Cover from a Greek soldier of the 8th Cretan Regiment, stationed in Sidirocastron area, Macedonia. Addressed to Athens, Greece; not postmarked but estimated it was dispatched in mid-November through the ΣΤΡΑΤ. ΤΑΧΥΔΡΟΜΕΙΑ 903 [(Greek) Army Post Office 903].
Enclosed letter, dated Sidirocastron 8 November 1918, includes account on the end of war, his return home and the joy that Smyrna with greater area are expected to be soon free: “Here my sister our dreams come true; the city of dreams free, and Ionia also. Particularly, I saw what newspapers write for Smyrna”. [Smyrna was finally passed under Greek administration in May 1919 for five years but this lasted for three years only.]
Sender’s ms details in Greek: ‘8ον Σύνταγμα, Τ.Τ. 903, Μεραρχία Κρήτης’ [8th Regiment, Postal Sector 903, Cretan Division].
Addressee, Miss Georgia Despotopoulou, is known along with her two sisters Nefeli and Ioanna for having kept correspondence with Greek enlisted men in all fronts from 1912 (Balkan Wars) to 1922 (end of the expedition to Turkey). The young lady used also different pseudonyms for special cases, and one such case was the “Doiran Battle” on 18-19 September 1918, where the 8th Cretan Regiment fought, too. The large number “22” with pencil on cover indicates sender’s incoming letter, individually numbered upon receipt in his personal file, for reference as each man’s letter was always answered.
Passed by Greek censor when opened and inspected on arrival in Athens, Greece; countersigned and sealed with tape printed ‘ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΛΟΓΟΚΡΙΣΙΑ / CENSURE HELLENIQUE’ tied with two-line h/s reading in Greek/French ’ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΛΟΓΟΚΡΙΣΙΑ / CENSURE HELLENIQUE / 28’ in black. Cover and enclosed letter bear also a single circled ‘329’ examiner handstamp on front side.
Backstamped with mc ΑΘΗΝΑΙ 13. ΝΟΕ.18 ΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΟΝ [Athens civil Central PO, 13 November 1918].
[The Cretan Division was stationed in 122nd French Division’s sector on the western bank of Axios River since 22 June 1918, and participated in the battle NE of Doiran Lake. Concentrated since end-September with the entire Cretan Division in the area of Sidirocastron].
All dates in Julian Calendar.
Item condition: Good; opened roughly. Interesting item; see scans.