20 05/11/20 17/11/20 21/12/20 Osbourne 10/11/20 16/12/20 26/12/20 01/02/21 Blucher 13/12/20 25/01/21 28/02/21 Princess Elizabeth 07/01/21 22/02/21 10/03/21 05/05/21 C’ss.of Chichester 09/02/21 11/03/21 19/03/21 30/03/21 21/05/21 Lord Chesterfield 13/03/21 09/04/21 17/04/21 29/05/21 Earl of Sandwich 07/04/21 15/05/21 23/05/21 30/06/21 Francis Freeling 08/05/21 30/05/21 07/06/21 15/06/21 25/07/21 Walsingham 11/06/21 10/07/21 21/07/21 29/08/21 Lord Sidmouth 06/07/21 13/08/21 21/08/21 27/09/21 Fox 11/08/21 19/09/21 28/09/21 11/11/21 Lady Mary Pelham 09/09/21 13/10/21 27/10/21 03/11/21 09/12/21 Walsingham 10/10/21 08/11/21 23/11/21 06/12/21 20/01/22 Css’ of Chichester 04/12/21 03/01/22 23/01/22 18/02/22 Swiftsure 21/12/21 07/02/22 10/03/22 Mss.of Salisbury 06/01/22 14/02/22 05/03/22 15/03/22 15/04/22 Mss.of Queensferry 12/02/22 15/03/22 25/03/22 13/03/22 29/04/22 Francis Freeling 13/03/22 03/05/22 10/05/22 12/06/22 C’ss of Chichester 05/04/22 01/05/22 07/05/22 18/05/22 17/06/22 Blucher 12/05/22 11/06/22 21/06/22 19/07/22 Mss.of Queensferry 10/06/22 11/07/22 23/07/22 29/08/22 Prince Regent 08/07/22 12/08/22 19/08/22 24/09/22 Duke of York 10/08/22 16/09/22 24/09/22 06/11/22 Blucher 12/09/22 13/10/22 24/10/22 27/11/22 Lord Hobart 13/10/22 20/11/22 28/11/22 04/01/23 Prince Regent 10/11/22 29/12/22 07/01/23 08/03/23 Lady Wellington 06/12/22 02/01/23 19/01/23 30/01/23 18/04/23 Prince Earnest (note g) 15/01/23 19/02/23 LOST Duke of Manchester 15/02/23 13/03/23 18/03/23 28/03/23 27/04/23 Mqs. of Queensferry 09/03/23 21/05/23


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Arr Malta

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Arr Falmouth

Marquis of Salisbury 05/04/23 14/05/23 21/05/23 30/06/23 Camden 09/05/23 08/06/23 18/06/23 28/06/23 09/08/23 Lady Mary Pelham 06/06/23 27/06/23 07/07/23 17/07/23 28/08/23 Osborne 04/07/23 15/08/23 24/08/23 30/09/23 Walsingham 10/08/23 19/09/23 28/09/23 09/10/23 08/11/23 Camden 06/09/23 17/10/23 23/10/23 28/11/23 Lord Hobart 11/10/23 13/11/23 95/12/23 22/01/24 Princess Elizabeth 07/11/23 24/12/23 30/12/23 04/02/24 Walsingham 06/12/23 10/01/24 19/01/24 20/02/24 Earl of Sandwich 09/01/24 18/02/24 02/03/24 06/04/24 Prince Regent 08/02/24 16/03/24 21/03/24 09/04/24 08/05/24 Francis Freeling 05/03/24 01/04/24 09/04/24 21/04/24 01/06/24 Plover HMP 09/04/24 20/05/24 29/05/24 29/06/24 Marquis of Salisbury 10/05/24 04/06/24 13/06/24 23/06/24 02/08/24 Montagu 04/06/24 07/07/24 15/07/24 18/08/24 Nacton 14/07/24 26/08/24 04/09/24 09/10/24 Lady Wellington 06/08/24 10/09/24 22/09/24 20/10/24 07/11/24 Lord Hobart 12/09/24 15/10/24 23/10/24 21/11/24 Walsingham 12/10/24 26/11/24 07/12/24 14/01/25 Countess ofChichester 05/11/24 29/11/24 06/12/24 16/12/24 17/01/25 Prince Regent 10/12/24 23/01/25 01/02/35 04/04/25 Mqs. Of Queensferry 09/01/25 08/02/25 25/02/25 08/03/25 05/04/25 Cygnet HMP 06/02/25 03/03/25 13/03/25 23/03/25 25/04/25 Osborne 04/03/25 13/04/25 25/04/25 05/06/25 Sphynx HMP 10/04/25 02/05/25 13/05/25 21/05/25 26/06/25 Nacton 12/05/25 03/06/25 11/06/25 22/06/25 02/08/25 Marquis of Salisbury 11/06/25 23/07/25 02/08/25 09/09/25 Osborne 08/07/25 22/08/25 29/08/25 03/10/25 Redpole HMP 08/08/25 17/09/25 27/09/25 31/10/25 Lady Mary Pelham 11/09/25 27/10/25 06/11/25 19/11/25 23/01/26 Marquis of Salisbury 09/10/25 04/11/25 12/11/25 23/11/25 29/01/26 Osborne 04/11/25 30/11/25 10/12/25 17/12/25 31/01/26 Lord Sidmouth 09/12/25 21/01/26 21/01/26 17/02/26 Kingfisher HMP 07/01/26 21/02/26 01/03/26 09/04/26 Lady Mary Pelham 10/02/26 05/04/26 18/04/26 27/05/26 Lady Louisa 10/03/26 31/03/26 12/04/26 21/04/26 27/05/26 Cygnet HMP 07/04/26 07/05/26 15/05/26 23/05/26 30/06/26 Kingfisher HMP 05/05/26 26/05/26 03/06/26 14/06/26 25/07/26 Francis Freeling 12/06/26 14/07/26 23/07/26 31/07/26 02/09/26 Zephyr HMP 07/07/26 17/08/26 21/08/26 19/10/26 Hope HMP 08/09/26 20/10/26 25/11/26 Princess Elizabeth 06/10/26 07/01/27 Zephyr HMP 10/11/26 13/12/26 21/12/26 08/02/27 Nacton 08/12/26 13/01/27 25/02/27 Countess of Chichester 05/01/27 09/02/27 18/02/27 03/04/27 Lord Hobart 09/02/27 16/03/27 25/03/27 22/04/27 Zephyr HMP 09/03/27 24/04/27 02/05/27 23/06/27 Francis Freeling 06/04/27 30/06/27 Mutine HMP 04/05/27 08/06/27 18/06/27 31/07/27


