Cover of the Day - RCN (Reserve)

[Alan Baker]

Just arrived today. An unused RCN (Reserve) postcard "Your attendance is required at..."

From Scott, it looks like this was printed in 1938 and has the figures "19" - "38" in the bottom corners (not legible in second scan). It is tempting to think this would have been used to call up reservists in anticipation of the declaration of war in 1939, but could it have been later than that?

Any ideas?

[Peter Harvey]

Interesting card, can not say I have seen this before. I wonder if the 10M implies 10 million were printed, if so you would think this was a war time issue. However, the options include a 'Cruise' not exactly a war time activity.

Peter

[Michael Dobbs]

Next to 10M is 2-50 which to me implies printed February 1950.

Could this be a post-war reunion invitation made to look like some form of wartime card?

Or else it is a post-war call-up for training - "cruise" not being the holiday cruise we have nowadays, but a period aboard ship at sea?

Mike  :)

[Alan Baker]

If it was printed in 02-50, could it have been something to do with the Korean War?

[Nick Colley]

Korean War started on 25th June 1950, Alan.

chrs
N

[Alan Baker]

But it could have been a pre-war call up of reservists. Canada sent a number of warships to Korea

[Michael Dobbs]

Alan

Suggest you contact the Canadian Military Mail Study Group and maybe get an item in their next Newsletter to see what responses you get.

Mike  :)

[Alan Baker]

I was going to

[Alan Baker]

I have received the following from the Chairman of CMMSG:

NR 38 is the identification number of the form. As far as I know it means that the card was first designed in 1938, which agrees with the 1938 date in the stamp impression. The 2-50 is indeed the printing date, so February 1950. "10M" means that 10 million were printed, Since North Korea rattled cages in January 1950, this does seem to tie in with the runup to the Korean War.