JulianR Posted 23 February , 2019 Share Posted 23 February , 2019 (edited) I have just acquired a postcard that was printed in the United Kingdom as it has the Inland Postage rate being 1/2d and foreign rate as 1d, it purports to show English Nurses In France, on their way to the Front. The publishers mark is F.A.P. A 423. If you look at the photos between the first man on the platform and the nurse on the platform, you can just about make out the words Etat Belge with another line of what is probably numerals below that. I only saw the writing when looking at the photo in sunlight. I am happy that the picture was taken in France or Flanders as Etat Belge was the Belgium State Railway company. I am not convinced that the nurses are British, they do not look British and the uniform appears not to be British either. If I am right in that surmise, why was the pc printed in the UK. I spoke with the dealer and he is convinced that the card is British. Can anyone state if these are British nurses or add anything to the card? Thanks Julian Edited 24 February , 2019 by JulianR amended statement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekb Posted 23 February , 2019 Share Posted 23 February , 2019 Isn’t Etat Belge - Belgian State? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekb Posted 23 February , 2019 Share Posted 23 February , 2019 JulianR, There is a mention of Postcards/photographs from the Arcadian series, some with the prefix FAP. http://postcard.co.uk/messages/postcard/viewtopic.php?t=1406 Derekb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulianR Posted 23 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 23 February , 2019 Yes, it is, but I was not sure that people reading it would know, will edit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 23 February , 2019 Admin Share Posted 23 February , 2019 Could it be one of the privately funded hospitals by a titled lady? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 23 February , 2019 Share Posted 23 February , 2019 Not British with those caps, surely? QAIMNS for comparison. https://www.qaranc.co.uk/qaimns.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulianR Posted 23 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 23 February , 2019 (edited) I am attaching a picture of the Friends Ambulance Unit in France in 1917 for comparison. I suspect that the nurses shown in the original photo are Belgian or French, anyone know how to bring Marilynes attention to this? Edited 24 February , 2019 by JulianR clarity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 23 February , 2019 Share Posted 23 February , 2019 I don't know how well tagging @Marilyne works, but otherwise you could send her a private message with a link to the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 23 February , 2019 Admin Share Posted 23 February , 2019 I had a google of an image of the Duchess of Sutherland and her staff. Some non issue looking uniforms there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghazala Posted 23 February , 2019 Share Posted 23 February , 2019 In 'A Nurse at the Front' Edith Appleton relates an incident from No.3 Casualty Clearing Station in 1915. There were so many wounded and dead, and an orderly was trying to sort them for burial according to religion etc. 'Then he found a fresh difficulty - one man, who he thought was an officer, had nothing to mark him as such. 'And 'ow am I to bury. 'im? As a' officer - or man?' Sister said, 'Surely they all get buried the same?' 'No they don't,' said the bewildered corporal, 'Men is 'ammered - officers is screwed.' Poor sister, who was worn out as well as everyone else, suddenly went hysterical and laughed and laughed ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 24 February , 2019 Admin Share Posted 24 February , 2019 https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=millicent+duchess+of+sutherlands+hospital&prmd=nmiv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjXzsv_i9TgAhWXRxUIHZGPAcsQ_AUoA3oECAwQAw&biw=1024&bih=704#imgrc=dUuUwajwK65j1M https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=millicent+duchess+of+sutherlands+hospital&prmd=nmiv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj8n5rfnNTgAhXSThUIHSzFCIQQ_AUoA3oECAwQAw&biw=1024&bih=704#imgrc=dpqlckfxWuLP-M some non issue looking uniforms on display here. Images from google search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulianR Posted 24 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 24 February , 2019 (edited) https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/52965-millicent-sutherland-ambulance-calais/ Thanks to all for the posts. Please see the link above, and pictures below. The second picture shows similarities in the uniform. I am still undecided if they are from the Duchess of Sutherland's unit. Edited 24 February , 2019 by JulianR spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Strawbridge Posted 24 February , 2019 Share Posted 24 February , 2019 (edited) 16 hours ago, JulianR said: I am attaching a picture of the Friends Ambulance Unit in France in 1917, I suspect that the nurses shown are Belgian or French, anyone know how to bring Marilynes attention to this? Surely the nurses are British and are members of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. Not Belgian or French. Edited 24 February , 2019 by Jim Strawbridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulianR Posted 24 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 24 February , 2019 Ok, my bad need to edit, no I was referring to the original photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 25 February , 2019 Share Posted 25 February , 2019 Hi guys, sorry for taking some time to answer... last week was kindof a ver low point for me as the Belgian Army (Logistics, to be precise) planted a dagger in my back... first: it's not because the train is Belgian (after all, a lot of belgian carriages were put at the disposal of the helping armies), but the uniforms of the men on the platform definitely are. But I'm not a 100% sure if the nurses are Belgian... it goes to reason that they are, but the caps are wrong. Belgian nurses wore a white cap, as can be seen on this picture of the hospital staff of Dr Depage (here with Edith Cavell) or on this pictures featuring Queen Elisabeth in her nurses' uniform, or Marie Spruyt (died June 2002 aged 107!) in this one: So I think that the option of a privately funded organisation such as a special train might be more realistic. There's a book about the Belgian medical service that I need to consult for further information... but it's at Evere, so it might take some time. Also a person I can consult... stay tuned!! Marilyne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulianR Posted 25 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 25 February , 2019 Even if the original photo is not the Duchess of Sutherland's nurses this account of her dealings with the German after the occupation of Namur is a must read https://www.worldwar1postcards.com/millicent-sutherland.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulianR Posted 25 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 25 February , 2019 The photo below shows Millicent at The Hague with her nurses. They appear to be different women from the top photo. https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/Stock-Images/Rights-Managed/MEV-10726291 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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