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Arr Malta

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Arr Falmouth

Marquis of Queensferry 08/06/27 15/07/27 24/07/27 11/09/27 Princess Elizabeth 08/07/27 01/10/27 Lady Mary Pelham 11/08/27 19/09/27 29/09/27 27/11/27 Camden 08/09/27 15/10/27 24/10/27 13/12/27 Countess of Chichester 05/10/27 02/11/27 10/11/27 15/12/27 Princess Elizabeth 09/11/27 18/12/27 29/12/27 01/02/28 Osborne 05/12/27 17/01/28 08/03/28 Myrtle HMP 08/12/27 24/01/28 01/02/28/ 17/03/28 Lady Mary Pelham 04/01/28 03/03/28 13/03/28 06/05/28 Marquis of Queensberry 08/02/28 16/03/28 27/03/28 08/05/28 Marquis of Salisbury 07/03/28 12/04/28 20/04/28 21/05/28 Sphynx HMP 04/04/28 19/06/28 Hope H.M.P, 10/05/28 16/06/28 26/06/28 11/08/28 Mutine HMP 07/06/28 19/07/28 30/07/28 06/09/28 Plover HMP 09/07/28 07/08/28 13/08/28 09/09/28 Ariel HMP 08/08/28 16/09/28 22/09/28 26/10/28 Kingfisher HMP 06/09/28 16/10/28 23/10/28 15/11/28 Plover HMP 11/10/28 13/11/28 22/11/28 08/12/28 Tyrian HMP 10/11/28 26/12/28 02/01/29 15/02/29 Osborne 05/12/28 17/01/29 27/02/29 01/03/29 Duke of York 07/01/29 28/01/29 04/02/29 13/02/29 19/03/29 Lady Mary Pelham 06/02/29 19/03/29 28/03/29 20/05/29 Tyrian HMP 09/03/29 19/04/29 23/04/29 16/06/29 Lord Melville 10/04/29 16/05/29 27/05/29 24/06/29 Eclipse HMP 08/05/29 08/06/29 17/06/29 29/07/29 Lady Mary Pelham 05/06/29 27/08/29 Marquis of Queensferry 10/07/29 19/08/29 28/08/29 14/10/29 Sheldrake HMP 07/08/29 14/09/29 23/09/29 04/11/29 Pidgeon HMP 04/09/29 08/10/29 13/10/29 25/11/29 Re(y)nard 09/10/29 09/11/29 18/11/29 24/11/29 06/01/30 Lapwing HMP 08/11/29 19/12/29 20/12/29 08/01/30 22/02/30 Emulous HMP 04/12/29 16/01/30 28/01/30 09/02/30 23/03/30 Duke of York 08/01/30 01/02/30 08/02/30 15/02/30 30/03/30 Osborne 06/03/30 11/04/30 18/04/30 26/04/30 12/06/30 Extracts from the Western Luminary

Western Luminary – Tuesday, 2 February, 1830: “PLYMOUTH – Much interest is excited by the projected attempt at opening a regular communication with India by way of the Mediterranean. The Meteor steam-vessel, Lt. Symons, is to leave this port to-morrow for Falmouth, from whence (February 5th) it is fully expected she will take out the Malta and India mails.”

Western Luminary – Tuesday, 30 March 1830: “Wednesday (24/3), arrived at Falmouth – HM steamer Meteor, Lt. Symons, from Corfu. Sailed 3rd March, Malta 7th March, Gibraltar 16th March, and Cadiz 18th March.” (Round trip – 40 days.)

Western Luminary – Tuesday, 6 April, 1830: “On Tuesday the Duke of York packet (see above) arrived at Falmouth from the Mediterranean. Sailed two days before (incorrect – see text) the Meteor steam-packet, whose arrival was announced last week, having met with calm and baffling winds, and brings no intelligence but what is already known.”


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“Tuesday (30/3), arrived at Falmouth – Duke of York, from Corfu, sailed 8th Feb, Malta 15th Feb, Gib. 14th March, and Cadiz 16th March.” (Round trip – 81 days.)

The end of the Falmouth sailing Packets to the Mediterranean.

Notes

a. Cornwallis Ex. Fal. 17.08.07. Royal Cornwall Gazette, Saturday, 14 November 1807. “The Cornwallis left Malta on the 7 October. …on the 29th (Oct.) the Cornwallis was attacked by a French lugger privateer of 14 guns and full of men. Capt. Anthony defended his ship with his accustomed skill and spirit, and after about two hours action the Frenchman sheered off. The brave crew of the packet escaped unhurt.” Cornwallis successfully beat off three attacks by privateers in 1807.

b. Lord Auckland Ex. Fal. 09.08.08. Lloyd’s List, Tuesday, 13 December, 1808. “The Auckland Packet, from Malta and Gibraltar, is lost off Cadiz, the Crew and Mail saved, and on board HMS Eagle, which was to sail from Cadiz 24th ult.”

c. Princess Elizabeth Ex. Fal. 21.02.09. Royal Cornwall Gazette, Sunday, 25 February 1809. “The extraordinary prevalence of south-westerly winds had detained a very great number of packets at Falmouth; but upon a shift to the northward many packets sailed on Tuesday last. (They included Princess Elizabeth and Duke of Kent.) On Thursday the Duke of Kent returned, damaged, having sent her mail with the Princess Elizabeth.”

d. Mary Ex. Fal. 27.10.09. Lloyd’s List, Friday, 9 February 1810. “The Mary Packet, from Messina, was lost on 25th December, going into Malta. Mail saved.”

