Red Cross Message Bureau Guernsey - message number one

1943
Overview

Messages on an official Red Cross Message Bureau form sent between Douglas E. Paul and his mother on Guernsey in 1943.
The form is cream in colour with red and black printing. The official letterhead with a red cross appears at the centre top - 'War Organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John'. It is addressed to the International Red Cross in Geneva.
The form number 'IN1723' is stamped in red ink in the top right corner.
There are several section headings including the sender, message and addressee, which are all in three languages - English, French and German. There are 5 ink stamps on the front including the International Red Cross, the German Red Cross, Citizens' Advice Bureau and Red Cross Message Bureau in Stockport, and a British Censor stamp.
The information and message has been typed and the message dated 8 September 1943.
A thick blue line runs vertically from top to bottom of the message.
The reverse has the return message and a further three ink stamps - International Red Cross, the British censor stamp, and the States of Guernsey Red Cross Bureau.
The dated message receipt has been signed in ink by Mrs. H. Paul on 18 December 1943.
A red date stamp reading '7 Fev. 1944' is in the bottom right corner.

Historical information

When the Channel Islands were under German occupation during World War Two, the usual mail service stopped. The Red Cross set up a Message Bureau to facilitate communication bewtween family members living on the islands and those elsewhere.
A history and detailed explanation of this process is included as a supplementary file.

This letter was sent by Douglas E. Paul to his mother in St. Peter Port, Guernsey. It bears a number of ink stamps showing the different times it has been handled (from September 1943 to February 1944), and also has the blue line, indicating it has been swiped with a chemical to reveal possible hidden messages.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-119-RoW00615
Material
Width
151 mm
Height or length
229 mm
Transcripts

Message from Douglas E. Paul:

Dear Mum and All. Happy Christmas and New Year.
Hope you are all well. See Gladys often.
Aunt Ada Uncle Tom send greetings.
Love Douglas.

Return message:

Glad all happy together. Busy
drying grapes. Flowers, Holly on Dad's
grave. Very cold in market.
Hope you attend church? How's
shorthand progressing?
Love, Mum.

Year
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Historic significance
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Last modified
Tuesday, 29 July, 2025
Completeness
94
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Guernsey letter 1
Red Cross Message Bureau Guernsey - message number one
Reverse of Guernsey letter 1
Reverse of Red Cross Message Bureau Guernsey - message number one

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