The Foreign Office in Italy

[Frank Schofield]

An envelope postmarked London January 2nd 1918, addressed to (typewritten) Captain Bromhead, (manuscript) c/o The Foreign Office, Whitehall, SW1. The cover was censored upon arrival at the Foreign Office. Then forwarded by Foreign Office bag to its destination, Italy. In the January 1918 Army List there are 9 officers named Bromhead, with ranks ranging from 2nd Lieut to Colonel, the only Captain listed with the Italic initials 'f.o.' (Serving under Foreign Office), against his entry under the 24th London Regt was Captain A.C. Bromhead. Alfred Claude Bromhead, had returned from Russia where he was seconded to Special Mission to Russian Armies 1916-17, which involved in showing and distributing propaganda films to the Russian Forces. Bromhead was the co-founder of the Gaumont Picture Company, hence his expertise in the world of film. In the 1918 Army List index, Bromhead has a second entry against his name, which shows that on 6th December 1917, he gained a temporary rank of Lt/Col. (Whilst Specially Employed) he was appointed to command the British Special Mission to Italian Armies 1918-19. It is reasonable to assume that he was carrying the same duties as in Russia only this time to the Italians. He received a CBE for his wartime services. The pencilled "Not SR1 or SRI" is of unknown origin.

The name Bromhead may strike a note with members. Zulu-Roukes Drift-Lt Bromhead (Michael Caine) and the Victoria Cross, might be a distant relative, but that's one for the member who have Ancestry. Many members may also remember the Gaumont British News in the cinema

Frank Schofield

[Alan Baker]

At the moment, I have not found a connection. Alfred Bromhead came from Hampshire, while Gonville and his family were from Lincolnshire.

I am attaching a scan of a cover which I have displayed before at Society meetings and elsewhere. It is addressed to Captain RF Bromhead, Lincoln Regt, Grimsby. His full name was Richard Freckleton Gonville Bromhead and he came from a famous military family in Lincolnshire. Lt Gonville Bromhead VC was his uncle.

There is a line in Zulu when Michael Caine speaks of an ancestor being alongside Wolfe at Quebec. This was his Great Great Grandfather, Col Bordman Bromhead

[Alan Baker]

Not a lot of people know that!

[Frank Schofield]

Alan

Many thanks for the input

Frank