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Auction: 13027 - The Collector's series sale
Lot: 1291

Nigeria
1916 (13 Nov.) envelope (with original letter) from the ship's surgeon A.R. Steel on board S.S. Mendi to his solicitor in Hartlepool, bearing 1914 1d. tied by "lagos/southern nigeria" double-ring d.s.; the envelope with four pinholes at upper left. Also 1912 (8 Feb.) picture postcard (Dropping Anchor, S/S "Mendi") from Lagos to England

Note: The letter tells of the penultimate voyage of the ship when it was requisitioned by H.M. Government to take 1000 Nigerian troops to the campaign in East Africa. It was sunk on the next voyage when it was taking the South African Native labour contingent to Europe. 650 men lost their lives including A.R. Steel.

Sold for
£190