Description

1917 (Jul 28) Plain stampless envelope worn & with other faults to Portuguese soldier No 464, 4th Company 3rd Infantry cancelled poor cds & with manuscript T for Tax that has been ignored & with blue boxed Censura /28 Jun 1917 /No. 14 hand stamp & on reverse C.E.P. / S.P.C. 7 (4 Aug) arrival cds …..Despite faults a fairly early item of ingoing mail ………….Portugal remained neutral until 9 March 1916 when Germany declared war due to the Portuguese seizing on 24 Feb 16 thirty six German & Austro-Hungarian merchant ships at anchor in Lisbon…The Portuguese sent 2 Divisions to France the first troops arriving 2 Feb 17 & going to the front lines on 11 May 17…The 1st Division was withdrawn from France on 6 April 1918 leaving the 2nd Division who remained & took part in the Victory march at Wars….The period of use being relatively short Feb 1917 to Nov 1918…