A colleague has asked me about the cover shown here, from Indian FPO 76, at Kazvin, Persia, in August 1919.
He tells me that he has asked among collectors of Persia and drawn a blank - and that censor 7/555 has not been recorded used by them.
The signature is not the easiest to read but as a half-colonel that ought to make it a bit easier.
The offical "Operations in Persia" is not very helpful as there is little in that volume of doings of the British forces once the armistice has been signed.
My colleague will be most impressed if FPHS members can identify the signing officer and even more so if more reports of 7/555 can be provided.
As the scans I have received are too big for this site and I do not know how to reduce them (bitwise) I will have to put one side of the cover with this message and the other as a separate message.
Graham

I suggest JR Goldthorpe;  in the Oct 1918 Army List he is in the Labour Corps as temp Lt, seniority 5 July 17, acting Capt 31 Oct 17.  He is not in the 1925 Army List.
Next question?
Regards, Graham

Can the enquirer be sure that the sender of the card, Jim .... writing to Miss Elliott, was her grandfather?  If Miss Elliott became the enquirer's grandmother that would prove him, or if there are other letters from HMS Crystal Palace the handwriting can be compared.

The 164 Brigade, in 55 (West Lancs) Div, was 'somewhere in France' but not involved in any battles in March 1917, per Becke's "Order of Battle" books.
It had been in XV Corps, 4th Army during the Somme in 1916, then in XIX Corps 5th Army in July 1917 for Pilkem Ridge (Ypres).

A possible reason for a Seaman to be on land near the Army - he could have been with, or visiting, an RNAS unit - either flyers or balloons.

I agree with Reg, the address is Eynham Road, St Qunitins Park.  This is a small road parallel to the railway line which links the GWR main line near Old Oak Common with Kensington Olympia and the Southern Railway at Clapham Junction.
I would doubt this was sent by Locker-Lampson himself. 
It does not look to me like an educated hand. 
Godfrey Lampson Tennyson Locker-Lampson was born in 1875, educted at Eton and Trinity Coll Cambridge, was an MP from 1910, Under-Sec of State for Foreign Affairs from 1925 and a Privy Councillor in 1928.

Per Hocking "Dictionary of Disasters at Sea" the ships captain was Lt S Brenell RNR.  A 1916 Navy List tells me his name was Samuel.  He was a temp Lt RNR with seniority 28Sep15.
Sorry I cannot tell you anything about the numbers allocated to the ship (by the Admiralty?)
Graham Mark

When I was compiling my book on the censorship of civil mails during WWI I was shown a handful of covers by a acquaintance in the Bristol area.  Like yours they were addressed to someone on board a ship, SS "Omara" at Glasgow in my case.  Military Control Officers were appointed to ports and they were empowered to censor mails at the shipping company offices.  I believe this C mark was an indication that the letter had been seen by the MCO but from recollection I do not believe any of the covers I have seen with the marking had been opened and resealed by these officers.  From some smaller ports I have examples of covers which had been opened and resealed but they were addressed to persons with obviously 'foreign' names in Scandinavia.  Yours to a British crew member of a British ship was less likely to have warranted examination.
I hope this helps.  My book, with a supplement, is available to FPHS members at £20 plus postage, or collect it at MIDPEX next month.
Graham Mark

Isee I was confused when I answered this question.
I agree this cover was paid 2½d.  Why did I think it was paid only 1½d? 
It must have been late at night!

A colleague in USA has asked me about a cover from an RASC officer interned in Switzerland.
The illustration of the cover is too large for me to upload into the forum.
It was send by 2Lt KR Gough RASC from British Military Internemtn Camp, Biezwil, 21 Nov 40, paid 60c for airmail, to "Esquire" (the magazine) at Chicago.
WWII is outside my usal area - can anyone give an authoratitive answer?
Graham

Frank Daniel's work sheet (the top one on the board and therefore the most battered) records CM2/2797 at FPO30 on 25 July 1915.  A cryptic entry below this date, in a different ink, looks like AUS something.  Not very helpful and does not answere your "Where in the world?"
Looks like the War Diary of the FPO is needed  - Does the Divisional history or the Regimental history throw any light on the matter?
Regards to all,
Graham

Until 30 April 1940 the rate for a 1oz letter UK to USA was 1½d.  From 1 May 1940 the rate (for the same weight) was increased to 2½d.
Your cover was datestamped 2 May 40 but was paid only at the old rate.  I expect that the notification of the increase in rate had not reached the office where the letter was posted, and when it passed through a British sorting office the shaotfall was ignored as a concession.
My comments are based on rates applied to civilian mails - I am not aware of any concessionary rate to the forces at the time in question, but another member may be able to say whether there was  one.

Frank Daniel's work sheets show that he recorded censor 3/1458 with Indian FPOs 18, 17 and 3.  IFPO 18 is underlined.  IFPOs 17 and 18 were both allocated to 1st Indian Cavalry Division, HQ and Sialkot Bde respectively, IFPO 3 was allocated to 2nd Indian Cav Div (all per Proud).
Perry's "Order of Battle of Divisions" part 5B does not give a location of 1st Ind Cav Div, other than to say they were held in reserve for much of the time waiting for the elusive gap.  But trench parties were call on from time to time either to hold the line or as pioneers.
Graham

Hello Tony
Firebrace p191.
10April15 office was opened in shed 43 on the docks at Alexandria
10Sept15 metal datestamp (as on this cover) was brought into use
15Oct15 moved to better premises at Le Forreti Theatre in Alex with staff of one officer, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals and 15 sappers.
In October 1915 they would have been handling mails to and from the Kiwis at Galipolli and the returned mail of casualties, redirecting it to hospitals etc or returning it to NZ if the man had been killed.
The theatre is not mentioned in my 1930s Baedeker's Guide, so I cannot say which street it was in.
Graham

My friend in Germany has just sent me a message:
I have forwarded two mails from the Bundesarchiv regarding the names of died soldiers of Von der Tann in the battle of Jutland. As you can see from the answers, only lists of the officers do exist and available only by visiting the Bundesarchiv for personals studies.  Very sorry
My two friends from the local stamp club have not found more than that published on the internet.  At the grave yard here at Kiel there are thousands of soldiers both WW, not only Germans, but non of Von der Tann.
So I think the only way to solve the problem, is a holiday in Freiburg and personal researches in the Bundesarchiv.

I can let you have the original messages from the Bundesarchiv if you wish.
Seems the German Admiralty did not copy the British Navy Lists with full lists of deaths.
All the best
Graham

Vol.3 of Corbett;s official history "Naval Operations", appendix G states the casualties on board SMS Von der Tann at Jutland as:  killed 1 officer and 11 men, wounded 3 officers and 32 men.
A good friend is a retired German Naval officer.  I will email him to ask if lists were published and if they are readily available.
Watch this space.

The octagonal censor T4 is defintiely British and would have been applied on arrival of the card in Britain.  Without knowing the date of sending the card it is difficult to predict when it might have arrived in this country - no doubt the usual transit time was disrupted.  CCSG has recorded this type of censor in the range T.2 to T.94 between late Dec 39 and early Oct 40 on mail and at  later dates on telegrams.
Graham