The Circle's tenth Convention was held at Southport on October 26, in the Salvation
Army Citadel at Shakespeare Street. Jean and Alan Chinn took care of all the necessary arrangements, and members had a warm welcome, with the obligatory coffee and chat. Daughter Elizabeth Chinn ably oversaw the registration table; Jim Clark (and retinue) set up the sales table with several hundred S.A. interest stamps, cards and covers; other members saw to the seating and display stands, and bunched round the sales table, transferring ownership of the goodies at a fast rate.
Eleven o'clock arrived, and Pat Crichard, of Enfield, our Chairman for this Convention, greeted all those present. Apologies were received from Glenn Horridge, Michael Farrow, David Fraser, Margaret Campbell, Geoffrey Youngs, David Todd, David Pickard, Ken Stubley, Alan Jones, Bram Hughes and Stuart Carter; mainly through illness or travelling difficulties, but the last-named was canoeing! Slightly more physical than philately, one imagines.
First on the programme to present a display was Jim Clark, from Taunton, who showed "Connections". He opened with items of Southport - cards, covers, ephemera; followed by Isle of Man, SA cards, covers and some Telephone Cards showing IOM transport. Singapore stamps and cards, including a cover salvaged from the Comet air crash in 1953. A section on Nelson Corps followed; postcards of bands of 1906-1930s, Life Saving Guards of 1929, and a very fine card of General Booth, taken when he visited Nelson in 1904. Invitation cards to Band Teas and Musical Festivals of 1904-11 and a membership card for the Band League, c1912. The next Connection was St. Peter Port, Guernsey. Five postcards of the Hall and Band, of the period 1902-25; two cigarette cards showing the hall, covers and a Centenary brochure ended the section.
Antigua and Barbuda were strange "stablemates" to Guernsey, and these showed President Vere Bird, long-time Salvationist; and modern ephemera showing Vivian Richards, the superb cricketer, and his bride, at the Salvation Army Hall in 1981. Mrs Richards was (is?) a Salvationist.
To end Jim's display, was an extensive selection concerning Booth's Motor Tours of 1906 to 1911. These were from Bath, Frome, and western England, then a set of General Booth in the Holy Land, and finally, his last tour - to Heaven: cards of his funeral and memorial cards for the General and Catherine Booth. A well-connected display.
Then followed a short display by Harry Hayes (York), of Devil's Island. This was the French Penal colony in South America, which became notorious for the inhuman conditions in which the convicts (and their guardians) had to exist. Commenced in 1852, this colony was situated in what is now French Guiana, and focused on the group of three islands off the N.E. coast, together with the few settlements along the rivers to the south.
Only the worst of criminals were sent to Devil's Island, which was the generic name for the entire group of convict settlements. These had to serve their sentences, and for an equal period after that had to serve as "semi-free" convicts. Very few achieved full liberty and returned to France, and most lived and died in the convict settlements. Conditions were dire, disease almost inevitable, and injury from accidents were frequent, due to the heavy labour they were forced to do, with few proper tools. Food was minimal and poor, and discipline ferocious.
It was not until 1928 that the Salvation Army became involved, when a young French officer, Captain Charles Pean, was sent to investigate, and report back on his findings. Charles stayed in Guiana a month, and was appalled by what he saw. It was said that after nearly 80 years the land was worse than when the Colony was established. Following a severe bout of fever, Pean returned to France, and gave a full report, for the attention of General Bramwell Booth. It took five more years before the Army was ready to commence work in Devil's Island. In 1933, the Captain set sail from France with a group of officers, and on arrival started to set up a group of hostels to care for the prisoners and their guards.
Very soon, a farm was commenced and soon became self-sufficient in farm-produce and shark-meat; before long, 500 were being well-fed, then further centres were opened, and the work extended to the mainland, where a hostel, restaurant and workshop started, so that men could work and earn their keep. Soon a farm was started, by 20 ex-convicts, and land cleared for growing maize, bananas and pineapples. Huts were built, then pigs were kept for food and for sale. At this time, there were 12,000 convicts in the island and mainland colonies.
Over the next few years Pean gave some 600 lectures in France and French North Africa, and wrote four books about conditions in the convict colony, urging that it be closed as soon as possible. By 1938 the French Minister of Justice gave tribute to the S.A. for its campaign to close down the colony, and return the men to civilisation. Measures were eventually taken to close down the penal colony, and it was decreed that all those who had served their sentence would be returned to their homes; others would be returned to France to finish their sentences. Some hundreds of men were returned to their homes, but, unfortunately, war broke out in Europe, and the work had to be suspended.
