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We had a total of eight entries this year (one less than last year). However, they represented a wide-spectrum of collecting interests and provided a well balanced afternoon's entertainment - helped by the seasonal mince-pies supplied by the absent Peter High. We were missing a number of regulars for various reasons, but still had a good turnout of members. Edmund Hall (right) is presented with Edmund Hall won the John Daynes Plate for this year with his unusual, but superbly written up and illustrated display on "The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Just War Against US Imperialism". Early in the morning of 25 June 1950 a large-scale aggression was started against the young Republic by the South Korean puppet army, under the direct command of US-Imperialism. Aggression was over the whole length of the 38th parallel, intruding one-two kilometres deep in the direction of Haeju, Kumchon and Cholwon. The puppet army was backed in its armed intervention by US ground, naval and air forces. The Security Forces of the Republic which had been keeping a strict vigilance over the 38th parallel fought fierce battles of defence, repelling the invasion of the enemy, in order to safeguard the Party and the people's power and defend the sacred territory of the fatherland and the peaceful labour of the people. This display showed covers and cards as used by the heroic forces of the Democratic Peoples Republic and the freedom loving allies that helped in the defeat of American imperialism. Shown were free franking covers and letter cards and a censored cover. Also a letter from the Korean National Peace Committee in their determined effort to free hostages retained by the puppet government long after the conflict. The Chinese people angry at the encroachment of the imperialist forces and their running dogs and fearing they could loose their new won freedom sent a volunteer army to help repel the invaders. Covers are shown before crossing the border and after when postage became free. Brave volunteers also came from the Soviet Republic in the form of pilots and caused havoc against the imperialists. The display ends with covers from prisoners of war while in dutiful care by the Allies. Nick Colley came second with his "Royal Naval Air Service in WW1" - this comprised a few sheets showing the censor marks, postmarks and cachets of the RNAS in WW1. John Leathes came third with his "The Italian Connection - Atlantic" which covered the history of the Italian Atlantic submarines and their base at Bordeaux from June 1940 to the capitulation in September 1943. The other exhibits were B T Atkinson with "New Zealand Stationary Post Offices Located in England during the First World War" which showed examples of 1, 2 and 4 to 8 Stationary APOs located at Sling, Brockenhurst, Hornchurch, Codford, Walton, Torquay and Brockton. B T Atkinson also had a second entry entitled "New Zealand Troopships to the Middle East & Europe in WW1" which showed examples of cancellations from the main body and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Rifle Brigade and 7th, 8th Rifles Brigade and Third Maori Contingent. Michael Dobbs showed items connected with the "International Involvement in the Former Yugoslavia" with mail from British, USA, Canadian, German, Dutch, Danish and Ukraine Forces with UNFROFOR / IFOR / SFOR, Swiss Forces with OSCE and French Forces with KFOR. Tom Handley with "Ethiopia - Italian Occupation" which showed examples of mail from the first day the Italian PO opened in Addis Ababa to the stamps prepared which were to allow restricted mail to Italy when the Allies were pushing the Italians out. The stamps were captured before they could be issued and the majority were destroyed. There were also covers which showed the use of captured Ethiopian postmarks by the Italians. Finally Keith Tranmer showed "German Occupation of Austria 1938" which showed special postmarks, stamps and commemoratives cards and photographs representing the postal aspects of the German occupation of Austria. |
