This web page, published by the Military Postal History Society, contains the text content of the single frame British Empire Intervention in the Central Powers During World War I and Its Aftermath . This exhibit was created by, and is the property of the late Al Kugel, and is being supplied by his heirs as a courtesy to the Military Postal History Society.
To view the exhibit page images, see: web page containing the image content of the exhibit frame.
Updated 11/12/2022
BRITISH EMPIRE INTERVENTION IN THE CENTRAL POWERS DURING WORLD WARI & ITS AFTERMATH
This exhibit is a special study that examines postal activity during the British military intervention in the enemy countries from 1915 to 1935. It is divided into two distinct sections: the Ottoman Empire and the other enemy countries. Only in the former were territories actually occupied during the war, starting with an expedition into Lower Mesopotamia. This was followed by a push up the Tigris River and eventually into Kurdistan, thus completing the British possession of what is Iraq today. The other activities covered here include the unsuccessful invasion of the Dardanelles in 1915-1916 as well as the successful move from Egypt into Southern Palestine in 1917. This campaign led to occupation of that entire province, as well as an advance into Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon and Cilicia at the end of the war. British troops also occupied Constantinople and other strategic areas along the straits between Europe and Asia at the end of 1918.
The other Central Powers -- Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Germany -- were not occupied during the war but only afterward pursuant to the terms of the respective Armistices and Peace Treaties and are shown in a second section of the exhibit. All of this activity had considerable philatelic consequences. In addition to military mail during the fighting and garrison periods, civil postal services had to be developed for some of the political entities that were created. Moreover, mail from the occupation forces in Germany included that from teams administering the terms of the Treaty, including those in charge of rail and river traffic, enforcing disarmament provisions and other functions.
A telegram written in Arabic on a form specially printed for the OETA (Occupied Enemy Territory Administration) in Palestine. Sent in November 1919, it has a postmark inscribed "JAFFA/OETPA (Occupied Enemy Territory Postal Administration)” that is unlisted in the literature, thus providing an unusual piece of history from the period.
As shown on the Plan Page that follows, the Ottoman part of the exhibit is presented in chronological order as the various portions of the Empire were invaded, followed by the occupation of Turkey proper. Then, the occupation of the other Central Powers is covered. There is a clear imbalance of material from some of these areas, especially the Rhineland, which reflects the much longer period of occupation and large number of troops involved. The final act was the force sent to supervise the plebiscite in the Saar in 1935, bringing an end to the interventions 16 years after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
BRITISH EMPIRE INTERVENTION IN THE CENTRAL POWERS PLAN OF EXHIBIT
Material in this exhibit will be shown chronologically for the parts of the Ottoman Empire, followed by the other enemy home territories:
Traq -- 1915-1923
Dardanelles -- 1915
Hedjaz -- 1916-1919
Long Island -- 1916
Palestine -- 1917-1922
Transjordan -- 1918-1921
Lebanon -- 1918-1919
Syria -- 1918-1919
Cilicia -- 1919
Yemen -- 1919-1920
Turkey Proper -- 1918-1923
Austria -- 1918-1920
Hungary -- 1918-1922
Bulgaria --1918-1921
Germany -- 1918-1929
German Plebiscites -- 1920-1935
Inbound cover addressed to Lt. Pearson, who was attached to the 93rd Burma Infantry serving as part of Force D in Mesopotamia (Iraq). Arrival backstamp of Indian F.P.O. 54 of 16 June 1917, located at Baghdad. Note marking inscribed "Reported Missing/Return to Sender." Lt. Pearson was later reported killed in action by the Turks in the Hamrin Hills on 25 March 1917. Identified mail related to the Burmese Contingent in this campaign is very unusual.
PARTI -- THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IRAQ
With the need to protect the oil refinery at Abadan, Persia from a possible attack by Ottoman forces, the first aggressive British action against the Central Powers in World War I was a landing by Indian troops at the port of Fao at the head of the Persian Gulf on 6 November 1914 and capture of Basra on the 22nd. The rest of Lower Mesopotamia was occupied during 1915, then Upper Mesopotamia in 1917 and Kurdistan in late 1918. These areas were joined together as Iraq, which was administered as a British mandate under the League of Nations.