With peace, the Devil's Island clearance resumed, and in August 1946 the first ship reached Marseilles, with 144 repatriated convicts, some of whom had served 35 years on the Islands. More ships followed, and the last batch arrived in August 1953.
The Islands were left, and soon reverted to tangled jungle, although there is now a missile tracking station on the mainland of French Guiana, just some 15 miles south of Devil's Island.
Long before the days of Charles Pean, Devil's Island was once the prison of a notable French Jew, Captain Albert Dreyfus, who was falsely accused of treason, and imprisoned there from 1894 to 1906, when he was released, and promoted to the rank of Major. His
twelve years of solitary confinement left a permanent mark on him, however. Amazingly, it was not until 1998 that the President of France apologised for the treatment of Dreyfus, and pardoned him.
The display included postcards of Devil's Island and northern Guiana, 1880-1906; envelopes from Devil's Island, 1908-50; letters to and from Commissioner P6an, 19341990; a photograph of Commr. Pean 1947; postcard of Albert Dreyfus, early 1900s; press cuttings 1990-98.
The last speaker of the morning was David Copper, from Gillingham, Dorset David brought along another selection of Salvation Army ephemera, "Yet More Clutter". In his usual breezy fashion, he showed a wide range of S.A. printed material. Official envelopes, showing a bewildering variety of style, then a large number of S.A. Assurance Society policies, with wonderfully elaborate headings, a variety of titles, and office addresses. The Victorian style headings were examples of contemporary art; one can imagine designers toiling away at their desks in guttering candle light, and taking home a pittance to feed their extensive families! Whatever the labour, the results were magnificent! Today's policies were also displayed - poor things with black ink to replace glorious multicolour, and with pedestrian designs. Still, they produce the money when the term is served! Wonderfully unorthodox material.
At that point, we had a break for lunch, provided by the angels of mercy in the cafe.
The lunch break was spent in friendly chat, and members mobbing the sales table, overseen by Jim Clark and assistants. Over 500 covers and postcards were on offer, and hundreds of Salvation Army stamps, and they were well sorted over by those eager to add to their collections.
At two o'clock, it was "back to business". Harry Hayes showed a comprehensive display or stamps which have been issued to commemorate the S.A., or which otherwise are of S.A. interest. 80 album sheets were displayed, showing all the unused stamps to date, and many special envelopes. Rare items included Australia 1980 S.A. and Great Britain 1965 Centenary stamps without perforations; Jamaica 1965 Centenary issue with printing errors and flaws. Monaco 1978 Centenary stamp with a proof taken from the printing die, Zaire 1980 set of 8 without perforations, and Philippine Islands 1987 stamp numbered to indicate copies sent out to newspapers and periodicals for publicity purposes.
The Belgium 1989 Christmas stamp was also represented by a proof taken from the printing die, for the use of Government ministers; Guyana 1995 Centenary set in a full sheet of the four values plus 9 post office stamps - a unique arrangement. Complete sheets of Australia, 2000 and 2001, which featured S.A officers as part of the designs. A selection of ''Free Postage" stamps of Switzerland, 1911-45 was a surprise to many delegates. It had not been widely known that charitable organisations in Switzerland had free postage for many years, and special stamps were produced for each charity. The S.A. in Basel was one of those, and very few have so far been discovered.
Martin Reid (Maidenhead) followed, with a wonderful display of 91 special covers issued in the United States to mark the Centenary of the S.A. in 1965. Many were hand-painted, and quite rare; it was interesting to see how the different designers treated the subject, especially in view of the very pedestrian design of the stamp. The product of many years' searching, it would need pages of colour illustrations adequately to convey the brilliance of many of the designs.
Then it was back to Harry Hayes, to fill a gap caused by the illness of an expected speaker. This display was "A Philatelic Kaleidoscope", 80 sheets showing different aspects of the S.A. in connection with philately. Postmarks with S.A. slogans, from GB, Netherlands Indies,
Papua; Post offices operated by the S.A. in Africa and India; postmarks for special events, Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, Northern Ireland. Field Days (Scouts, Guides, Y.P. groups from Netherlands Indies, Great Britain, Finland, Norway, Sweden). Covers of special interest, Austria and Czechoslovakia, Italy, Latvia, Korea, China, Marshall Islands and many others.
