- £1250.00
India. (Polish Refugees in India). 1943. Envelope from 'Polish Refugee's Camp/ Country Club, Karachi - Sind, India' headed 'On Active Service' hand-stamped with double ring circular 'War Relief Services/ N.C.W.C.' in blue (National Catholic Welfare Conference) addressed to 'Liet Kostecki Edward, P/ 107' Polish Forces, British Liberation Army', endorsed 'written in Polish' with 'Polish Refugee's Camp/ Country Club/ Karachi - Sind/ India' hand-stamp in blue on face and signed by the Commander, bearing India SG 273, 4a brown (pair) tied by Karachi double ring with re-sealing label 'P.C. 90/ Opened by Examiner' tied by framed 'Crown/ Passed DHB/ 14' on face with 'DHB/ 137' hand-stamp in violet on reverse applied in Karachi.
When Soviet forces entered Poland an estimated one million Poles were deported to Labour Camp Gulags in Siberia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
An estimated 5000 women and children made the perilous journey south via Iran, Syra and Palestine to India. The Maharaja of Nawanagar established a camp for between 500 and 1000 women and children many of whom were orphans at Balachadi (Bandry Camp).
The Country Club, Transit Camp, Karachi. More than 25,000 Poles passed through this holding camp on their way to India, Africa, Mexico and New Zealand. Mail however is almost impossible to find as most children were orphans and the women widows.
A unique item from the Polish Refugee's Holding Camp, Karachi Country Club, this hand-stamp not seen before.