Fieldpost covers from Iraq are very elusive until mid-1915 because the number of men deployed was small and most of the Indian troops were illiterate. Thus, the above cover is considered to be quite early for this campaign and is attributable to Iraq based on the circular "Passed Censor/D" marking. The red rectangular censor marking is a type seldom seen. Cover was backstamped in transit in Bombay on 28 August 1915.
IRAQ Military Mail
The British did not establish their own field post offices in Mesopotamia but utilized the Indian facilities. Thus, the military covers would normally have markings that would include "LE.F.(Indian Expeditionary Force)" or "Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force."
Upper cover has extremely elusive (only two examples recorded) intaglio seal inscribed "L. of C. (Line of Communications)/I.E.F." Lower cover has oval marking of the "Base Supply Office." It was sent from FPO 329 at Magil, near Basra.
IRAQ : F.P.O. No. 34 Military Mail 17 January 1917 CORRESPONDENCE TABLES. ARMY Y. M. C. A. OF INDIA. HEADQUARTERS: 9, RUSSELL StT., CALCUTTA. MESOPOTAMIA EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. Cover from YMCA official sent through Indian FPO 34 at Amara to Marseille, France. Enclosed letter written on special stationery supplied to the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force. IRAQ Kut al-Amara Siege Mail Streatham 4 November 1915 Cowes 11 April 1916 Letters to British soldiers captured at Kut. Marking of "Undelivered through Capitulation at Kut" was applied and the letters returned to sender. Covers addressed to Captain Newcomb at the 2nd General Hospital and Gunner Mundell of the Hampshire Howitzer Battery sent to Kut al-Amara after its capture by the British on 28 September 1915. However, the Turks successfully counterattacked, laying siege to the city on 7 December. After 143 days, the garrison ran out of food and was forced to surrender on 29 April 1916. Accumulated mail was marked with the cachet noted above and returned. Upper cover is the only recorded example bearing both the "Kut" and "Prisoner of War" cachets. IRAQ Busrah Civil Mail 16 April 1915 Busra 30 June 1916 Civil mail service was quickly restored in Basra following the British occupation. Most of such mail was franked with ordinary Indian postage stamps. The squared circle postmark shown on the upper cover was in use for only three months. IRAQ L.E.F. Overprints The Indian Postal Service overprinted ten denominations of the current George V definitives with "ILE.F." to pay postal charges for the troops sent from India to fight on the various fronts, including France, East Africa and Mesopotamia. In addition, these stamps were used on civil mail in the occupied areas. Base Office D 6 September 1915 5 July 1917 re ee Rd % ety wee OLS 5 Prag ms A Hove fea Se RIL UP PAUG EE Pent ga Te gear aE pret eer ts owes o ae cary The Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force was known as I.E.F. 'D' and its headquarters was established at Basra after that city had been occupied. The higher values of the I.E.F. stamps are practically never seen commercially used, so these philatelic covers and postal card are included to show what was issued for this area . IRAQ Busrah Civil Mail 27 July 1917 Bagdad | September 1917 THE EASTERN BANK, Ltd. | BASRAH. io : ek ssoiisiaan SiN 5 tana ets Special postmarks were provided for registered mail, with "Reg." under the town names. Postage could be paid with either normal Indian stamps or those overprinted "ILE.F.". Examples above from Basra and Baghdad to Paris and Lucknow, respectively. IRAQ Although the Turks removed or destroyed most of the stamp supplies in the major post offices as they retreated, after the capture of Baghdad the British gathered up the remaining small quantities and overprinted them "Baghdad/In British Occupation.” These were issued on | September 1917. Baghdad 5 September 1917 7 September 1917 nA. tee oe: ot A a as A A | Rao dak pee el, Twenty-five different stamps overprinted "Baghdad" were issued, some in quantities as low as 60 copies. Some of the stamps were Turkish semi-postals that had the wording "Tax for the relief of children of martyrs,” which was considered inappropriate by the occupation authorities and blacked out with a handstamp. IRAQ In addition to stamps, a small quantity of Ottoman