FPHS - Legacy Forum

General Category => Members Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Chris Grimshaw on April 08, 2021, 02:39:59 PM

Title: POW Card Bizerta to Austria
Post by: Chris Grimshaw on April 08, 2021, 02:39:59 PM
Afternoon Team

My daily puzzle..

Scan shows details of a Card from Bizerte to Austria

Sent by an Austrian POW, Dec 1916  So far straight forward,  No receiving cancel  Blue Censors initials in crayon,  (Serbian) 

Now the puzzle  VISE in Red Circle.  I'm guessing this is a Censor mark, but from where,  I've not seen any such mark in the Serbian literature I have.

Chris
Title: Re: POW Card Bizerta to Austria
Post by: Howard Weinert on April 08, 2021, 03:58:16 PM
Chris,

This card was sent by a Czech POW in the French-run camp in Bizerte, Tunisia. The censor mark VISE (examined) is French.
Nothing Serbian here although there were ill Serbian troops in Bizerte who were evacuated by the Allies from Serbia.
Title: Re: POW Card Bizerta to Austria
Post by: Chris Grimshaw on April 09, 2021, 11:10:06 AM
Thanks Howard

Another Censor I can now recognize.

When the Serbians retreated through the mountains into Albania in the Winter of 1915 they took with them some 20.00 POWs which they'd taken in the campaign.  On arrival at velores in Albania the survivors of these POWs were taken over by the French.  I wonder if some were then transferred to Birerta.

Chris
Title: Re: POW Card Bizerta to Austria
Post by: Peter Gassmann on April 11, 2021, 02:31:36 PM
Hi Chris

the "Visé" censor mark was used by the French censorship in Tunisia.

best wishes, Peter
Title: Re: POW Card Bizerta to Austria
Post by: Chris Grimshaw on April 12, 2021, 05:02:29 AM
Thank Peter

Chris