4 replies to this topic

[Fairhaven]

I have tried to add this information to the previous posts regarding Pte. James Wishart but have managed to make a mess of it, so I'm starting afresh! I have given up trying to add pictures for the moment but the p
pencil messages on the cards would not be picked up anyway. The card was sent by James to his mother ,Mrs Jas. Wishart 335, Easter Rd., Leith.

Postcard 1; Written on 4th Oct. 1915.
It has a Parchim town postmark , dated 20 th Oct. Three nice censor cachets a) 2-line "Reservelazarett V11  Hamburg-Fuhisbuttel"
single circle "Kommandantur des Kriegsgefangenenlager Parchim" ( with crest in centre).
c) boxed "Gepruft F.a"
London receiving cancellation dated 28th Oct.

Dear Mother,
Just a few lines to say received Agnes letter, your p.c. & Aunt Marys p.c. also Aunt Marys two parcels dated 30th August, 13th.September. I am always improving & manage to get up for a couple of hours every day on crutches. I also received Nellie Watts parcel & p.c. You might thank them all for me. I hope this will find you all well at home also Auntty Mary and Aunt J.L. I received a letter from Uncle Wm. & I will write him a p.c. next week. They are all well in Canada, have you had a photo of James. I had one sent and he looks lovely, so fat & just like the photo of me when I was his age. I have not received the cigarettes Mrs Lindsay says she sent yet. All the news at presentwith kind love to Agnes & you & all friends
I am your loving son
James Wishart

Postcard 2: Written on 12thOct 1915
Same censor marks as above and arrived in London also on 28th October.

Dear Mother,
Just a line to say I received your parcel from Much...( cannot read this word) the one from Leith dated 27th September.I also received a parcel I think its from Jennie Wishart, Claremont St. You might thank her for me. I enjoyed your parcel very much especially the potted meat and sardines.I am getting on A.1.and I get up everyday now & knock around on crutches. I was weighed again today & I have gained 3 lbs. not bad. I hope this will find you all in good health also Aunty Mary, remember me to Aunt J.L. & Mrs Clark. I have not received Mrs Lindsay's cigarettes yet. I can't write Uncle Wm. so please tell him I didn't get the photos he sent to France for me.How is Robert getting on, he has not wrote me yet. remember me to all enquiring friends. With kind love to all
I remain your loving son
James Wishart

[Fairhaven]

I could not get the final message in my post- so will add it now.
The postcard is a german Feldpostkarte posted in Gustrow on 8th. April 1916. It has the usual censor markings ie. circle - Kommandanturndes Kriegsgefangenenlarger Gustrow and also F.a.
In the spaces o the back of the card James has filled in his name, number and Battalion- all of which we know from other correspondance. The only information that I.ve not seen mentioned is that he was in Barracks No. 8.
Dear Mother, just a line to sat I received your letter dated 10th March & Agnes & Aunt M. P.c.'s also Jessie Firlie's letter and parcel for which I thank you all. Glad you are all well. I am much about the same. Baby is all right & getting along fine. Duffy is still in Hamburg. I am here to be sent home. But it wontbe for 2 or 3 months yet. how is Robert getting on & Uncle Wm. I hope he is always well. Anymore word about Hawkins. All the news meantime. With love & kisses Your loving son James Wishart.

I also have in my collection an envelope without contents similar to the one that started all the Wishart posts. It is addressed to Mrs Wm. Firlie , Cupar Rd., Auchtermuchty, Fife. It has the normal Chateau d'Oex censor cachet and was posted on 5th Sept. 1916. The full printed inscription on the reverse of the envelope reads "Despatched by British prisoner of war in Switzerland Private James Wishart 15th Canadians Chateau d'Oex

[Doug Johnson]

James will have been resident at Parchim.  When he was recommended for exchange he would then have gone to the exchange hospital at Gustrow (assuming it existed as a separate hospital in 1916 as it did later)  All those being exchanged in this area went through Gustrow including officers.  From the exchange hospital he would have been sent by train to Aachen.  Depending on quotas and the opinion of the medical staff at Aachen he may have made the journey more than once before making the journey to Switzerland.

Doug

[Fairhaven]

I could not get the final message in my post- so will add it now.
The postcard is a german Feldpostkarte posted in Gustrow on 8th. April 1916. It has the usual censor markings ie. circle - Kommandanturndes Kriegsgefangenenlarger Gustrow and also F.a.
In the spaces o the back of the card James has filled in his name, number and Battalion- all of which we know from other correspondance. The only information that I.ve not seen mentioned is that he was in Barracks No. 8.
Dear Mother, just a line to sat I received your letter dated 10th March & Agnes & Aunt M. P.c.'s also Jessie Firlie's letter and parcel for which I thank you all. Glad you are all well. I am much about the same. Baby is all right & getting along fine. Duffy is still in Hamburg. I am here to be sent home. But it wontbe for 2 or 3 months yet. how is Robert getting on & Uncle Wm. I hope he is always well. Anymore word about Hawkins. All the news meantime. With love & kisses Your loving son James Wishart.

I also have in my collection an envelope without contents similar to the one that started all the Wishart posts. It is addressed to Mrs Wm. Firlie , Cupar Rd., Auchtermuchty, Fife. It has the normal Chateau d'Oex censor cachet and was posted on 5th Sept. 1916. The full printed inscription on the reverse of the envelope reads "Despatched by British prisoner of war in Switzerland Private James Wishart 15th Canadians Chateau d'Oex

I have now found another Wishart card. This is another Gustrow card with similar markings. Dated 28.3.16, it was written on the 15/3/16. Arrived London 7th April.
Dear Mother I received letter dated Feb 27th & Aunt Marys P.c. Glad you are all well. I am in Hospital again with my leg. It is a little better not so much swollen but always running. Baby is getting on fine & in good health. Glad that Uncle is well & Bob any more word of him. Weather here is fine. Ask Mrs Williams to send Cpl. R Dempster 1st Gordon Highlanders a parcel, he receives very little, same address as above,but Barrack147 North. All at present. With love
Your Loving son Jas Wishart

[Doug Johnson]

I appreciate that this is an old thread but to add more to the picture for future readers the following quote from post 4 refers to a chap called Duffy.  This is most likely John Henry Duffy, 2712, 3rd Royal Fusiliers, taken at Ypres in May 1915, and taken to the Central Gefangenis at Fuhlsbuttel in Hamburg in August and was still there in March 1916.

Dear Mother, just a line to sat I received your letter dated 10th March & Agnes & Aunt M. P.c.'s also Jessie Firlie's letter and parcel for which I thank you all. Glad you are all well. I am much about the same. Baby is all right & getting along fine. Duffy is still in Hamburg. I am here to be sent home. But it wont be for 2 or 3 months yet. how is Robert getting on & Uncle Wm. I hope he is always well. Anymore word about Hawkins. All the news meantime. With love & kisses Your loving son James Wishart.

Doug