Can anyone read the signature on these covers?

[gbsbks2010]

So we think the signature is Walter Thornbury. Next question, why would he sign the covers when he sent them to London?
I believe censors did sign or initial censored covers. Surely he couldn't have been his own censor? Also the two censor marks have different numbers on them.

[cheaver]

So we think the signature is Walter Thornbury. Next question, why would he sign the covers when he sent them to London?
I believe censors did sign or initial censored covers. Surely he couldn't have been his own censor? Also the two censor marks have different numbers on them.

War time? Required? Maybe to alleviate fears of recipient by knowing immediately who had sent the letter? (a lot of military personnel stayed at The Rock Hotel during the war).
Covers sent at different times = different censors?

[squern]

Attachment 62205Attachment 62206

I cannot decipher the signature on these two covers (bottom left). I can make out the first name - Walter, but cannot work out the surname. The picture might be clearer on the listing in MG Stamp Shop

Can anyone help me out?

Have you considered the idea that "Walter" may not be British?
I ask because I read it as "Walter Hombergh", and "Walter" is also a German name.
Are you seeing "Walter Thornbury" because he was relatively famous, whereas "Walter Hombergh" may have been an unknown person in rural Germany?
Or Austria, or Switzerland?

[HelenAndGraham]

Hi. Field Post Office postmarks are one of my collecting interests so I can explain the signature.

During WW2 all mail was censored, not least military mail. When writing home soldiers, sailors and airmen had to show their outgoing letters to their commanding officer for approval. If approved the officer would sign the front of the envelope. This cleared the way for the FPO staff.

So the signature is that of the writers commanding officer in Gibraltar back in 1941.

As for the actual name? Sorry....