e. Snake Ex. Fal. 16.11.15. Lloyd’s List, Tuesday, 1 March, 1816. “Falmouth, 23rd Feb. – Arrived the Snake Packet, from Malta in 48 days, and from Gibraltar in 12 days, sailed for Stangate Creek (quarantine station) with Mails still on board.”

f. Hinchinbrooke Ex. Fal. 27.04.16. Lloyd’s List, Tuesday, 11 June 1816. “The Hinchinbrooke Packet which sailed from Falmouth 27th April, bound to the Mediterranean, was lost on Cape St. Vincent 7th ultimo and Crew and Passengers saved, and the Mails forwarded to Gibraltar.”

g. Prince Earnest Ex. Falmouth 15.01.1823. Lloyd’s List, Tuesday 4 March 1823. “‘Gibraltar, 6th February 1823 – A severe gale from SSW to SW was experienced in this Bay from Thursday evening to Sunday morning, which exceeded in violence and duration any remembered here for many years past. (Among many others ) Prince Earnest Packet from Falmouth, broke her chain and cables and lies bilged on a rocky bottom.” The Mails were retrieved and returned to Falmouth in the Prince Regent, 08.03.23.

Sources and Bibliography The source for this information is the Sailing Lists and Occasional Notes of the Mediterranean Packet Service compiled by Tony Pawlyn, Hon. Librarian of the Falmouth Maritime Museum. Beck.J. A History of the Falmouth Post Office Packet Service 1689 – 1850. ISBN 978-0-9526455-5-9 Holland. R. Blue – Water Empire; The British in the Mediterranean since 1800. ISBN 978 1 846 14108 9 Martin.R.E. Ed. Malta: The Stamps and Postal History. ISBN 0 85297 123 4 Pawlyn.T. The Falmouth Packets 1689 – 1851. ISBN 1 85022 175 8 Proud. E.B. The Postal Histiory of Malta. ISBN 1 872465 32 5 Tabeart. C. Admiralty Mediterranean Steam Packets 1830 to 1857. ISBN 9963 579 86 8 Tabeart. C. Robertson Revisited. ISBN 9963 579 77 9


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“Unto a land flowing with milk and honey....”

The La Spezia Affair 1946

Peter High

Here we have front and back of a picture postcard of La Spezia, written on board a ship in the harbour, and addressed to Palestine. The ship was the Fede, meaning ‘Faith’ in Hebrew. The name of the ship had just been changed to Dov Hos, but to those on board she was still known as Fede. Both the address and picture side of the card had received a large handstamp with, around the perimeter: “REPATRIATION SHIP * “FEDE” – “DOV HOS” *” in English and with similar wording in Hebrew in the centre.

Following the end of the Second World War and the cessation of hostilities in Europe and Asia, one of the many problems that remained was the establishment of a permanent


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homeland for the Jewish people, many of whom had suffered unbelievable horrors before and during the war. At that time Great Britain ruled Palestine under what was known as the British Mandate, the authority for which had been granted by the League of Nations, after the end of the First World War.

In the First World War, Great Britain, with Arab aid, had gained control of Palestine. In the Balfour Declaration of 1917, Great Britain promised Zionist leaders aid in the establishment of a Jewish ‘national home’ in Palestine, with due regard to the rights of non-Jewish Palestinians. Arab leaders were also promised support for the creation of independent Arab states. The Arabs believed Palestine to be among these; Great Britain later denied that this had been the intention. What was the trouble all about?

The Balfour Declaration was in fact a letter, dated 2 November 1917, addressed to one of the most (if not THE most) influential Jews of the time, and certainly one of the richest. Balfour was the British Foreign Secretary. The letter read:

“Foreign Office November 7th 1917 Dear Lord Rothschild,

I have much pleasure in conveying to you on behalf of His Majesty’s government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved, by the Cabinet: His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation. Yours, Arthur James Balfour”

The Declaration was clear enough wasn’t it? Britain’s Allies from the First World War all supported Britain’s view. The Palestinians, however, felt that they had been promised the same area as a reward for their efforts against the Turks in the First World War. The scene was set when Great Britain was given the mandate to govern Palestine by the League of Nations at the end of the First World War. Both Jews and Arabs felt betrayed by British politicians as both vehemently believed that Palestine had been promised to them. The Balfour Declaration was the catalyst for Jews from many countries to immigrate to the area. Inevitably the Arabs saw the increasing Jewish population as a direct threat to them and their traditional way of life.

The problems in the interim period between the two World Wars were many and various and fell on the shoulders of British politicians and those who administered the Mandate. As more and more Jews made for their ‘homeland’ the British Government imposed draconian immigration rules and quotas, which were the subject of intense criticism and protest from many countries. Clearly this was not Britain’s ‘finest hour’.

There were many thousands of Jews, released from the concentration camps of Europe, who wanted nothing more than to put Europe as far away from themselves as was possible. What better than to make their way across Germany and Austria to ‘the Promised Land’, ‘the land flowing with milk & honey’? It was to Italy that many fled, since from there they would be able to board illegal immigrant ships for the final journey to Palestine.

During the winter of 1945-46 the emigration of Jewish refugees to Palestine became a major headache for the British and their allies. This ‘problem’ continued for several years but one incident in 1946 ensured that the plight of the refugees was brought to the attention of the world.

The powerful Zionist movement, encouraged by America, battled against a weak British Government’s restrictive immigration policy. Many thousands of displaced Jews from Europe wanted to settle in Palestine but were prevented from doing so by force of arms. The British


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Government took a very hardened stance. However, the Jews were equally determined and, in the spring of 1946, 1,014 Jewish displaced persons were transported by the Zionist underground to the abandoned port of La Spezia, Italy. The intention was to sail them to Palestine in the immigrant ships Fede and Fenice.

The day prior to the ships’ scheduled departure British police learned of the illegal transport and took steps to block their departure. The refugees refused to leave the ships and went on an extended hunger strike. Following worldwide attention to the crisis, just over a month later, the British Government relented and the Fede, renamed Dov Hos, and Fenice, sailed for Haifa, arriving 19 May.

The picture postcard was written on board Fede on 7 May 1946, the day before sailing for Haifa. The cds of La Spezia 7 May cancelled the Italian adhesives, all but one of which have been removed. It is not known when and by whom the stamps were removed – could it have been the British or Italian authorities by way of censorship?

