This is one of my 2010 found that I wanted to share with forum members today. Interesting and original item found in North of France, a newspaper sent from Ireland to France to J.M O'GRADY S/54763 RASC HQ 2 CORPS BEF. Informations about J.M O'GRADY would be welcome, thanks !
Well, he seems to have survived the war, despite not getting his newspaper ! SQMS is Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant. There is a good chance that he's mentioned somewhere in the war diaries, maybe prior to 10th May when he'd have been busy sourcing supplies locally. - maybe WO167/158 - 2 Corps ADST ?
Sorry, I don't have any II Corps files above Div level at the moment. It looks rather well preserved-Did you find it in a box or building etc? I would think it would have rotted away exposed to the eliments. Cheers for posting the pics-I think I'd be too tempted to open it and read the paper if it was mine. Andy
Can you tell from the date stamp if it was before the Debacle or after, it may be he received it but had to move quick and left/lost. Intresting piece of history that has just surfaced, are you going to open and read or leave as found?
Sorry, I don't have any II Corps files above Div level at the moment. It looks rather well preserved-Did you find it in a box or building etc? I would think it would have rotted away exposed to the eliments. Cheers for posting the pics-I think I'd be too tempted to open it and read the paper if it was mine. Andy Thanks for answering... This item was found in St Omer area among severals newspapers sent to the same soldier ! I just bought one in a fair from a french collector. All are unopened but it this possible to open it without problem. I can not see any date but the main subject is war and I can guess this paper was sent between sept 1939 and may 1940. I think I will let it as it was found, I would not make damaged... I just take care about this nice item as I make usually for the others one I found and I collect. I found sometimes myself personnals item from BEF's soldier and will try to publish some, one day, among the best. I will post others interesting items.
I guess there could be a hundred reasons why it was at St. Omer. When ever I hear the town mentioned I always think PoW or wounded straight away as the town was used by the Germans as a field hospital/CCS as I believe it was by the British before the town was captured. That said I guess if the seller found a few different ones there, it may have been a BEF mail/sorting office there too.
I did not learn much about theses newspapers since I get one. May have been lost, forget or thrown when the soldier o'grady had to move suddenly. He probably went to St Omer area where his unit was for a time but when ?
I think if he had received it he would have opened it which makes me think there was a postal unit in St.Omer. Every Corps and Div had a postal unit.
