DCS Posted 10 March , 2013 Share Posted 10 March , 2013 Here a few postcards and other mail items from the Salonika front I've put together; hopefully these will be of some interest. Color postcard depicting the British camp at Zeitenlik. There appear to be several editions of this card. This one was made in Italy by a firm called IPACT (about which I haven't been able to find further info), and is part of a numbered series (#119). On the reverse is a written message in French, from a soldier to his relatives; whether this card went through the mail is uncertain as there are no postmarks or censor stamps. Another Italian-made color postcard (#131 in the IPACT series) depicting a "Greek Church" (otherwise unnamed). This one also bears a message in French (headed 24 August 1917), from a soldier to his wife in Auvers-sur-Oise. Like the first card, it is uncertain whether this was mailed. One more from the IPACT series (#157), again in color and depicting houses in Salonika. Pictured is the reverse side, with a blue "Armee d'Orient Convois Automobiles Section T.M. (Transport de Materiel) 513" handstamp on the left and a second, badly faded, handstamp on the right. The card is inscribed "Souvenir d'Orient" by a soldier, and addressed to (presumably) his parents in Paris. Will post more later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apwright Posted 10 March , 2013 Share Posted 10 March , 2013 Thanks for posting! The church in the 2nd pic is actually the Church of the Annunciation at Moudros on Lemnos, not in Salonika. This is a mistake made on several different PCs of the period! Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 10 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 10 March , 2013 Thanks for pointing that out, Adrian. I guess that's why my search didn't turn up any churches like that in Salonika. Here is the picture side of the third postcard: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 11 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 11 March , 2013 Map postcard showing Monastir (now called Bitola) and its environs; its text mentions Monastir's military importance as a railway center and road hub. Its final line reads "Towards the liberation of Serbia: The recovery of Monastir" This color postcard made in Italy (another from IPACT, #148 in the series) depicts "Salonika and Eastern Macedonia". The city is shown at center right; beyond it are the Aegean Sea ports of Kavala and Dedeagatch (now called Alexandroupoli, it is partially visible at the upper right corner of the card). To the city's left are the Allied encampment and the Vardar River, coming down from distant Serbia (upper left corner). Mountain ranges, including the Rhodopes and the Pirin, dominate the background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 11 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 11 March , 2013 A registered letter from the Bank of Salonika to the French bank Société Générale, postmarked Thessaloniki 24 March 1916. This piece, passed by a French military censor, bears both censor tape and handstamps; postage was paid by two 25-lepta Greek stamps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 11 March , 2013 Share Posted 11 March , 2013 Thanks for posting! The church in the 2nd pic is actually the Church of the Annunciation at Moudros on Lemnos, not in Salonika. This is a mistake made on several different PCs of the period! Adrian I think my favourite "error" are the Souvenir of Salonique postcards showing views around Marseille! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apwright Posted 11 March , 2013 Share Posted 11 March , 2013 There are loads, from all over the place! Lemnos especially, but also Gallipoli/Dardanelles, Malta, Mytilene, Kilkis, Florina, Monastir, Veles, Belgrade... all captioned "Salonique". Also the numerous portraits of Malagasy and West African natives labelled as Macedonian "Brigands" and "Comitadjis" etc. (Don't actually recall any from Marseille offhand, Martin! Can you post an example?!) I think the background is that French publishers were so overwhelmed by the sudden demand for PCs from Salonika, that anything remotely exotic-looking was pressed into service for a time. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 11 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 11 March , 2013 A French military band entertains the troops, ostensibly at Salonika. Speaking of mislabeled postcards, this may be another example; note the church in the background, which bears at least a passing resemblance to the one posted earlier. Another card from the IPACT series(#149). Oxcarts carrying wine barrels to the Allied camp. This photo postcard was published by the Salonika firm of Abastado & Matia, 59 Egnatia Street. The reverse bears a message in French (headed 21 July 1916), addressed to a man in Orleans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apwright Posted 11 March , 2013 Share Posted 11 March , 2013 Yep, the first one is Moudros again. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 11 March , 2013 Share Posted 11 March , 2013 There are loads, from all over the place! Lemnos especially, but also Gallipoli/Dardanelles, Malta, Mytilene, Kilkis, Florina, Monastir, Veles, Belgrade... all captioned "Salonique". Also the numerous portraits of Malagasy and West African natives labelled as Macedonian "Brigands" and "Comitadjis" etc. (Don't actually recall any from Marseille offhand, Martin! Can you post an example?!) I think the background is that French publishers were so overwhelmed by the sudden demand for PCs from Salonika, that anything remotely exotic-looking was pressed into service for a time. Adrian Double checking, the MArseille card I have is not mislabelled - but it is relevant as it is the relevant memorial for the French. The cards I was thinking of are actually Nice and Monte-Carlo !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 11 March , 2013 Share Posted 11 March , 2013 Monte-Carlo - with a "Souvenir of Salonique" overprint. The Nice card below it is much the same! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 12 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 12 March , 2013 An Italian photo postcard depicting Allied troops landing at Salonika. