St. Kitts-Nevis 'War Tax' Stamps

The "War Tax" stamps were issued during World War I to help fund the war effort.   Generally these stamps were regular stamp issues that were overprinted with the words "WAR", "WAR TAX" or "WAR STAMP".

The War Tax Acts in most colonies and countries stated that the War Tax stamps were to be used in addition to whatever postage fees were due on the item being mailed (postcards, letters and parcels). While the stamps were supposed to be used just to pay for the War Tax, many times they were also used to pay part of the postage and registration fees (as long as the total amount with the war tax was correct, it appears that most countries did not seem to mind).

St Kitts-Nevis followed the pattern of the other Leeward Islands colonies. In October 1916 the ½d stamp appeared overprinted “WAR TAX”. Then in August 1918 there was the issue of a special printing of a 1½d stamp, in orange, this time overprinted ‘WAR STAMP”.

'WAR STAMPS. By Rule made in Council on 12th February, 1917 the St. Kitts-Nevis 1/2 d. green (Columbus design) was surcharged WAR TAX. Owing to the demand, on account of increased postage rates, for a 1-1/2 d. stamp, in July, 1918, a St. Kitts-Nevis (Columbus design) Stamp of the value of "one penny half penny" (orange colour), surcharged WAR STAMP, was printed and issued throughout the Presidency. The issue of these stamps ceased after the conclusion of peace.'
- p.121 A Handbook of St. Kitts-Nevis. 1920

Officer Cadet Ivor Wakefield

Officer Cadet Ivor Wakefield's service records have been copied and sent to me by the National Archives in Kew, but as I am 4,000 miles away I will not be looking at them just yet. Something to look forward too and that should finally close the case on him. Every avenue available has been explored I think.

Private Ivor Wakefield - Information Hunt Continues!

Finding information about Private Ivor Wakefield, East Sussex Regiment has taken many twists and turns. I have finally found a service record for him that is held at the National Archive in Kew, Surrey, UK. It would appear and it has confirmed that after his initial conscription he became an Officer Cadet and joined an Officer Cadet Battalion. I have ordered a copy of his record so I will wait and see what unfolds from that.

Ivor Wakefield (2)

A little more research on Ivor. Received his death certificate and it shows he died at East Grinstead Isolation Hospital after becoming ill at Maresfield Training Camp. Though he was in the East Surrey Regiment he was training to be an officer either in the Royal Garrison Regiment (RGA) or the Royal Artillery Regiment (RFA). It would appear that his army service record was destroyed in 1940 during a German air raid.

Ivor Wakefield

Private Ivor McCrea Wakefield, East Surrey Regiment
Not a good start researching Ivor as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website list him as J M Wakefield.
Soldiers That Died in the Great War show his name as Ivor and that he was born in 'British West India'. I also payed a visit to his grave in Richmond Cemetery in South West London and his name is commemorated on a family grave as 'Cadet Ivor Wakefield, RGA, 1897-1917'.
So a note to the CWGC to see if his details can be checked and amended.
He does not appear to have qualified for any war medals as he only served at 'home' and was attached to the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) as noted in SDGW.
Next on the list is ordering a death certificate to find out how and where he died.

From the Caribbean to New York and Canada

Searching through the names has also turned up the fact that some of the men joined the British Army in New York or travelled on to Canada for education purposes prior to the war starting and then joining the Canadian armed forces.

Imitation information at Ellis Island - www.ellisisland.org - has proved useful in tracking down some of the names.

Week off - sunny weather!

Always a problem when there is good weather in the UK. I can't stay home with the sun out. Anyway back to business. Trying to identify some details associated with the 20 names on the St. Kitts war memorial.
First stop the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions site and Soldiers Who Died in the Great War and then the UK National Archives to look at the World War One Medal indexes.