When I see cards like this, I often wonder if the people on it ever opened a packet of cigarettes and found themselves, or whether their shipmates did, which presumably resulted in more than a little teasing.
In 1936 it was pretty certain that war was on the cards for in early March of that year German troops had entered the Rhineland, in a clear violation of the Treaty of Versailles. And though at that time Britain and France did not take a stand against it, they must have known that once one breach is made, another will surely follow.
This card is surprisingly detailed in its description, naming H.M.S. Thames, and telling us she is off Alexandria, during fleet exercises. She also appears on card 28, risen above the waves, where we are told she is "The first of the class of four submarines which bears her name ... was launched in January 1932, and completed 18 months later at a cost of just over £500,000. She made naval history in that she was the first submarine to exceed 21 knots on the surface [though] she actually reached 22 1/2 knots on her trials."
In actual fact the class was called the River Class and her siblings were HMS Severn and HMS Clyde, all built by Vickers Armstrong, in Barrow.
HMS Thames was launched on the 26th of February, 1932, and was sent to Malta. In August 1939 she was assigned to the ninth Submarine Flotilla as part of the Home Fleet, endeavouring to intercept U-Boats and other Axis invaders. In 1940 she was sent to Norway, and in July of that year she sank the German torpedo boat Luchs.
After that, nothing is known, save that on the third of August she was reported as "overdue", and then "lost". It is presumed, but not proven, that she may have struck a mine, with the loss of all hands, including, presumably, the young men on this card, whose names, whatever they were, are recorded on the Dundee International Submarine Memorial, Dundee being her operating base, and at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum at Gosport.
This set is first catalogued in our original reference book to the issues of the Ardath Tobacco Co. Ltd (RB.6, published in 1943) as :
- December 1936. 50. BRITAIN`S DEFENDERS (titled series). Size 1 7/16" x 2 11/16". Numbered 1-50. Printed in 2 colours from half tone blocks in green, white margins, varnished, subject titles inset, Backs printed in bronze blue, titled, with descriptions, adhesive. Also issued in New Zealand to H.M. Ships and abroad. Printed by Mardon, Son & Hall, Bristol.
Its next appearance comes in our reference book to the issues of The British American Tobacco Company, RB.21, published in 1952. That tells us something rather curious, for it is entered as :
- 463. MODERN WARFARE or BRITAIN`S DEFENDERS. Small cards, size 68 x 36 m/m. Front in green-black letterpress, varnished. Back with descriptive text. Numbered series of 50.
A. Anonymous issue, with letterpress on back. Back in grey. Titled "Modern Warfare"
B. Ardath issue. Back in blue, adhesive. Titled "Britain`s Defenders"
The front index tells us the anonymous version was issued in Malta, in 1936, and presumably, because it appears as the "A" version, before the Ardath one.
In our original World Tobacco Issues Index the Ardath version appears as :
- BRITAIN`S DEFENDERS. Sm. Dark green. Nd. (50). See RB.21/463.B ... A72-14
And this text is repeated in the updated version of that work, with just a new card code, of A745-250.
Whilst the anonymous version is at the back of the book, listed as :
- MODERN WARFARE. Sm. Greenish-black. Nd. (50). See RB.21/463.A ... ZB6-49
And this text is repeated in the updated version, with the new card code of ZB07-525