Early original postcard portrait of a Peninsula & Orient ( P & O ) Steam Navigation Company Deck Officer Cadet

Postally unused. Portrait study. The writing to the front looks like it was written by the subject " A. V. France ". It does not look like a photographer's I.D. to me. Crease to top right corner, some minor wear to top edge, reverse a little grubby, otherwise in very good condition.

Junior Officers often started very young in the Company, which preferred to do its own training, where everyone was taught to live under the same stern discipline.
Cadets joined the Company at 17-18, from the principal nautical training ships and colleges, indentured to between three and four years service as apprentice deck officers.

For many years, the Company recruited its Deck Officer Cadets exclusively from the three public school nautical colleges, Worcester, Conway and Pangbourne.

Coll

Code: 53960