Description

1917(Jan 4) Printed NAVIRE – HOPITAL “FRANCE IV” hospital Ship envelope together with letter to St. Jean-du-Gard cancelled Alger (5 Jan) single ring cds & endorsed en Mer (At Sea) with on back single ring (9 Jan) arrival cds & Marine Francaise / Service A’La Mar cachet of vessel…Requisitioned by the French Navy firstly as a troopship for the Dardanelles Campaign then later on 15 Nov 15 as a Hospital Ship with 2500 beds, briefly reurned to owners in Apr 1916 yet worsening conditions for the Army of the Orient she was re-requisitioned as a hospital ship after 3 months in July 1916 & remained in service until Mar 1918