Jump to content
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Letter from King George


Guest rbarryt

Recommended Posts

My Christopher Thompson was captured. When he was released he received a letter from Buckingham Palace dated "1918" seemingly hand written and signed by the king "George R.I." and marked " 202100 Pte Thompson C. 2/6 or 2/8 W. Yorks.

Dads serial number was Private 4534.

Can I discover where he was captured and where he was held from this info and has anyone else seen or heard of a similar letter?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've seen quite a few of these letters and I have the one sent to my Grandfather. I think every returned prisoner got one. It isn't hand-written, but the printing was to such a high standard that it looks as if it is. I'm afraid that there's nothing in the letter which would give you any help in locating where the recipient was captured. (Although the address might help you out by revealing your relative's Regiment, Battalion and regimental number, if you didn't already know that.)

Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Ian Bowbrick

I have one that was sent to Pte S R Edgar 25th Bn MGC, who was captured in the retreat of 1918, together with a nice portrait of the man himself dressed in his Royal Berks Regt uniform.

For some reason these very interesting pieces of ephemera are reasonably cheap to acquire and many seemed to have survived than say compared to scrolls. :huh:

Ian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not the same thing, but my mother has a framed letter on her wall from Buckingham Palace. It was sent to my great grandmother, recognising the fact that she had, at the time, six sons serving in the army. More sons followed, but no further letters are in evidence.

has anybody else seen one of these?

Nigel

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For those who haven't seen such a letter. Here's one to a chap who was captured in the SWB.

I also have one of these letters (without sellotape on it!) for my grandfather - who, by coincidence, was also in the SWB. The letter was folded up while the ink was still wet. So there are ink smudges on the bottom left-hand corner!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...