Description

1943 (Dec 31) Plain envelope by airmail to Madam Van de Wilken, Gibraltar Camp 2, Jamaica & forwarded to Pvt. H. Van De Wilken, Royal Netherlands Forces, P.O. Box 237, London E.C.1 bearing South Africa 1/3 tied Johannesburg date stamp & with red on white bi-lingual U.C. 8 (Large) OPENED BY CENSOR tied smudged violet Arms hand stamp & on opposite side PC 90 OPENED BY EXAMINER 622 preceded with red crayon ID/ label & forwarded to Undercover address P.O. Box 237 showing violet INSUFFICIENTY PREPAID FOR TRANSMISSION BY AIR MAIL with on reverse pair Jamaica GV1 3d tied double ring Gibraltar Camp (28 Mar 1944) cds……….Extraordinary item.. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 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 mobilised 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 to Gibraltar Camp & forwarded to Underover address of the Allied Free Dutch Forces