4th for 5th June 42nd Division at Helles

[Chris Grimshaw]

Making up for missing a few days today.

Probably one of interest to Alan in his Censorship studies,

Cover from M General W Douglas GOC 42nd Division. FD allocated 2 / 2643 to 126th Brigade HQ which censors this cover and 2 / 2642 to Divisional HQ, its possible he was away was from HQ when visiting 126th Brigade HQ But one would expect then to see a cancel of FPO 126.  Unless it was censored and sent back to Divisional HQ for posting.

Always nice to find mails from senior officers.

Comments welcomed.

Chris

[Peter Harvey]

Hi Chris,

Well spotted on the signature, most people would have missed this. As you say always nice to find mail from senior officers, helps to pin down locations etc. I just read up a little on him, at the time the cover was sent he would have been late 50's. He served in the European War from 1914; in Egypt, 10 September 1914 to 4 May 1915; the Dardanelles (3), 5 May 1915 to 2 January 1916 (Despatches twice [London Gazette, 21 September 1915 and November 1915]; created a KCMG November 1915); Sinai, 1916-17, including the Battle of Romani and taking of El Arish; commanded the Desert Column from 23 October 1916, to 8 December 1916 (Despatches twice, December 1916 and 6 July 1917; Croix de Guerre with Palm [London Gazette, 21 May 1917]); commanded the Western Reserve Centre in 1917 and 1918.

But sadly died in 1920 aged 62 years.

Pete

[Alan Baker]

I have already recorded this CM No, having picked it up from AK's index cards (which I think Chris St-W now has). In fact, the date of the cover I have recorded is the same, suggesting he had seen it before.

I also have another record from the same cards dated 28th Feb 1916. Proud lists FPO D42 as being in use in Egypt (Suez Canal 3 Section) at that date.

[Chris Grimshaw]

Thanks Both,

A nice item,  so much of the "Senior Officer" material is in the Liddle Hart Archive which one requires a readers ticket to view.This item is ex AK which explains the recording of such.

Alan, once up to date will send you a full listing of all my Type 2 censor material.

Chris