[This very interesting and scarce card was examined by a philatelic expert in 1978 and declared “Genuine in every respect.” The expert, Martin Marco, of Tel Aviv, has applied his signature handstamp to the address side of the card (bottom right).]

The Dov Hos and Jewish displaced persons camping out at the port of La Spezia while waiting for permission to sail to Palestine 1 Apr 1946

References: 1. The Bible: Exodus 3:8 2. Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine 1946 3. Jewish Virtual Library 4. US Holocaust Memorial Museum 5. Time Magazine: 6 May 1946; Refugees: Exodus 6. New York Times: 20 May 1946 7. www.historylearningsite.co.uk/balfour_declaration_of_1917.htm 8. The Times, London: 9 November 1917 9. Albrich, Thomas & Zweig, Ronald W. (editors): Escape Through Austria: Jewish Refugees and the

Austrian Route to Palestine; 2002; Frank Cass Publishers; ISBN 0 7146 8212-8 10. Kokkonen, Suzanne: Jews in Italy: La Spezia Affair, Italy 1946


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WW1 Early Naval Covers – the Fothergill Brothers

Andrew Brooks

The covers mentioned in this short article were sent by two brothers, Henry (known as Tom) and Sandie Fothergill to their family in Faygate, Sussex. They both survived the war and eventually married; their five sisters however remained spinsters, a fate which befell many females in the 1920s and 30s.

Three of the items were actually written a couple of days before Great Britain declared war on Germany and their contents indicate the Navy being ready for action. Churchill as first Lord of the Admiralty had ordered the fleet to sea, anticipating war.

Fig 1. Tom sent this postcard to his sister ‘Punch’ (Florence) written on the 1st August and it is postmarked with a London double ring datestamp No.143, dated 4 Aug 14. This is not one of

the numbers mentioned in Gould (1st edition). The text reads: Aug 1st. Act as my instructions as there will probably be a delay in getting letters through.

T.Fothergill

He followed this with a registered letter sent the next day. This received a London double circle No.175 dated 5th August – see Fig 2 below.

Sunday Aug 2nd/14 My darling Punch

Very many thanks for your letter – I hope you have carried out the instructions re. the cheque it is the only thing to do & one never knows what might happen – I am afraid I haven’t the foggiest idea how much Barclays has of mine but I think it is probably double that amount so you draw some more if you like as we are well known there you might ask for my pass book & see what I have got, the last cheque I made out was for £18.0.0 to Gieves dated July 28th- the rest is at your disposal to use at your discretion – tell Doll that if anything happens that I bequeath to her the only valuable thing I possess ‘Jack’. You all seem to be having a very good time & lots of tennis. I saw the smoke today for a short time Much love to Mother & all Your loving brother Tom The only bills owing by me are: Gieves about £12.0.0; Mrs Murdo (washing) about 15/- Henry M. Fothergill


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Tom was on HMS Malborough when he wrote to Punch and he obviously wanted to put his affairs in order as quickly as possible before they went into action.

On the 3rd of August his brother Sandie wrote to their mother from H.M.S. Shannon. This received an Edinburgh machine cancellation for August 3rd (Fig3 below).

HMS Shannon, Second Cruiser Squadron. c/o G.P.O. London August 3rd 1914

My darling Mother, Just a line to tell you I am very fit but rather tired having had no sleep for three days and am now off to

sea again, where to no one knows. I am afraid you will not hear again for some time because we are awfully busy, so don’t think anything is wrong.

Hope the others will enjoy the dance on the 6th. I am afraid leave is absolutely off for some time. With my very best love to yourself and all the others

Love from your devoted son Sandie

Fig 2


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Fig 3 (above). Fig 4 (below)

Yet another request was sent by Tom to his sister Dorothy (Doll) on the 30th of September 1914. It was postmarked with Gould Type DD 32 identified for Kirkwall (Fig 4 above).

Sept 30th/14 HMS Marlborough Dear D.

Will you get me a white scarf – you know the thing I mean. Pretty rotten weather here – Many thanks for C. that arrived this mail. Will send you a letter soon – still homeless

Yours T.


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There are three other items concerning the two brothers. A letter from Tom in 1913 was postmarked at Plymouth (Fig 5 at left). He is on HMS Africa and he states that they had just returned from firing off Lulworth Cove.

Tom wrote in April 1916 but apart from commenting that his mail was disrupted by the raid the letter just mentions family matters.

A final item dated 1911 is a returned telegram form to a Lt. Fothergill and indicated that he was a Royal Marine (Fig 6 below).

These letters came from a large family correspondence covering a period of a hundred years. Only the WW1 items are still in the writer’s collection.

References:

1. Gould, Dr MH:. British Naval Post and

Censor Marks of the First World War.

2. Brooks, AD: Captains and Brothers. Western Front Association Stand To! No.80.

(Ref 2 is an article concerning two other brothers who were both killed in the First World War – one brother would probably have married Florence (Punch) Fothergill if he had survived).

Fig 5


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Members’ Queries

Query No 384. From David Trapnell INFORMATION WANTED, please, concerning WW2 ITALIAN PoW CAMPS in UK

1 I am seeking any publication on this subject. Please let me know of anything. 2 I have located two papers published in FPHS Newsletter in 1995, one headed in German "History of Prisoner of War Camps". The one who submitted it wrote that it was a list of German PoW camps in UK. In a later issue another member submitted a list headed in French "Italian PoW camps in Great Britain". Amazingly, in each the list (in English) was the same! Each was, in fact, one of (almost) all the PoW camps in UK – a fact that appears not to have been noticed until now To prove that a camp was housing Italians, I have been looking for letters from an Italian to an Italian with a clear camp number in the sender's address. About half such also carry the camp authorizing handstamp with the camp number. Other sources of information include contemporary maps, photos etc. In the Orkney Isles there still is a Nissen hut, beautifully decorated inside and out, made into a Roman Catholic church by the prisoners there. In a Forest of Dean camp there was a monument to Marconi with inscriptions in Italian. Such evidence is reliable. Some other attributions, like the lists mentioned above, are less so. Your help in scanning your holdings to me will be greatly appreciated and fully acknowledged. Please send all info, images etc to [email protected]

Query No 385.From Konrad Meyer This cover from Flensburg was cancelled during the plebiscite period on 22 March 1920

with censor stamp C6/3414. The censor stamp was presumably used to authenticate entitlement to free postage as Forces Mail, which it seems was not accepted by the Germans, hence the blue “40” as postage due. Was the censor stamp C6/3414 used by the 1st Battalion The Sherwood Foresters, who were part of the British Plebiscite Force, or any other unit involved with the Slesvig Plebiscite?


