Description

1943 (Dec 10) Airmail envelope registered to Royal Dutch Troops, P.O. Box 237, London E.C.1 bearing Bananas 3 x 3d + definitive 2 x 1d making strange 11d rate tied Gibraltar Camp cds & with matching Registration label No 3625 from civil internee Ch. v.d. Wichen, Gibraltar Camp 11, Kingston & with PC90 / Opened By / Examiner 622 preceeded with blue crayon D/ & on opposite side continuous Crowns /Opened By /Examiner /1415 labels with on reverse oval Kingston Jamaica /Registered (10 Dec) & New York (14 Dec) despatch & transit datestamps.
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After France fell in 1940 it was felt the Germans could advance through Spain threatening Gibraltar & denying the allies access to the Mediterranean. British authorities decided to evacuate as many as possible of the civilian population of Gibraltar to safer zones, mostly to the UK but 25 Oct 40 a group of 1104 of these evacuees arrived at Kingston with a further 400 evacuees arriving Port Arthur on 15 Dec 40. These evacuees were deemed Wards of the Crown & were not allowed to follow crafts or professions for pay nor could they reside anywhere other than the camp. All the able males were mbilised into the Pioneer Corps & as such acted as guards for the POW & Internment Camp. Ref..The Military Mail of Jamaica by Derek Sutcliffe 1982…….. Scarce item between family members via Undercover address P.O. Box 237, with one interned & the other fighting with the Allied Free Dutch Forces