peter monahan Posted August 18, 2006 Posted August 18, 2006 I came across an interesting letter this week while vacationing in a small town in north central Ontario (Minden, for the Canuks out there). No details as to how it got there. Here's what I found:A 5" x 7" piece of Buckingham Palace stationary, dated simply "1918" in the top center. Handwritten, apparently by one person and signed "George R I" by the same person.Two paragraphs, one describing the concern felt by His Majesty and the Royal Family throughout the war for the fate of the officers and men held as POWs (in Germany?) and the second expressing his happiness over the recipient (unnamed) being restored to his family.At the bottom is the signature and a notation which simply says "Pte. A. B. C.....", R.A.M.C." Sorry, I didn't write down the name.So clearly Pte. Whoever of the Royal Army Medical Corps was a POW for part of 1914-1918. But, was this letter exceptional or common? Did the King really write it/them or was some Palace flunky signing his name for him? Comments and suggestions welcome!Peter Monahan
Ed_Haynes Posted August 18, 2006 Posted August 18, 2006 These are interesting, and do surface from time to time. There are also letters "from" Queen Mary. While I doubt they personally took the time to write these, they are interesting items from the Great War.
Paul R Posted August 18, 2006 Posted August 18, 2006 I wish you would have taken a photo... :-( It would be something if it was a real signature.
Ed_Haynes Posted August 18, 2006 Posted August 18, 2006 I doubt this was a real signature. But they do appear on all patents for orders of knightbood. I have a nice OBE parchment with signatures of "George R" as king-emperor and of "Mary R" as grand master (mistress?), the whole "R" family, less the "little-Rs".
andyathers Posted May 31, 2012 Posted May 31, 2012 (edited) I have one of these letters from my great grandad.He was a pow.I also have his diary from being a POW.He writes in it he was given a pencil and horse meat because he had a skill to offer his captures. Edited May 31, 2012 by andyathers
Paul R Posted June 1, 2012 Posted June 1, 2012 That is a great letter! Is there anyone here with expertise in this area? I would love to see more comments on this!
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