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The Akpinar Provisionals of 1922

Bash Orhan

In the summer of 1922, during the War of Independence against Greece, the

Headquarters and staff of the Turkish 16th Infantry Division was located at Akpinar, a poor village about 40 km. north east of Afyon-Kara-Hissar. The 17th Infantry Division was to the south of the village, and to the north was the 61st Infantry Division. These three divisions made up VI Army Corps.

Field Post Offices 46, 95 and 102 of VI Army Corps was having difficulty in getting fresh supplies of stamps. 16 Division in particular, found itself in difficult terrain so that for twelve days at the beginning of August 1922 its Field Post Office had no stamps at all. Warrant Officers, NCOs and other ranks had free postal facilities, but officers did not have this privilege, and since Post Office Regulations regarding the need for stamps on mail were very strict, something had to be done to supply officers with stamps for their letters and cards.

While help was on its way a staff officer of VI Corps, Lieutenant Nihad Bey, ordered the speedy preparation of a provisional 5-Gurush stamp. A reserve NCO called Necib Bey cut a primitive printing block out of a rubber eraser. Using this he printed 300 stamps, blue in colour, on sheets of a note pad, fifteen stamps to a sheet in five rows of three. They were not gummed or perforated. Twenty sheets were printed in this way and only one whole sheet of fifteen unused stamps is known to exist. They were put on the market by the Turkish stamp dealer Aram Hocacan, who was active in South America. When the note pad ran out, a further 300 stamps were printed in blue ink on old newspaper.

Each stamp was 23 x 20 mm in size and was framed by a broken line with right angles in the corners. An ornamental star appears in the top left corner and another on the middle of the lower border. The Turkish text, in Arabic script, says: POST FIVE G. The cancellations of these stamps is always that of Field Post Offices 95 or 102. Single used examples of the Akpinar Provisionals do exist on entire letters.

The Directorate of the Turkish Post and Telegraph (PTT) had no idea that these emergency stamps existed. The standard reporting and accounting procedures had not been observed. Staff Officer Nihad Bey, who had acted in good faith, received a sharp reprimand because he had kept no record of the issuing of the stamps. In this respect the issue was similar to the Killis Stamps (Michel Nr. 753), the Feke stamps (Michel1973, page 1250), the stamps overprinted '1338' on the Ottoman issues (op.cit. Page 1251), and the Antalya Commemorative Air-Mail stamp (not listed by Michel) since for all of these the status of the PTT Directorate as the official issuing authority was ignored, and the stamps were not acknowledged by the PTT through the postal rules were correctly observed.

After the arrival of normal stamps in the middle of August 1922, the emergency stamps were no longer valid and the remaining stock of about 400 stamps and the eraser used to print them were burned. The few unused stamps that exist are possibly items that were illegally held back and sold by the printer Necib Bey. Reference Articles:

1. HT Okday: Die Sammler-Lupe 20 Mar 1965 2. HT Okday: Neus Handbuch der Briefmarkenkunde unknown date

Note: the dates given in the figures that follow are for the Ottoman Calendar. In 1917 Turkey adopted the Julian (Rumi) calendar. This means that the Day and the Month is kept the same as Gregorian (or Miladi ) and the year is adjusted by adding or subtracting 584. Thus: JULIAN date of 20 / 6 / 1338 will convert to 1338 plus 584 = 20 / 6 / 1922, which is the date shown on my display as the start of these Akpinar Issues. I hope this will help anyone attempting to convert other dates. This conversion stopped on 26 December 1925 when Turkey adopted the western calendar.


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Fig 1. The only known whole sheet from the first printing.

Fig 2. (Left) First printing cancelled Fieldpost No 102 dated

338.6.? Arrival handstamp Filedpost No? dated 338.6.?

Fig 3. (Below). First printing

cancelled Fieldpost No 102 dated 338.6.1. Arrival handstamp

Fieldpost No 1 dated 338.6.5


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Fig 4. Second printing (on old newspaper), cancelled Fieldpost No.102, dated 38.6.? Indistinct censor and arrival marks. Manuscript note at top:- “Present to Mr Suleyman” and cachet top

right “Antalya (or Antakya)”

Fig 5. Cancelled Fieldpost No.102. Arrival handstamp Fieldpost No.47


337

Fig 6 Block of seven with single on the reverse. Cancelled Fieldpost no.95. On reverse, Fieldpost 102 in blue. Datestamp 28.6.38 in red.


338

Hand Stamped Markings on WW1 PoW / Internee Mail

Graham Mark & Cliff Gregory

Comparing notes about our collections of internee/PoW mails, some from India and others from UK, we find some puzzles concerning hand-stamped markings usually at the lower left corner of the cover.

From the likely routes these covers would have taken it appears that the markings must have been applied in London at the PW Branch of the Postal Censorship. Previously it had been assumed they were applied by the camp interpreter/censor but clearly such officials could not be so peripatetic as to have served in up to four camps within a short time.

Another question arises: why do six of these markings include the number 476? It was common in the services to be known by one’s surname and last three digits of the service number, but it would be quite extraordinary if six censors all had the same last three digits. In any event some of the camp censors were civilians as were the great number of ladies in the PW Branch of the censorship in London. A possible answer is a room or desk number in the PW Branch. On forms used within the censorship it has been noted that desk and room number were required to identify the censor originating a memo or request. But that prompts the obvious question of why only this number?

None of the covers with details recorded below carried OPENED BY CENSOR labels, rather they had been struck with the common circular POST FREE / P.C. / PRISONERS OF WAR, or a variant, and that usually in a different colour of ink.

