Unfranked cover to Athens, Greece from a first lieutenant with the 3rd Hellenic Infantry Regiment operating at Aydin area in Turkey (areas under Greek administration, 1919-22). Sender’s details (in Greek) on flap: ‘‘3ον Πεζ. 922” [3rd Infantry Regiment, Postal Sector 922].
Enclosed interesting message dated 23 June 1921, and informing: “…. operations had not permitted me to write earlier. [After disembarkation in Asia Minor] we stayed in Smyrna only one day, and left at once to seize Aydin [….] The Greek quarter was burned very quickly [….]. The Antartes (irregular Turkish troops) took with them the best girls. Our regiment acted again. I have no more time to write to you further.”
Addressee is Miss Georgia Despotopoulou, 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 1923 (shortly after the expedition to Turkey). The young lady used also different pseudonyms for special cases, and one such was the “Υπομονή” [Patience] used.
[The large handwritten pencil number “23” on cover indicates addressee’s incoming serial number, placed on each new letter received and filed for reference as each letter was always answered later.]
Postmarked for despatch with “ΣΤΡΑΤ. ΤΑΧΥΔΡΟΜΕΙΑ 902 / 28 ΙΟΥΝ 19” military date-stamp [(Greek) Army Post, Sector 902, 28 June 1919] allotted to Smyrna Army Base.
Passed by Greek censor when opened and inspected on arrival in Athens, Greece; sealed with tape printed ‘ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΛΟΓΟΚΡΙΣΙΑ / CENSURE HELLENIQUE’ tied with two-line h/s reading in Greek/French ’ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΛΟΓΟΚΡΙΣΙΑ / CENSURE HELLENIQUE / 13’ in black. Cover and message bear two single circled ‘19’ and ‘246’ examiner handstamps.
Backstamped with mc ΑΘΗΝΑΙ -5 ΙΟΥΛ. 19 ΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΟΝ [Athens civil Central PO, 5 July 1919] on arrival at destination.
All dates in Julian Calendar.
Item condition: Good; rough opening at right edge. See scans.