Burning of Smyrna, September 1922.
CONTENT WARNING: This file contains images which may cause distress.
File includes 2 French identity cards for Wallace Besley, able seaman, a postcard showing the burning of Smyrna and a letter of thanks from the British refugees from Smyrna addressed to the captain and crew of HMS KING GEORGE V with signatures. In addition to these, it also contains a number of photocopies of naval cartoons. Some of these appear to have been ripped from books or newspapers, while others appear to be either originals or individual reproductions. The major theme linking all of these seems to be the problems associated with the naval life. The file also contains a small envelope within which several postcards (all torn into 2 pieces) showing executions of men, surrounded by military personnel. These have been put into transparent conservation sleeves to keep the pieces of each postcard together.
Administrative / biographical background
Wallace Besley was an able seaman on the battleship HMS KING GEORGE V (1911) in the eastern Mediterranean at the time of the evacuation of refugees from Smyrna in 1922.
File includes 2 French identity cards for Wallace Besley, able seaman, a postcard showing the burning of Smyrna and a letter of thanks from the British refugees from Smyrna addressed to the captain and crew of HMS KING GEORGE V with signatures. In addition to these, it also contains a number of photocopies of naval cartoons. Some of these appear to have been ripped from books or newspapers, while others appear to be either originals or individual reproductions. The major theme linking all of these seems to be the problems associated with the naval life. The file also contains a small envelope within which several postcards (all torn into 2 pieces) showing executions of men, surrounded by military personnel. These have been put into transparent conservation sleeves to keep the pieces of each postcard together.
Administrative / biographical background
Wallace Besley was an able seaman on the battleship HMS KING GEORGE V (1911) in the eastern Mediterranean at the time of the evacuation of refugees from Smyrna in 1922.
Record Details
| Item reference: | HSR/Z/42; MSS/69/108 |
|---|---|
| Catalogue Section: | Manuscript documents acquired singly by the Museum |
| Level: | ITEM |
| Extent: | 1 folder: 19 items. |
| Date made: | 1922 |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
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- Battle of Trafalgar: including a piece of wood from the deck of HMS VICTORY and a ticket of admission to Nelson's funeral. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/1)
- Benin Expedition: press cuttings and various letters. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/2)
- Raid on Zeebrugge, 22-23 Apr 1918: chart, watercolours and press cuttings of Capt Nevil Pritchard. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/3)
- British military authority banknote and five Japanese banknotes for use in occupied Indonesia, 1939-1945. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/4)
- Mark Robinson: documents issued by and to, consisting of flag signals, lantern signal, secret rendezvous, orders of battle and sailing instructions and special signals. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/5)
- Account of the Battle of Camperdown by Joseph Brodie, 11 Oct 1797. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/6)
- Sir Edward Littleton: various correspondence. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/7)
- J.M. Matria, Consul-General at Tangier: various letters. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/8)
- Naval Volunteer Home Defence Association: minutes, leaflets and letters relating to the dissolution of the Association. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/9)
- Wreck of the ROYAL GEORGE and EDGAR: sketches of operation for raising by Col Sir C. Pasley, 1839-40. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/10)
- Various documents including a report on surveying of the Persian Gulf by George H. Bruck, surveyor to the H.E.I.C. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/11)
- Documents relating to the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805. (Manuscript) (HSR/Z/12)
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