In the comments in the table below are some other sightings, extracted from GM’s notes taken when viewing lots at auctions, Stampex etc, and all of those some years ago. No copies were available and the destinations were not recorded. In many cases covers from PoWs and internees do not have despatch or arrival dates.

There are other hand-stamps, which to date are known only from a single camp, e.g: R.V.W. in a diamond frame, known used at Newbury camp in the Autumn of 1914. C.C.M. in an oval frame known from Queen’s Ferry in September 1914 and C.E.F (boxed) is known from Alexandra Palace (undated).

We would be grateful if, through the editor, readers will kindly let us have details of other

examples of such hand-stamped initials, particularly if the same one has been recorded on mails from different camps or countries. Other theories (or better substantiated facts if available) about the place of use will also be welcome.

Fig Marking From Date To Arrived Comment

C.G.H / CENSOR

PoW ships off Ryde

1915 also seen from Stratford

E.B. / 476

Handforth Halle, DE

1 Handforth Opherdirke, DE

2 Ahmednagar 22 Oct 15 Magdeburg, DE

3 E.L.S. (boxed) Ahmednagar 4 Jan 16 Lubeck DE also seen from Leigh and Eastcote


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Fig Marking From Date To Arrived Comment

F.C.D.

Ahmednagar 9 Aug 15 Hamburg DE

Ahmednagar 9 Oct 15 Emmendingen DE 20 Nov 15

4 F.J.H. / 476

Frith Hill Breslau, DE

5 Lofthouse Park Amsterdam, NL 15 Nov 15

H.B.S. (boxed) Alexandra Palace 18 Aug 15 Vienna, OS

H. S. (boxed) Berlin, DE 11 Nov 15 Frith Hill damaged h/s ?

H.B.S. / 476 (circled)

Internee in India 11 Oct 15 Emmendingen DE 30 Nov 15

J.A.H. / CENSOR PoW ships at Portsmouth

1915 also seen from Dyffryn Aled

6 J.H.G.G. 476

Internee in India 16 Sep 15 Denmark 13 Oct 15 also seen from Douglas

7 Knockaloe 9 Dec 15 Rotterdam, NL

PoW in S Africa Hamburg, DE

J.R.C.

Ahmednagar 8 Oct 15 Internee at Handforth also seen from Knockaloe and Lofthouse Frith Hill Leicester

8 T.V.O. / 476 (boxed)

Hamburg, DE 7 Sep 15 Internee in India also seen from Knockaloe

9 Eastcote Geneva, CH 13 Aug 15

10 W.J.E. 476 Internee in India Ramschied, DE

W.M.B. (boxed)

Dusseldorf, DE 1 July 15 Ahmednagar also seen from Lancaster

Knockaloe Ramschied, DE 2 Dec 15

Dorchester Halberstadt, DE

Stobs Berlin, DE

Fig 1 (left) & Fig 2 (right)


340

Figs 3 & 4

Figs 5 & 6

Figs 7 & 8


341

Figs 9 & 10

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Review West African Censorship, 3rd edition by Martin, Walton & Harris, published by West Africa Study Circle, 2014, card-covers, 184pp, black & white illustrations, ISBN 978-1-905647-13-2. Price

£18, plus P&P £4.40 UK, £8 Europe, £14.50 elsewhere. Order from Mr I. Anderson, 57 Manse Rd, Edinburgh, EH12 7SR, [email protected]. Payment may be by cheque made out to

WASC sent to Mr Anderson or by Paypal to [email protected] Reviewed by Mike Roberts.

Previous editions of this standard work appeared in 1993 and 1999. Civilian and military

censorship of mail during both World Wars for each of the mainland countries and the Atlantic islands falls within the scope of this publication, together with material relating to the Biafran War. In the last fifteen years our members have been busy recording new types of cachets, new numbers for existing types and extensively extending dates of use. There is little new to report for some countries but elsewhere significant revisions have become necessary.

Work by Bob Maddocks, John Wilson and Konrad Morenweiser has resulted in a far better understanding of what was happening at Bathurst and accordingly the section on Gambian WW2 tapes has been revised. In the Nigeria section probable locations are allocated to some of the civilian handstamps. It is clear that the collectors of Nigeria and Sierra Leone have been particularly busy in recording new types, numbers and dates of usage. A small section on Tristan da Cunha appears for the first time.

A number of appendices, particularly those listing relevant FPO numbers up to 2009, British Examiner Tapes found on West African mail and extracts from WW1 Censorship Reports provide useful and fascinating information. It is remarkable that simply in terms of the number of pages this volume is 50% larger than its predecessor.

The overall layout has been tidied up. Data now appears alongside, rather than beneath, illustrations, making for easier reading. Glossy paper with illustrations of some particularly appealing covers make for a publication which is very professional in appearance. I was initially worried that the soft card covers would quickly crease and wear but in fact the book handles very well.

In the foreword to the Second edition I stated that “the final word on this fascinating and popular subject has yet to be written…” This is no doubt still true, but the authors are to be congratulated for another massive step towards that goal.


342

Gallipoli 1915

The battle for Krithia, objective for Day 1 of the landing on 25 April Keith Tranmer

This cover, date stamped at Boston on 19 April, was addressed to Lt Waller RNVR, c/o Senior Naval Officer, Boston. Re-addressed “c/o Admiralty for address” where it was endorsed “Howe Battn, British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, c/o GPO”.

At middle left is a boxed cachet “VERIFIED AT RECORDS Base M.E.F” and at middle right a boxed cachet reading “R.E. (S.R.) A.P.S.” of the Army Postal Service. At top left in pencil is written: “H.B. McIntosh, Howe Battn, Killed in Action”.

Waller died of wounds on 7 May 1915, aged 25, and is buried at Skew Bridge Cemetery, Cape Hellas. McIntosh was killed on 4 June in the battle for Krithia. He has no known grave but is named on the Helles Memorial. Krithia remained in Turkish hands throughout the campaign.

Why was the cover forwarded to McIntosh? One can speculate that it arrived after Waller had died, and possibly he had named McIntosh in his will? The “killed in action” seems to be in a different hand to the “H.B. McIntosh, Howe Battn”. We probably will never know.

