Question-réponse / Question-Answer

Les Congolâtres QUESTIONS – REPONSES QUESTIONS – ANSWERS

Two Questions – from Alan Morvay (USA)

Question 1:

Question 1:

On the Matadi November 22, 1915 view card to Mr Jacques Aretz / Brancardier Infirmier / Hôpital Sophie Berthelot / Calais / France, where were the different markings applied? What was the purpose for applying each of these marks?

Réponse / Answer

By Philippe Lindekens

All of these marks were applied in France during the research of the addressee. These 4 military marks are unknown-marks “Inconnu à l’Ecole de Pyrotechnie Graville le 10-1-16 Le Vaguemestre ” (Graville is located at the east of the city of Le Havre), “Inconnu à Gainneville, …Le Vaguemestre”; “Inconnu à la 3ème Cie D.O.A.H…Ste Adresse le 2-1-16” & “inconnu à la B.S.H. / Le Havre le 18-1-16 / le vaguemestre” .

Question 2:

Question 2:

The July 27, 1943 Leopoldville cover to the U.S. with Belgian Congo censor tape, a Belgian Congo censor marks and U.S. censor tape has Ruanda-Urundi stamps used for postage. Were Ruanda-Urundi stamps permitted for use in Belgian Congo during World War II or did this cover slip through the mail? Were there postal regulations in Belgian Congo regarding Ruanda-Urundi franking or mixed franking on mail sent from Belgian Congo?

Réponse / Answer

By Thomas Lindekens

The regulation of the mail is clear, the cover from Belgian Congo must be franked with Belgian Congo stamps. This letter should have been taxed and the stamps should have a cancel “O” (below themself). So yes, this cover slip through the mail.

Note, it is not possible that this letter was sent from Ruanda-Urundi, because if it was, it should have been censored in Elisabethville and should have transit marks.