postal stationery envelopes exists with "Baghdad" overprint. Baghdad 17 September 1917 20 September 1917 Examples of the 2 annas envelopes have the imprinted stamp in both pale blue and blue, as shown above, both sent to local military addresses. Such envelopes are rated as "rare" in the Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia. IRAQ Prepared but Unissued Values Eight additional stamps were overprinted. However, when it was discovered that fewer than 60 copies of each existed, the decision was made not to issue them at all. As a result, eight copies of each value were kept intact for distribution to high officials and the rest "disfigured" by cutting them in half diagonally or cutting off the perforations. Thus, these prepared but unissued stamps are highly treasured by specialists in Iraqi philately. IRAQ The "Baghdad" overprints were quickly sold out, forcing the postal authorities to revert to the use of Indian stamps. These were postmarked by civil or military cancels as conveniently available. Busra City BAHJET S. FORAGE. Basrah. aa Proprietor of Sphinx Brand Dates. ee GOA B3 3 Produce ul Turkish Arabia. 19 May 1918 sy f é sts Examples showing Indian franking on civil mail in Mesopotamia in the period between the use of "Baghdad" and "Iraq" overprinted issues. IRAQ A second series of stamps consisted of Turkish stamps overprinted “Iraq/In British Occupation" which were issued on 1 September 1918. By this time, the British had occupied southern and central Iraq, up to Kirkuk. Basrah 27 May 1919 Baghdad 30 October 1920 Lower cover shows the high values of the "Iraq" overprints registered to Switzerland. Philatelically prepared but a highly unusual franking. IRAQ / Marshalls Bridge 31 May 1919 Registered cover from the Marshalls Bridge branch of the Baghdad post office to Chicago, properly franked with 4 1/2 annas postage. A seldom seen postmark. Baghdad 28 November 1919 Unusual usage of "Honor" envelope for registered letter to Canada. Note handstamp of "Director, Postal Services Iraq & Persia Line of Commun- ications." IRAQ Baghdad Use of Revenue Stamps 20 October 1922 Due to an outbreak of cholera, a new supply of the normal "Iraq" overprints was delayed. As a result, the use of revenues to pay regular postage was authorized in Baghdad and its environs for a brief period in late 1922. A very elusive usage. IRAQ . Kirkuk 31 December 1920 Lower Baghdad CRRA 12 January 1921 UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE,- EMPIRE “OTTOMAN | ¢ CARTE POSTALE Se abe mez W355.) Rapnt $1, ! Baghdad 29 March 1922 eee WAKES (oo eo NOM ET ADRESSE DE L/EXPEDITEUR CON DICATION FACULTATIVE) Iara sy - ? oe Se a Wit gee Ce SIN UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE EMPIRE OTTOMAN “ARTE POSTALE oe (vost 5) ARIE. ——— = a Be se ee Post Mop lal | [paghhad. Overprinted Turkish postal stationery was also used during the occupation period. Above are examples of the imprinted envelope as well as domestic and international postal cards. Bagdad 2 April 1920 Basrah 19 February 1921 IRAQ Such | SagNVW QoT ALLA annas registration envelopes in two different sizes. items are extremely elusive in Examples of overprinted 2 1/2 postally used condition. IRAQ Busra City Diplomatic Mail 25 July 1918 Registered cover franked with 3 annas I.E.F. overprint and sent from Basra City to Egypt by the "Consulat de France en Mesopotamie/Bassorah." Backstamped Cairo and Izbit el Zaiton. IRAQ The British strongly desired that Kurdistan in the north, especially the Kirkuk oilfields, come under their control as part of Iraq. To this end troops were moved into the area following the Turkish surrender. eee era z Sacre, et — oes — = Base Office D/LE.F. : ON ACTIVE SERVIOS. ae 22 February 1919 Mosul 2 March 1919 31 July 1919 [Of faa bpokee Pro's : london, W, lt, ea! * AUTLO:hs ie Because it was occupied later, Kurdistan had a separate postal system from that used in Mesopotamia. Turkish fiscal stamps were overprinted I.E.F. 