Something different!

My partner is a published writer and poet.  She asked me what was the smallest army unit, which is an essential component for a poem under construction.

I fear it may not be a simple answer?

Cheers
Tony

To all
Very grateful for the threads in response to my query from everyone - once again the Forum shows its worth

Cheers
Tony

Hi Peter

Is it surprising the 10 / 99 censor mark appears used from three different originating post offices, so presumably used at a central office with only one censor, or just one censor censor mark?

Cheers
Tony

Attached is a scan of a cover salvaged from the wreck of the SS Kenilworth Castle on 4 June 1918 when she was in collision with a destroyer in the English Channel. Torpedoes in the destroyer exploded under the Kenilworth Castle which was badly damaged and beached in Plymouth Sound. The hold containing the mail was flooded, but covers from this incident are not rare.

The ship had departed Cape Town, South Africa on 2 May 1918, this cover bears a cancellation from Dundee, South Africa of 27 April 1918.  My query relates to the censor mark on the cover, and I would be grateful for any information concerning it.  I have two other covers from this wreck, neither of which have been censored.

Tony 

Hi Alan

You might like to send the query to Darryl Fuller : editor@wipsg.org who edits the Journal of the recently amalgamated society for Caribbean philately The West Indies Philatelic Study Group.

And/or to Mr Duane Larson : dlarson283@aol.com who is the Jamaican study group organiser

Cheers
Tony

I do not have an example of the censor mark (Gould 4A9) from Armed Merchant Cruiser Orama in World War One.  If anyone could lend me an example for say 3 months I would be most grateful.  Happy to buy one of course.
Wondering why?  Am featuring ship in 80 an page exhibit for show in Essen in May.  Will acknowledge source if cover on loan.

Cheers
Tony Walker
walker369@btinternet.com

Thanks Peter

Disappointed it's not WWI naval, but it's an interesting cover nevertheless.  From what you say it was a wartime usage, so presumably instigated because of wartime activities.

Tony

Attached a cover from Jamaica to the USA - it may well not be of military origin.

However if anyone can suggest why the envelope was opened by the express warrant of the Governor, I would be most interested.  Could it be because of the too brief address and they were looking for more info about the recipient?

On the reverse is a KINGSTON / FEB 29-16 / JAMAICA machine cancel.

Tony Walker[attach id=6559]3687 Jamaica to USA (2).jpg[/attach]

Thanks Mike, I thought it might be N.L.1 as it would make sense, but it's not really clear, so an objective opinion from another distinguished source is a great help.....

Thanks Chris.  I'll scan the letter to you

Cheers
Tony

Thanks Chris and Nick - that's moved me on enough to write it up, probably have to revise it in due course

tony

I am having difficulty sorting out the cover attached + letter from the Egerton correspondence

The envelope is addressed by Mark Egerton to his mother Lady Egerton and has an FPO dated 5 OC 15, but the number is not readable.  Checking FPO's used by the RND, there are only three which appear to have been in use in October 1915, namely NL1 and NL2 and DNL.  Additionally the censor no. on the cover is 2665, perhaps not clear on the copy but OK in the original.  On the information I have, this number has not been shown as used by the RND.

The letter was sent by Mark Egerton from Mudros (see last line of his address on letter)[attach id=6557]RND Hood Bn 4096.jpg[/attach] .  His father at the time was in charge down at Devonport, where the envelope is addressed to.  The letter contains just family matters.

Here I am diligently embarking on writing up my material, but being thwarted by a lack of information, so any help with the above will be most welcome

Tony

Here's an update on this cover

Date is 1916 not 1918, which clears up the main query, the 6 and 8 are very similar.
The ship was intercepted by the Germans on 6 November 1916 and taken into Zeebrugge where the mail was inspected, as well as the cargo presumably.  It is not clear whether any passengers were taken off and taken into custody.  The ship was released on 17 December 1916 and continued voyage to Boston, England.

On 6 June 1918 the ship was torpedoed and sunk by SM UB-107 with the loss of 7 lives.

As Chris mentioned, the ship was registered in a neutral country, Netherlands and was classified as a Hospital Ship. She was used to transport PoW's repatriated between England and Germany throughout most of the war.  She was carrying German PoW's back to Germany when she was sunk.  Poetic justice I suppose.

Still interested in any info on censor label, and a copy of the PO notice this has largely covered

Tony

Hello Chris

Thanks for info.

There appear to be three labels :

The Opened by Censor label on top
Beneath which is the Post Office label requesting return of the letter to them
and beneath this what appears to be a blank piece of paper resealing the opened letter

Tony

I have a cover - see attachments for which I'd be grateful for some feedback.  It is purported to have come from the Paddle Steamer Koningen Regentes which was intercepted by the German submarine UB-19 and escorted into Zeebrugge on 10 November 1918

Firstly the cover :

It shows two cachets :

PART OF MAIL CAPTURED / BY GERMANS AND DELAYED and
PORTVRIS / ??ANC DE PORT / Militaires estrangers / ? dans Pays-Bas

On arrival in England the cover was censored and resealed with tape, and a label mostly obscured by the OPENED BY / CENSOR. / P.W.103 label asking the recipient to 'Please return this letter to the Post Office as part of an official enquiry.'

I have carefully lifted part of the CENSOR label on the front of the cover to reveal the cancellation GRONINGEN 7 NOV 18, this ties in with what appears to be an offset cancellation on the reverse of the same date.

The information on the internet is confusing, particularly that the Koningen Regentes was a hospital ship, torpedoed and sunk on 6 June 1918.

I realise some of this is outside the likely scope of FPHS members, but I'd be grateful if someone could :

a) scan me a complete copy of the Post Office 'Please return....' label
b) Provide any info on the CENSOR label
c) In hope rather than expectation, clarification of the ship involved

[attach id=6551]4585 dutch ship held up by Germany (2).jpg[/attach] Cheers
Tony
walker369@btinternet.com

Thanks gents, much appreciated

Tony