One thing that happens when a home country is conquered is that there is a rush to get out the assets of the country that are moveable. It was thus that tiny and mostly destitute Martinique became host to much of the French fleet including their only aircraft carrier and much of the gold supply of France. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
This issue of stamps was the last issue of the French colony of Martinique before it became a French overseas department. This was already in process so the stamps can be seen as an introduction to France of their new countrymen and women.
Todays stamp is issue A25, a 30 Centimes stamp issued by the French colony of Martinique in June 1947. This was the last issue of the colony and lead times can be seen in that it actually came out 5 months after Martinique was declared an overseas department of France. This was a 17 stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 50 cents unused.
Martinique was first spotted by Christopher Columbus, who did not start a settlement but released some wild pigs and goats onto the island. The island was occupied by warlike Caribe Indians that it was up to the the French to subdue. Cardinal Richelieu’s Company of the American Islands was responsible for development that included sugar cane, coffee, and indigo. The development was quite lucrative but required the importation of many African slaves. The island is also subject to frequent hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes so it was not an easy go.
The ending of the French slave trade in the 1830s was the end of the gravy train as the plantations could no longer be staffed. There was an attempt to replace sugar cane with bananas but workers could again not be attracted.
In 1940, the French aircraft carrier Bearne was ordered to the USA to pick up American made planes available under lend lease. On the way back to France it was ordered to divert to Martinique. Also sailing out of France in June 1940 was the cruiser Emile Bertin which was carrying 286 tons of gold. She originally was meant to go to Halifax, Canada but the now Vichy government had second thoughts and ordered her to slip away with the gold. It was unloaded safely in Martinique. 286 tons of gold is over 8 billion dollars in todays money. Two British cruisers began a blockade to keep an eye out for the gold. The gold was deemed readily obtainable by the British and listed as collateral by them on their wartime loans.
Martinique was under Vichy leaning French Admiral Georges Robert. He found it easier to work with the Americans where the French fleet in Martinique would be rendered immobile and in return the island would not be bombed or invaded and the gold would stay in French hands.
In 1943, Admiral Robert was ordered back to France and the journey took him through Puerto Rico and Portugal. With him out of the way the gold and the French fleet fell into Free French hands. Post war Admiral Robert was tried and convicted of collaboration. He was sentenced to 100 years of hard labor though only did six months and was pardoned in 1957. Imagine his sentence if he had pocketed the gold personally.
Well my drink is empty and imagine being in the crew of the Emile Bertin and understanding that France has lost but absolutely everyone is out after you. Come again soon for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2020.