On the 1 of September 1942, Lieutenant René BLOCH serving in the 1er Etranger 2e Cie Sidi bel Abbes Algerie, wrote a Carte Postale ( Postcard ) to Mr Lucien LAFAUX 117 Rue Delpech Amiens Somme.
The message was:
Le 1.9.42.
Cher Monsieur,
J’ai bien reçu votre carte en même temps que je recevais un avenant de la Cie.
Je vous fais parvenir ce jour un mandat de 395,60 + 10% de cent de l’avenant.
Je conserve les talons comme quittances.
J’espère que le commerce des timbres marche toujours.
Pour moi je n’ai pu obtenir la collection que je désirais acheter, son propriétaire ne veut plus la vendre.
Je vous prie d’agréer, cher Monsieur, mes
salutations empressées.
Translated into English.
1-9-1942
Dear Sir,I have received your card well, along with an attachment from the company. Today I am sending you a money order for 395.60 + 10% in accordance with the attachment.
I will keep the stubs as receipts.
I hope that the trade in stamps is still going well. As for me, I was unable to acquire the collection I wanted to buy, the owner no longer wishes to sell them.
Please accept, dear sir, my dedicated regards.
[signature]
What is this about?
From the content of the letter, a few things can be deduced
1. Date and context: the letter is dated 1 September 1942, in the midst of World War II. At that time, many goods and financial flows were heavily regulated. People often used money orders to send money safely.
2. Financial transaction: Lieutenant BLOCH confirms that he has received an “avenant” (an attachment or supplement to a contract) and that he is sending an amount of 395.60 + 10% via money order.
This concerns a financial settlement or payment related to a contract/agreement.
3. Vouchers or talons: Lieutenant BLOCH states that he keeps the ‘talons’ (slips, coupons) as receipts. This indicates that such payments were properly recorded.
4. Stamp trading: there is also mention of stamps” j’espère que le commerce des timbres marche toujours”; I hope that the stamp trade is still going well.’
Stamps were (and are) collectible items, during WW2, they also served as a form of alternative investment.
5. Personal detail: Lieutenant BLOCH mentions that he wanted to buy a certain collection of stamps himself, but the owner refused to sell them.
Summarizing, this letter seems to be about a business payment (probably something contractual or insurance-related) and at the same time an informal exchange about stamp collecting and trading. So a mixture of official matters and personal hobby (philately).
René BLOCH
Most likely Lieutenant René BLOCH, who wrote this Carte Postale, was the same officer of the French Foreign Legion that later became the commander of the 2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes.
According to the excellent website Foreign Legion Info René Bloch in the rank of major was the commander of the 2e BEPcommander between September 1952 and July 1953. Next to a photograph of him it is indicated that he had served with the Legion since 1938.