I visited Achi Baba, a little to the north of Krithia, in 1975 on the 60th anniversary of the battle in the company of Able Seaman Mark Osborne, a veteran of Howe Battalion. See photo at left.


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The Story of HM Submarine UN37

Nick Colley

Below is a picture of the address side of a postcard datelined from HM Submarine UN37, stampless, with a RFHMS machine postmark of February 6th 1919. The picture side shows a charming depiction of a Levantine maiden working on a tapestry.

As most people with an interest and working knowledge of Royal Naval history will readily recognise, there was never any such submarine in the Royal Navy. However, the previous owner, the late Martin Lynes had been in correspondence with the Naval Historical Branch of the MoD in 1984, and this is the story that emerged, and I quote verbatim from the NHB letter: “When the Germans surrendered at the end of WW1, the minelaying submarine UC37 was one of four boats to surrender at Sevastopol in the Crimea. Two of these boats, one of which was UC37 were allocated to the British, and two to the French. HMS Adamant, a submarine depot ship, and the British submarine E21 were despatched into the Black Sea (with prize crews) to recover the two German submarines. The British officer given the command of UC37 was Lt Jermyn Rushbrooke. Having taken over the boat and prepared it for passage to Malta, Rushbrooke, renowned for his sense of humour, had the number on the conning tower repainted: the UC became UN, since the Germans had always been

referred to as “The (H)un”.


344

The address has some interest, too: Private V Matthews, Q.M.W.A.A.C., Fort Gomer, Gosport. The initials Q.M.W.A.A.C. are probably a sort of solecism on the part of the writer: the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (1917-1918) ie W.A.A.C., was re-named Queen Mary’s Auxiliary Army Corps in 1918 i.e. Q.M.A.A.C. (Ref.3). The writer of the card has probably elided the two sets of initials to come up with Q.M.W.A.A.C. That the Q.M.A.A.C. was present in Fort Gomer would make sense in that someone with Army affiliations would work in a fort. It may well have been used as a depot or storage facility in WW1. The card is addressed to Private V Matthews, the sender’s sister: she was perhaps Viola, Vivienne, or more probably Victoria.

Fort Gomer itself has some historical interest. It was one of the five Palmerston forts, each with a supporting battery, built between 1853 and 1863 on the western side of Gosport to protect Portsmouth harbour from an invasion force attacking from the land. It was demolished in 1964. (Ref.4).

Below is a picture of one of UC37’s sister vessels. She was not a large boat, only approximately 170 feet long and 17 feet beam. Ocean-going U boats of WW1 were generally longer than 200 feet. A full complement would have been 26-28. (Ref 1). A prize crew would be considerably smaller than that. Despite their size these boats packed a formidable punch, with 2 bow and 1 stern torpedo tubes, a 3.4” gun, and 18 mines in 6 vertical tubes. UC37 was completed in 1916 by Blohm & Voss, and operated with the Pola Flotilla in the Adriatic and Mediterranean from January 1917 - July 1918. She transferred in July 1918 to Constantinople, which is how she came to be in the Black Sea at the end of the war. (Ref 2). During her short career she sank 66 ships and damaged a further five.

UC26 Ref 1: Le Fleming, HM: Warships of World War 1No 5 - Submarines, pub Ian Allan, undated Ref 2: http://www.uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=UC+37 Ref 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Mary's_Army_Auxiliary_Corps Ref 4: http://www.mygosport.org/info_pages_htm/forts.htm

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A Peninsular War Campaign Letter

John F Cowlin

Shown below is a campaign letter, written at Tarifa, Spain, on 13 Feb 1811, from ET Michell to his father, Revd J Michell. Carried privately to London and put into the London 2d post at Woolwich. The unpaid letter was then rated 2d for the Woolwich 2d post plus another 8d inland for the 104 miles from London to Gloucester, for 10d collect as rated.

Tarifa was besieged by French troops from 20th December 1810 to 5 January 1812, and was defended by British troops from Gibraltar. In 1811 there were 3,000 defending troops with 1,200 of those British, including Colonel Charles Holloway who, as officer commanding Royal Engineers made improvements to Tarifa’s defences.


345

My dear Father “I had given up all thoughts of seeing the Enemy in this part of the world, when an order arrived for our little Garrison to take a part in a grand attack, which was to be made on the fronts occupied by the French on the 20th of Jany. I believe our numbers and situation were little thought of when the instructions were sent, for we were ordered to occupy a position, surrounded by French Detachments superior to ourselves, and in the open Country which gave their Cavalry great advantages. However we had the good fortune to escape their dragoons and to perform the pass allotted to us greatly to the satisfaction of the Lieut. Governor of Gibraltar. It is only to be regretted that the principal part of the plan, namely the sally from Cadiz, did not take place, for in all probability it would have over … the small force, which the French now have to invest that place and to keep the neighbouring country in subjection. It had been determined that in the same moment the sortie took place, an attack should be made, by the Spanish troops on the East of the Enemy, upon the town of Medina Sidonia, a strong post, about 3 leagues from the French Cantonments, and the Headquarters of their numerous outposts .. were directed to make a diversion in favour of this attack, and accordingly moved to Casas Viejas where the Enemy had a party stationed in a Church which they had taken great pains to fortify. The badness of the roads prevented our taking Guns, but I accompanied the Commandant on our approaching the fort, a fire of rounds and grape shot was opened on us, without affect:- the Cavalry and Skirmishers were soon driven in, and are occupied a heights above the post, when a firing commenced and lasted for some time without even a wound of consequence being received on our side. I was then sent to summon the place, but the Commt. refused most peremptorily, though very politely, to surrender. In this he was perfectly right, for an attempt to carry it by assault would have cost us many lives, and might have been unsuccessful. Now as our object was to draw the French troops from Medina that the Spaniards might more easily get possession of it, it was determined to leave a party to watch the Church, and proceed with the remainder of our force on the Medina road. Before night, the Enemy who had skirmished with us and been driven off continually during the day, received such reinforcements as made him greatly superior to us. Indeed as we have since ascertained with perfect certainly, the whole of the troops in Medina and other neighbouring posts with 2 pieces of artillery were ready to attack us in the morning. Our object being thus accomplished and our position being indefensible, we retired under cover at night to a more advantageous one about a league off, fully confident of the success of the Spaniards against Medina. Unfortunately the day had been changed without our knowledge, and our labours were lost but continued however to draw the Enemy's attention to this side and to harass him by marches and skirmishes, which enabled the Spaniards to carry Medina on the morning of the 29th . (Jan) without much loss. In the meantime our troops were again moved forward, and, after sustaining the fire from Casas Veijas, invested it as before. I went on with a light party within a few miles of Medina, and destroyed the stables and works which the French had erected there and which they abandoned on our approach. Thus everything was going on well, when dispatches arrived from Genl. Graham in Cadiz to our Commandant, stating that the Sortie was deferred on account of the weather. Our danger was now minimal but we communicated the news to the Spanish General in Medina and awaited his determination. He thought it prudent to ‘cemente’ his conquest in the night and in consequence we next morning (30th .) commenced our march for Tarifa. Things are now as before our movements. We expect shortly to act again but of course our operations will be much confined and almost void of danger. All the boats continue embargoed at Cadiz to transport the troops to points of attack, and the greatest expectations are entertained of its success from the small number of the Enemy. It will be an eternal disgrace to the allied troops if such a handful of men should succeed in keeping them in check till they receive reinforcements ”. I am dear Father, your ever affectionate Son E.T Michell. To 'Revd. J Michell ”.


