'En Route' Postal History -- United States, First World War, 1917-19

by Bob Swanson

Military Postal History Society

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About This Presentation

Large numbers of military men were transported by rail throughout the United States during the First World War (1917-1919)
They often mailed cards and letters while onboard the trains
Some items show cancels from Railway Post Offices (RPOs)
The content of these postal items can be of great interest
These are only a small subset of such covers and cards

Troop Train "Ground Rules"

The men were not allowed off the train (except perhaps for drill and exercise)
Generally, they were not informed of their destination
Sometimes letters were handed to Red Cross women at train stations for mailing
Some Red Cross chapters provided stamped postcards for the soldiers to mail
Otherwise, outgoing mail would have to be placed in the RPO slot on the train, or handed to a helpful civilian

Cover and Letter Posted in Wyoming

[cover]

Cover from Soldier, posted in Green River, Wyoming, written on train

Mailed in Green River, Wyoming
Letter indicates "written on train"
(Appears to be mailed by civilian "Hugo" after letter handed to them by the soldier "Edward")

Postcard from Wounded Soldier in a Hospital Car

[en_route/pitts_chicago.jpg]

Postcard from Wounded Returning Soldier in a special hospital car

Government Postal Card (GPC) mailed by wounded returning soldier, 1919
He writes that he is going to General Hospital #32, in a special hospital car
Canceled by RPO handstamp on train (Pittsburg & Chicago RPO)

Postcard from Wounded Soldier in a Hospital Car

[en_route/pitts_chicago_back.jpg]

Back of GPC from Wounded Returning Soldier in a special hospital car

Little Rock, Arkansas "En Route"

[en_route/little_rock_transit.jpg]

Little Rock, Arkansas, Transit Clerk Handstamp

Soldier writes "going to Houston" (October 1917)
Canceled by "Transit Clerk" handstamp for Little Rock (Tr. Clerk office was usually located in a train station)

"En Route" With RPO Handstamp

[en_route/en_route_st_louis_rpo.jpg]

En Route Card with RPO Handstamp

Written message: "we are on our way to somewhere"
Canceled by St. Louis & Parsons RPO handstamp (applied on board train in RPO car)

Sailor "En Route" From Great Lakes

[en_route/columbus_from_great_lakes.jpg]

En Route Card with RPO Handstamp

Sailor writes: "am standing a 2 hr watch now on train"
Uncommon to find 'en route' items from navy personnel
Canceled by International machine from main Columbus, Ohio, post office

Acknowledgements

Examples from the collection of Bob Swanson
Mini-presentation hosted by the Military Postal History Society. Additional military postal history presentations can be found at this MPHS webpage.
Mini-Presentation updated 29 June 2018
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