Hi All, I have an up coming exhibition (in New Zealand) that I am judging at and one of the entries is covering German troops in and Pre - Post Boxer rebellion.

Exhibit covers pre 1900 through to around 1906. There are a couple of references on the exhibit but I do not have access to these in NZ. My question is are there any PDF resources that are available that will help to inform me of the period for German postal routes, rates and markings?

Hi Chris,

I have had a quick look through the NZ Archives online site for the possible WWI war records but have not been (as yet) able to locate the soldier in question amongst the records that are available.

Reagrds Paul

Hi Chris,

Found this. May be a lead or not ?

http://sparedandshared.wordpress.com/letters/1850-hezekiah-dews-to-col-john-h-dawson/

Paul

I agree with Chris that the surname looks like "Dawson".

The location address is Camden Ark (Arkansas) down south in confederate country USA.

How have you dated the cover ?

Paul

And the winner is July 17, 1857 ?

Interesting, now I don't know where to go from here.

Regards Paul

Hi Colin,

Quick glance at the back show a receiving mark and I will make a scan of this over teh next couple of days and get into the thread.

Paul

Mike,

Many thanks for the response and I am very grateful for the detailed information that you have provided which is what I was after to get the detail behind the markings. You answer is very much appreciated. I fully understand the community / family commitments.

Regards

Paul

1916 Army list shows up the following Paine linked to KRRC

12th Service Bn. Lt. Col. (temp) A.I. Paine, CMG, DSO (19th Oct '14) - last date is the officers substantive date of seniority

Regards

Paul

I think that Michael Dobbs is my helper here if possible.

Attached is a 1970 5d (First Class rate up to 4oz) with BFPO commerative cancel that I have seen on many a VC NAM cover. However what I am actually interested is the BFPO machine cancel off to the right ?

My questions are:

1. Why a machine cancel - is it becuase the stamp and hand cancel are on the left and not right
2. Why is the cancel 5 days later
3. What is the provanance of the machine cancel

Regards Paul

Many thanks Frank and Graham,

I can fully understand that given the marking was applied in London, therefore it will be of no use to identifying the ship due to lack of other markings. What is evident is that the marking was applied before June 1856 as this was the time that Charles left with the Coldstream Guards to return to the UK.

At this stage I will take it that it is a possibility that the letter has been transported back via the steamship Orinoco as this seems, from my research, to be the strongest link that I have so far.

One final question I have then is around the rate. If this had been sent via an HMS vessel would the rate for and officer albeit Army have been 3d not 6d as shown. Does the manuscript 6 indicate that it has been posted via a merchant or private vessel ?

If the answer is yes then was the Orinoco a private vessel under contract to the Navy ?

Regards Paul

I am trying to locate a location and ship from a letter that was sent from Charles Lygon Cocks to his sister Henrietta Maria Cocks as shown.

The letter is rated 6d with a manuscript cancel. Forces land rate at the time until September 1856 was 3d for officers and 1d for enlisted men.

My research on Charles has the following quick history of his movement to and from and in the Crimea.
Of the two brothers Charles and Taff Cocks, Charles was the first to leave when, on 22 February 1854, he marched out from Chichester with the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards to embark on the steamship Orinoco at Southampton. He was then a Major.

While in the Crimea in July 1854 he received his company without purchase, being promoted to Lt. Col and returned to the UK to local duties much to his displeasure.

In May 1855 Charles arrives back in the Crimea with reinforcements of the 2nd Coldstream Guards.

He often entertained  Captain Wilson of the Orinoco with whom he dined or whom he entertained whenever his ship was in Balaclava. This is the ship that he first came to the crimea on in 1854.

The hostilities against Russia at last ended in March 1856 with the signing of an Armistice. Gradually troops were withdrawn. At the end of the month Charles Cocks managed a sightseeing trip to Kertch in HMS Medusa through knowing her Captain.

On the 4 June 1856 the Coldstream finally embarked on board HMS Agamemnon and in just over three weeks they were home in Aldershot.

My question is what is the time / location and ship name. Does the "SHIP LETTER" marking provide any assistance ?

Regards Paul

Mike,

Thanks for the correction PBTCAK. Problem Between The Chair And Keyboard ! Peter High is exactly what was intended but not typed correctly.

Regards

Paul

The Censor mark looks like a Gould 4D30 (should measure 38 1/2 mm width  x 13 mm height)  making a match to HMS Lion.

The mute cross handstamp cancel I am having a harder time matching in the Gould listings. But if Lion is correct they it could be a variation of the DB 31, 32 type.

The reference you are after (that I have provided this info from)  is British Naval Post & Censor Marks of the First World War by Dr. M. H Gould. To obtain contact Peter Hugh.

Regards

Paul