'D' and cancelled with either Indian Army or civil postmarks. IRAQ ; : Mosul Military Mail 19 June 1921 Kirkuk 19 July 1921. Although there were no British FPOs in Iraq, the military mail from British forces was processed without charge \ based on a manuscript endorsement "On Active Service." Each cover has "M" in circle censor mark of Mosul and (on the reverse) the cds of the town of origin. IRAQ ; / F.P.O. No. 55 Royal Flying Corps 20 May 1917 Base Office D/IEF 27 October 1917 A small number of aircraft and men of the Royal Flying Corps (the predecessor of the RAF) were assigned to the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Corps, and mail from this group is very elusive. Upper example has oval RFC marking and was postmarked on the reverse at FPO 55 located at Baghdad. Lower cover has the RFC crest and \ was mailed at the Base Office in Basra. Printed registration label of "Basra Base" applied on reverse. IRAQ ; F.P.O. 55 | Military Airmail Flights 9 January 1919 24 February 1919 The Royal Air Force flew several pioneer flights via Baghdad. The first through eastbound flight from England to India was in a four-engine Handley-Page aircraft which left Baghdad on 9 January 1919. Firebrace states that six \ letters were boarded at Baghdad, marked with the special cachets shown. The first westbound flight left Baghdad . for Cairo on 24 February with one passenger and "a quantity" of mail, again marked with a special cachet. IRAQ Airmail Centre/Hinaidi Military Airmail Flights i 1 October 1923 Baghdad 26 March 1923 a a I = - . — oe a a aaa Post card carried by the Royal Air Force on a special Official Air Mail flight from Baghdad/Hinaidi to Shaibah and signed for by the pilot. Cover sent by General Lucas, Director of Stores & Transport at GHQ Baghdad. Illustration shows. special cachet reserved for use by high-ranking personnel at Headquarters, applied on reverse of the envelope. DARDANELLES The first aggressive Allied thrust in Europe of World War I was an assault on the Turkish fortifications guarding the waterway from the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean. The ultimate goal was to capture Constantinople, divide Anatolia from European Turkey and open up a new warm water route for shipping war materiel to Russia. The initial landings on Gallipoli began on 25 April 1915. However, the operation was not a success and the forces were withdrawn on 9 January 1916. TURKEY IN EUROPE Constantinople Gallipoli TURKEY IN ASIA Field Post Office 88 5 August 1915 Extensive fieldpost operations were conducted in order to provide communications for the British forces on Gallipoli. FPO 88 was located at Cape Helles at the southern tip of the Peninsula, serving the 88th Brigade of the 29th Division until closing on 7 January 1916. DARDANELLES Croydon Inbound Mail 12 August 1915 Reading 25 October 1915 Fighting was intense and casualties were heavy during this campaign. As a result, many men were KIA and MIA, of whom some of the latter turned up later as POWs of the Turks. Upper cover addressed to Capt. A. Denton who was killed in action at Sulva Bay on 16 August 1915. Lower cover sent to Gunner Blackall, who was missing. It received markings inscribed "Unable to Trace" and "Present Location Uncertain." Australian Forces The major supporting forces for the British were the Australian Divisions. They fought in their own units as well as in joint ones with New Zealanders and had their own postal facilities. DARDANELLES | | Ist Aust. Div. Field P.O. 14 August 1915 2nd Austr. Div. Field P.O. 11 November 1915 : i é i ? ie oo 303 | : ; a pubes Colonel, 0.6. No 8 ‘Field Ambulance, .3.1.0, ZL 2S = —— \ Above is a formula field service post card sent from Gallipoli to South Australia. Below is an official cover front . from the Officer in Charge of a field ambulance unit on Gallipoli to Egypt. DARDANELLES Aust. a. N.Z. Army P.O. ANZAC Forces 12 June 1915 \ Due to a shortage of writing materials, letters were written on anything usable. This homemade envelope was . sent from Gallipoli to Staffordshire by an ANZAC trooper. DARDANELLES Ist Newfoundland Regiment To support the British, Newfoundland raised an initial force of 600 men for overseas duty. Many of them were sent to fight on the Gallipoli Peninsula as part of the Dardanelles Campaign. They participated for less than four months in conjunction with the British 88th Brigade, 29th Division until the final evacuation in January 1916. The Ist Newfoundland sent its mail through Field Post Office 88 at Sulva Bay. Field Post Office 88 29 October 1915 22 November 1915 Mere These two covers are out of the same correspondence from the Dardanelles. The lower example shows the crest of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment on the