Prisoner Of War Letter From King?

[womo]

Hi Guys,

Was it normal for re-patriated POW's to receive a letter from the King offering condolences for their imprisonment?

Thanks,

Womo

[Jim_Grundy]

Yes, Womo. But, being paper, not too many have survived.

I've not searched but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a scan of it somewhere on the 'net if you've not seen a copy.

[Andrew Upton]

Was it normal for re-patriated POW's to receive a letter from the King offering condolences for their imprisonment?

Yes, there was a standard printed leter with fascimile signature given out. They are actually suprisingly common to find still:

http://www.gjenvick.com/Military/WorldWarOne/Correspondence/KingGeorgeV/1918-LetterToPOWs-OnRelease-HGodfrey.html

[womo]

Hi Andrew,

thats the one.

I can understand how they could get damaged/destroyed over the years as they are just paper but are they common these days or quite rare?

Womo

[Andrew Upton]

I can understand how they could get damaged/destroyed over the years as they are just paper but are they common these days or quite rare?

As I said, quite common, they turn up on Ebay and the like with enough regularity for even excellent condition examples to rarely make more than £15 or £20, and for worn, torn, damaged or heavily creased examples to usually sell for no more than £5-10. Sometimes people who mistake the printed Kings signature for a genuine one try and sell them for considerably more...

[centurion]

There has already been more than one thread on this subject on this forum. They were actually the King's idea and the wording is essentially that of himself and Queen Mary. They were very well reproduced on good quality paper and, I believe, an automatic signing machine was used to reproduce the signature (the autograph equivalent of a pianola) which is why it looked like the real thing.

I suspect a good number were carefully put away and lost only to turn up many years later (like my Mum and Dad's 60th anniversary card from her Majesty - which hasn't turned up yet!)

[Tom Morgan]

I think Pals may be confusing two letters from the King. The one to the next of kin of those who died was a printed letter with a facsimile printed signature. This is the one which often makes people think that the king actually signed it himself. Only the signature looks handwritten.

The letter Womo refers to - the one to returned POWs - is less remarkable for its lifelike signature, because the whole letter is written in the King's handwriting.

Tom

[womo]

Hi Tom,

you are correct, the one to which I am referring is the one which appears to be handwritten.

Womo

[Stephen Nulty]

I have on on my website......

http://www.prescot-rollofhonour.info/alsoserved-171-Alfred_Heaps.html

[womo]

thats the one, thanks Stephen

Womo