Lot 20609 – 1944 Japanese « Shanghai War-prisoner’s Camp » formular card sent by an Italian P.O.W.

1944 (Aug 9) Japanese « Shanghai War-prisoner’s Camp » formular card to Marzano-Torriglia (Italy) sent by Ugo Chinca, P.O.W. in Ziangwan Camp, after having been captured by the Japanese in China as a consequence of the September 1943 Armistice, with red Japanese censor’s marking and blue Palestine hexagonal censorship cachet, written in English to be readable for the censor, indicating that « I am without your news since the 20th of last March received Via Vaticano ». The sender, Ugo Chinca, who was a multi decorated officer involved in three wars, was in command of the « Conte Verde » warship, which he ordered to sink to avoid its capture by the Japanese, following the orders from the Italian Government after the 9.9.43 Armistice; he will be a P.O.W. and transferred from China to Japan in May 1945, being released by the Americans on 30.8.45, and coming back to his homeland on 17.2.46. One of only two items recorded from an Italian P.O.W. in Japanese camps.