WW1 MFA ship

[Tony Walker]

I have a couple of WW1 naval PPC's with the mark M.F.A. B6120 plus a censor mark :
Censored by master (not in Gould).

One card shows a picture in Greece, the other of Alexandria. Both cards addressed to a J N Osaley? at Plough Lane in Purley, Surry.

I cannot find anything on the internet to tell me about this MFA.  I'm sure it's there somewhere - can anyone help please

Cheers
Tony

[Peter Harvey]

Hi Tony,

I wonder if the MFA could refer to Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary (or Merchant Fleet Auxiliary), I am sure others will comment. The B6120 maybe a convoy?

I searched for Osaley, this really would be an unusual name, could it be Moseley....that is a new common to Purley if you Google this.

Regards

Peter

[Tony Walker]

Thanks Peter.

Yes I had realised the MFA designation, and thought maybe the B6120 was identifying a particular ship which had been requisitioned or hired.  There would probably have been a great number of them

Cheers
Tony

[Nick Colley]

Hi, all,

Tony, like you, I assume the designator B6120 referred to the vessel. Now, as it happens, while I was looking for my Scilly Islands item, I came across my own item from the Hillender-Oseley correspondence. Scans, I hope, attached. I STILL can't find the wretched Scilly Islands item. Damned if I know where to look next  >:(

Anyway, reverting to the B6120 item, I draw your attention to the subject of the picture side of the card - a tourist attraction of Salonica - and the 9 day difference in the dates of the censor mark and the London d/r postmark.

Sadly, I don't suppose this gets us any further forward wrt the i/d of B6120, unless someone has the means and the knowledge to track down 'Captain' H.Hillender?

chrs
N