Durban

Letter card from Rowland Bott to his fiancée Joan Lydeard

I have included this letter card of 'Views of Durban' sent by Dad to his fiancée Joan Lydeard.

He must be in Durban when sending this on route to somewhere on active service. But, sadly, I do not know the date and cannot work out which way he was going and to where -  Egypt? Palestine? Or home?

I will add any further details if I can find them.

The image above is a close up of the official stamp, Dad's handwriting, and a signature.

It took a while to decipher but I think the official stamp reads:

'Official [?] Forces Transferment [?] Camp, Montclair, Durban, Official Free [postage]'

'On Active Service' is Dad's handwriting as is the Lydeard's address. I think the signature reads 'R.H.O. Benson'.

Here are the rest of the souvenir photos in the letter card for interest.

WARNING - please note that the letter card includes graphic images of whaling. This is not the sort of souvenir images I and many others would consider appropriate to send today (2020) but it is of its time and part of this story, hence its inclusion.

Above, from the top, the photos are:

West Street - Looking East
Ngoma Native Dancing, Durban
City Hall and Gardens

Above, from the top, the photos are:

Flensing a Whale at the Bluff Whaling Station
Marine Parade, Showing Amphitheatre in Foreground
"Nellie" at Mitchell Park