Salvation Army War Services (Red Shield) envelopes of the Boer War and two world wars, from Transvaal, Pacific Islands, Canadian, British, Australian, U.S. Forces, all on active service; Great Britain S.A. stamps used from other countries on Reply Cards; British stamps perforated with initials to prevent pilfering (yes, it happened in S.A. mailrooms, too, in the 1880-1900 period); Aerogrammes and postage paid labels; S.A. Savings stamps of the late 1800s; Publicity labels of New Zealand for Youth Year, including preparatory artwork; Charity labels for post-war aid, and a Balloon Flight competition postcard from Finland arid Sweden; Cartridge stamps, given to Sunday School children for regular attendance; a Post Office poster, for public display in P0s, Finland; Canada, an embroidered silk card, with original envelope and the outer envelope used for despatch from a soldier in France to home in Belfast, 1916.
A cover from the forces in Korea, 1957; Covers salved from the wreck of The "Empress of Ireland" liner, 1914, and embroidered silk postcards showing the liner (150 Salvationists were drowned in this disaster); more Free Postage, Jamaica 1992, indicated by a handstamp "Free"; and. finally, mail from Chile HQ, conveyed by private carrier and put into post in London. Something for everyone - and all Salvation Army postal material.
Then followed the Secretary's Annual Report to Convention
Last year, we had 18 new members, but others failed to renew their membership, and at the end of the year (August 31st.) we had 123 members, our highest yet. Since then, we have enrolled four more, but there are many still to renew- of course.
The financial situation has greatly improved during this past twelve months, and we have now £326 in hand, which is considered satisfactory at present. The Circulating Packet sales have multiplied this year, and the income from them far exceeded last year; similarly, auction commissions and donations showed a healthy increase.
Martin Reid (Maidenhead) followed, with a wonderful display of 91 special covers issued in the United States to mark the Centenary of the S.A. in 1965. Many were hand-painted, and quite rare; it was interesting to see how the different designers treated the subject, especially in view of the very pedestrian design of the stamp. The product of many years' searching, it would need pages of colour illustrations adequately to convey the brilliance of many of the designs.
Then it was back to Harry Hayes, to fill a gap caused by the illness of an expected speaker. This display was "A Philatelic Kaleidoscope", 80 sheets showing different aspects of the S.A. in connection with philately. Postmarks with S.A. slogans, from GB, Netherlands Indies, Paptia; Post offices operated by the S.A. in Africa and India; postmarks for special events, Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, Northern Ireland. Field Days (Scouts, Guides, Y.P. groups from Netherlands Indies, Great Britain, Finland, Norway, Sweden). Covers of special interest, Austria and Czechoslovakia, Italy, Latvia, Korea, China, Marshall Islands and many others.
Salvation Army War Services (Red Shield) envelopes of the Boer War and two world wars, from Transvaal, Pacific Islands, Canadian, British, Australian, U.S. Forces, all on active service; Great Britain S.A. stamps used from other countries on Reply Cards; British stamps perforated with initials to prevent pilfering (yes, it happened in S.A. mailrooms, too, in the 1880-1900 period); Aerogrammes and postage paid labels; S.A. Savings stamps of the late 1800s; Publicity labels of New Zealand for Youth Year, including preparatory artwork; Charity labels for post-war aid, and a Balloon Flight competition postcard from Finland arid Sweden; Cartridge stamps, given to Sunday School children for regular attendance; a Post Office poster, for public display in P0s, Finland; Canada, an embroidered silk card, with original envelope and the outer envelope used for despatch from a soldier in France to home in Belfast, 1916.
A cover from the forces in Korea, 1957; Covers salved from the wreck of The "Empress of Ireland" liner, 1914, and embroidered silk postcards showing the liner (150 Salvationists were drowned in this disaster); more Free Postage, Jamaica 1992, indicated by a handstamp "Free"; and. finally, mail from Chile HQ, conveyed by private carrier and put into post in London. Something for everyone - and all Salvation Army postal material.
Then followed the Secretary's Annual Report to Convention
Last year, we had 18 new members, but others failed to renew their membership, and at the end of the year (August 31st.) we had 123 members, our highest yet. Since then, we have enrolled four more, but there are many still to
renew of course.
The financial situation has greatly improved during this past twelve months, and we have now £326 in hand, which is considered satisfactory at present. The Circulating Packet sales have multiplied this year, and the income from them far exceeded last year; similarly, auction commissions and donations showed a healthy increase.
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