reverse, as well as a receiving postmark seven weeks after mailing. HEDJAZ Early in the war, the British developed a plan to foment an uprising among the Arab subjects of the Ottoman Empire. To bring this about, they entered into negotiations with Sharif Hussein of Mecca, who agreed to such action in return for British support for an independent Arab state after the war. The famous Co}. T. E. Lawrence was sent to train and lead the Arab forces, which captured Mecca, Jeddah and Aqaba as well as cut the Turkish supply line between the main part of the empire and Hedjaz, the Ottoman province on the Red Sea Coast of Arabia. Hussein subsequently declared the independence of Hedjaz on 27 June 1916. Mekke 1 September 1916 The British did not establish field post facilities in Hedjaz, and the Ottoman postal service ceased to function with the Arab uprising. Hussein declared the old Ottoman stamps invalid and ordered supplies burned. Thus, for an interim period -- from 24 June 1916 in Mecca -- letters were charged | piastre and marked with the wording "Fee Paid" (in Arabic in this case) until new stamps could be printed and distributed. Such covers are noted as "rare and valuable” in the Wilson handbook. HEDJAZ Mekke Fee Paid Markings September 1916 24 November 1916 Several different handstamps indicating "Fee Paid" were used during the forerunner period. Upper cover was sent to Egypt and has transit marking of Jeddah dated 21 September 1916. (Only one example of this marking was recorded by Hibbert.) Officially, the use of these markings in Mecca lasted until 14 October 1916. However, later examples exist as shown by the lower cover, which was backstamped for receipt in Jeddah on 25 November 1916. HEDJAZ Arab Franking The British arranged for a supply of stamps for Hedjaz to be printed by the Egyptian Government's Survey Department in Cairo. The first stamp -- a blue 1 piastre value to pay postage on international letters -- was issued on 20 August 1916. This was followed by a 1/2 piastre red for domestic letters on 10 September and a 1/4 piastre green for local letters on 3 October. In 1917, two additional denominations were provided: a 1/8 piastre orange for printed matter and a 2 piastre pale purple for international registered letters. os Dyjeddah ie 11 November 1916 10 November 1917 Vv aAANi-e at : dn A’ phe oe @li AHMED TERA Upper cover franked with 1 piastre stamps plus a quarter piastre and sent to Djibouti in French Somaliland. Lower cover has the complete set. Note that the stamps are inscribed entirely in Arabic, e.g the 1 piastre has "Barid Hijazi (Hedjaz Post)" in the top panel, "Mekka al-Mukarrama (Holy Mecca) in the center, and "Qirsh Sagh (One Piastre) in the lower panel. The year date "1334 (1916)" is at the sides. HEDJAZ Mecca Arab Franking December 1917 Upper cover franked with 1/2 piastre and 1 piastre Hedjazi stamps and sent to Port Tawfik, Egypt. In addition to the regular issues, the Survey of Egypt printed postage due stamps. Two of these (20 para and 1 piastre) are shown on the lower cover inbound from Mansourah, Egypt to Mecca. HEDJAZ Yambo Arab Franking 1918 E] Akaba January 1919 Covers with 1/2 piastre domestic letter rate stamps. The lower example is from Aqaba, which was later assigned | | to Transjordan so that country could have an outlet to the Red Sea. Only a few examples are recorded from Aqaba during the Hedjazi period. LONG ISLAND In April 1916, a British naval force occupied this small island in the Gulf of Smyrna. The local Civil Administrator produced stamps inscribed "G.R.I./Long Island" with a typewriter. They were used only from 7 to 26 May, and their necessity is questionable. However, covers passed through the post and are very scarce. LONG ISLAND ” ANATOLIA oN fH ot Long Island N 3 13 May 1916 ® Eee an kee ee vee Covers from this minor occupation are extremely elusive, with only a dozen or so produced. Those with the blue "N" (for North) handdrawn postmark are especially sought after. as compared with the more widely noted red "S" (for South) marking. LONG ISLAND Long Island S 12 May 1916 19 May 1916 S lol Musoon Capi: KMAA In addition to the "stamps" produced by typewriter, the typist also created a stationery envelope for Long Island by overwriting an Egyptian one. Only example seen by exhibitor. PALESTINE Having successfully defended the Suez Canal against attempted