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 13 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 13 March , 2013 Next is a rather interesting item. It's not actually from Salonika, but it is related; a postcard sent from Bulgarian-occupied Skopje to Bernburg, Germany. Front side: Rila Monastery [bulgaria], by German painter Willy Moralt. Reverse side: At left is a portrait of Lt. General Nikola Zhekov, Commander in Chief of the Bulgarian Army; at right, three Bulgarian stamps canceled by Sjopke postmarks (29 October 1917). This card also bears a Sofia military censor's handstamp in red; the date is smudged, but appears to be 2 November. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 13 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 13 March , 2013 That should have read "Skopje postmarks"; is there a way to edit posts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 14 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2013 French photo postcard showing an Allied munitions cache at Salonika, mailed to Hollington, Hastings in 1917. On the reverse are a British "FPO 67" cancel and a "Passed By Censor 271" handstamp; the message conveys Christmas and New Year wishes from "Uncle George." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 17 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 17 March , 2013 Censored letter from Salonika to an officer of the 2/20th London Regiment, Salonica Forces, postmarked "British Army Post Office, 8 February 1917" on the reverse. The officer addressed poses something of a question. Apparently his full name was Walter Merry Craddock - but, with the possible exception of an item in the London Gazette, I haven't seen him listed as a Major. In issue 31093 of the Gazette (31 December 1918), his name appears in a list of men awarded the DSO: Capt. (A./Maj.) Walter Merry Craddock, M.C., 2/20th (C. of L.) Bn., Lond. R., attd. 2/19th Bn. Can anyone tell me what the "A." stands for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 22 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 22 March , 2013 Next is another censored letter (with Armee D'Orient handstamp) from the Bank of Salonika to the Société Générale, postmarked Thessaloniki 18 January 1917. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 22 March , 2013 Share Posted 22 March , 2013 Censored letter from Salonika to an officer of the 2/20th London Regiment, Salonica Forces, postmarked "British Army Post Office, 8 February 1917" on the reverse. The officer addressed poses something of a question. Apparently his full name was Walter Merry Craddock - but, with the possible exception of an item in the London Gazette, I haven't seen him listed as a Major. In issue 31093 of the Gazette (31 December 1918), his name appears in a list of men awarded the DSO: Capt. (A./Maj.) Walter Merry Craddock, M.C., 2/20th (C. of L.) Bn., Lond. R., attd. 2/19th Bn. Can anyone tell me what the "A." stands for? A would stand for "Acting'" in this case, so he would be entitled to call himself major, I think. I wonder what his connection with Nestlé was, unless it was just a spare envelope he happened to have. cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockdoc Posted 23 March , 2013 Share Posted 23 March , 2013 Officers of Acting rank appear to have reverted to their substantive rank when on leave so I'd guess the correct term would have been Acting Major at all times, although I'm sure that mouthful would have been often contracted. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 24 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 24 March , 2013 A would stand for "Acting'" in this case, so he would be entitled to call himself major, I think. I wonder what his connection with Nestlé was, unless it was just a spare envelope he happened to have. cheers Martin B Thanks for that, Martin. It would be interesting indeed to know his connection with Nestlé; unfortunately only the envelope is left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCS Posted 24 March , 2013 Author Share Posted 24 March , 2013 Another postcard from the Salonika front, with a seasonal theme. This card, made in England by the Photochrome Co., was mailed to London in 1917. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revan Posted 25 March , 2013 Share Posted 25 March , 2013 Great topic!! Thank you. I have several old postcards, too. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 25 March , 2013 Share Posted 25 March , 2013 Another postcard from the Salonika front, with a seasonal theme. This card, made in England by the Photochrome Co., was mailed to London in 1917. Another postcard from the Salonika front, with a seasonal theme. This card, made in England by the Photochrome Co., was mailed to London in 1917. That's good. Can someone identify all the nationalities? cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solon Posted 26 March , 2013 Share Posted 26 March , 2013 Hello too All please allow me too identify the Soldiers on the Postcard as i had it in my mind . Beginning with the left Standing Soldier who is British the next one in the Rank standing is French again the next is wearing Russian Uniform the fourth men must be an Sikh (British)and the last two types are one Italian (Bersaglieri )and a Serbian Soldier very easy too identified while he is wearing a Kukuvica Cap. The Left outer side man ist not a Soldier but an Cretan Gendamerie-officer together with the man kneeing at outer right (only differences they wear different types of vests Maybe the one is formal uniform and the other for walking -out or so.)the 3 other types must be an tiralleur Senegales -a French officer in Colonial uniform and the last one a soldier from Indochina . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apwright Posted 26 March , 2013 Share Posted 26 March , 2013 I mostly agree, except that I think the front-left man is an Italian carabiniere, and front-centre is a French gendarme. There's also this photo of the Cretan gendarme organising the event http://www.gwpda.org...mages/sal10.jpg Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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