Cover of the Day - 24 May 2020 - HMT Ascania Prison Ship

[Peter Harvey]

Another WW1 Prisoner of War cover from me, this time HMT Ascania.

Stationary Prisoner of War envelope to Glasgow cancelled with the Southampton APL 16 15 machine datestamp and to reverse the senders address M. L. Doyyner, Detection Camp S.S. Ascania, Second Class Cabin D.29 I.O.W and to the front the straight line cachet (53 x 5mm) PASSED CENSOR.

The Ascania was leased by the British Government and used at a prison ship from late 1914 until April 1915 stationed off Ryde at the Isle of Wight. Other mail I have seen came ashore on the Isle of Wight, this is the first I have seen at Southampton, maybe the ship was moving prior to the end of its lease.