346

Note by Editor: The List of officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery from the year 1716 to the year

1899, Royal Artillery Institution, 1900 has the following entry for this officer: “Brig.-Gen. Edward Thomas Michell, CB, RA. In Gibraltar until 1810 and then detached

to command a guerrilla division in the Sierra de Ronda; present at the capture of Ronda, combats of El Brosque and of Bornos, night attack and capture of Arcos. Commanded the artillery with the force occupying Tarifa in 1810-11-12; engaged in all the affairs and operations at Tarifa, Vejer, Casas Viejas, Alcala, Medina, Sidonia and the battle of Barros. Especially mentioned in Napier's History "as having distinguished himself by his talent and enterprise and by skillful management of the Artillery at the final defence of Tarifa in December 1811. In 1812 present at the assault and capture of the Salamanca forts, at the battle of Salamanca, and combat of Castrejon. Served in the Netherlands from Dec 1813 to May 1814, at capture of Merxem, bombardment of Antwerp and in the night attack on Bergen-op-Zoom (severely wounded and distinguished himself by extinguishing the fuze of a shell thrown by the enemy into the centre of a wagon of ammunition. From Aug 1839 to Nov 1840 he was British Commissioner with the Spanish armies (Knight of the Spanish Order of Charles III, and of San Fernando, and Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. Appointed a Brigadier General and commander of British Forces in Syria on 27 October 1840 and was present at the action of Medjdel, 15 Jan 1841. General Michell died at Jaffa on 24 Jan 1841 and a monument was erected there to his memory by the officers who had served under him in Spain and Syria.”

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A Swedish Military Post Office on Finnish Soil.

Ulf Sjödén During the Finnish-Soviet winter war January to April 1940 nearly 9000 Swedish soldiers,

privates to generals, went to the eastern neighbouring country as volunteers to fight the communists, mostly in northern Finland.

Sweden raised a Field Post Office in TORNEÅ (Torneaa), just behind the Finnish borderline and opposite the Swedish city of HAPARANDA. The cover shown is addressed to the city of NORRKÖPING, using a Swedish adhesive and post marked HAPARANDA + F + 8. 3. 40.

The letter was censored by the Finnish military censorship , written in both Finnish and Swedish “SOTASENSUURI GRANSKAD AV KRIGSCENSUREN RT 47”


347

A Swedish Military Post Office used Abroad

Ulf Sjödén

In the early 1930s the League of Nations decided to send an international peace-keeping force into the SAAR area between France and Germany. The reason was the holding of a Plebiscite to decide whether the area would be attached to France or Germany. The reason was that after the armistice 1918-1919, this area was given to France as a reparation for war-damage.

The Swedish part of the Group counted 261 men of all ranks. The 261st person was a Post Master!

The Batallion was raised at the Svea Lifeguards with a lieutenant-colonel as leader. The Batallion arrived on 22 December 1934 and returned to Sweden on 20 February 1935.

True covers are postmarked during the period 23. 12. 1934 – 17. 2. 1935. Most are philatelic items, including this one.

A lot of false covers and backdated handstamped covers are circulating on the market. The false ones have a somewhat smaller sized hand-stamp and dates 16. 2. 35 occur. The backstamped covers are dated 13. 1. 35 – the voting day! Significant are the two figure ’3’s– both numbers got a plain top edge! A real, true, cover is shown here! Please note that the figure ’3’ is given in two different styles. The best way to avoid a suspect cover is to accept only registered covers and/or PPCs from Merzig in the SAAR-Gebiet. Reference: Facit Postal VII, 2004 Vaesteraas, ISBN 91-86564-55-2


348

“POSTED BY WOUNDED SOLDIERS” Peter Burrows

Following Alan Brown’s article on pages 29/30 of newsletter #133 dated July 1975, and one new cachet on page 117 of the newsletter #170 dated October 1981, there have not been any new cachets reported.

At the September 2014 FPHS meeting I showed the following cachets, extending Alan’s numbering.

Fig.14 cachet struck in black on cover sent to Victoria, Canada,

dated 30th August 1917?

Fig.15 cachet struck in violet on cover sent from 4th Scottish Hospital, Stobhill, Glasgow, to Brighton, dated 18th November 1914

Fig.16 cachet struck in black on picture post card sent from Orderly Room, West Cliff Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital, Folkestone, to Pas de Calais, France, on 14th August 1917

Fig.17 cachet struck in scarlet on picture post card sent to Windsor, Canada,

from Cheltenham Racecourse Red Cross Hospital, dated 26th June 1918

forces postal history society journal whole number 304 · 2016-06-16 · forces postal history...

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