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Auction: 19029 - The Philatelic Collectors' Series Sale
Lot: 1325

Great Britain
Postal History
1941-45, an extensive WWII correspondence between (Wilfred) John Tremlow of the Royal Engineers to his fiancé, May C. McKirdy in Glasgow. He was with Middle East Forces from 1941 to November 1943, first as Staff Sargent then Captain, then Naples (garrison engineer), Italy to July 1945 when he was finally demobbed as Major. The correspondence also includes a hundred or so from her to him, mainly associated with the latter part of the war. The correspondence contains a wide range of covers - Active Service envelopes, Air Mail letter cards, registered (used for sending such things as silk stockings, gloves, once a gold chain and an engagement ring), plain envelopes, Airgraphs, etc., with the usual cancellations and censor marks. There is also a group that have Australian or New Zealand stamps applied and sent from North Africa to UK. The couple were married shortly after his return to the UK and thereafter they emigrated to South Africa.

Each letter and parcel sent carried a sequential number so the couple could track those items lost. Approximately 2/3 of the correspondence has adhesives, the balance being sent without (a few have had adhesives removed). The correspondence has been organised in groups as follows:

1. Includes letters sent but now without envelopes, MEF letters sent to UK and posted in UK and one with Paquebot machine d.s. posted whilst in transit to the Middle East. These mainly date to 1941-42

2. MEF letters bearing Australian or New Zealand adhesives

3. Airgraphs (36)

4. Letters from May to John including two marked "Believed returned to UK". These are largely from the period 1944-45

5. A group from John to May with multiple adhesives, registered and Official Paid

6-10. From John to May with a single adhesive, most cancelled Field or Base Office, some Egypt and usually bearing 3d. but some 2½d. and 10d.

11-15. From John to May comprising mail without adhesives. Includes a few that have had stamps removed.

A most remarkable archive. (hundreds)



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Sold for
£350