Ottoman attacks in 1915 and 1916, the British made preparations to invade Palestine using the Sinai as their base. The Egyptian Expeditionary Force first crossed into Palestinian territory near Rafa on 9 January 1917. However, its advance was held up by strong Turkish resistance at Gaza until late that year. Jerusalem was finally captured on 9 December 1917, and the entire area of Palestine was cleared by the time of the Armistice with Turkey on 30 October 1918. Mediterranean Sea Field Post Office M.D.1 Le naa some 19 April 1917 ur — 158 Worple (pad 3 = Widedor, S315 busorw FPO M.D.1 was assigned to the ANZAC Mounted Division, which was in Deir el Balah in the Gaza Strip when this postcard was sent in the early part of the Palestinian campaign. PALESTINE Army Post Office SZ14 Military Mail 14 September 1917 Field Post Office 181 10 January 1918 Items sent before and after the capture of Central Palestine. APO SZ14 (a stationary office) was located at Deir el Balah and lower postcard sent from FPO 181 (an office that moved with its assigned troops) in Jerusalem. PALESTINE Field Post Office H20 T Military Mail 15 March 1918 Field Post Office 30 The field post service in Palestine was quite extensive both during and after the fighting. These examples sent from FPO H20 T in Jerusalem and FPO 30 at Tel Asur. PALESTINE Military Mail P.P.O. 31 21 September 1918 Registered cover, sent through Indian FPO 31 at Kantara in the Egyptian Sinai to Mandalay, Burma. Note the manuscript endorsement "From Palestine written 19-9-18 on which day Allenby broke thro’ the Turkish line." Presumably mailed by a soldier from a location without FPO and forwarded to Kantara for processing. Postage was free but stamp of 2 annas affixed to pay registry fee. Has elusive registration label of the field post office. PALESTINE Army Post Office SZ 17 Military Mail 3 January 1918 Poy Army Post Office SZ 27 Bc Cons x, , BTEREDILETEES “9 12 March 1918 "{ BE GIVEN TO AN|OFFICER OF THE Post Of RICE eEGISTERED, AND A}RECEIPT OBTAINED FOR 1T. RESS MUST BE/|WRITTEN ON THIS. SIDER oN F.P.O. No. 20 24 February 1920 Fz SF pr f hr a Sy FEE REGISTERED|LETTER. | THE ADDRESS MUST BE —— ON THIS SIDE. 1 vy, Fee. PAD, | iy) ae ee es t S Cc ‘ A selection of registered envelopes showing the various kinds of postage that was being used in Palestine at the time -- Egyptian, British and Indian. PALESTINE Field Post Office/D.M.2 Australian Forces 7 April 1918 Ist Aust. L.H. Bde. Field P. O. 23 August 1918 \ Upper cover from the Australian Mounted Division (of the Desert Mounted Corps), which was north of the Dead Sea advancing toward Es Salt at the time. The Australian Light Horse Brigade was part of Chaytor's Force engaging the enemy north of Jericho when the lower cover was mailed. PALESTINE Free Postage EEF Franking Since Palestine was a battleground for nearly a year, there was very little civil mail initially. However, once the front moved north, a postal service became necessary. For a three-month period starting in December 1917, both military and civil mail was handled free of charge at the APOs. Then, on 10 February 1918, the first Palestinian stamp was issued -- a dark blue | piastre denomination inscribed "EEF (Egyptian Expeditionary Force)" -- to pay postage on international letters. BETHLEEM [Palestine | APO SZ44 22 Dec. 1917 7 APO SZA5 _ 5 March 1918 Upper cover shows a cover from Jerusalem to The Netherlands sent free of postage in the appropriate period. This is an early example of such mail, which is very elusive. When EEF stamps became available, they were affixed to letters by the postal clerks at the three main APOs (Bir Salem, Jaffa and Jerusalem) in order to forestall speculation that might cause a stamp shortage. Examples are sought after by collectors of Israel forerunners. PALESTINE Army Post Office SZ44 EEF Franking 24 May 1918 When the initial stamps were exhausted, a second printing was made -- this time in light blue -- and issued on 5 March 1918. A pair was used to pay the 1 piastre international letter rate plus 1 piastre registration from APO SZ44 in Jerusalem to England. PALESTINE Army Post Office SZ45 EEF Franking 21 May 1918 On 16 February 1918 a domestic letter rate was established at 5 milliemes or a half piastre, which required a new stamp of this denomination. To meet this need, some | piastre stamps were surcharged in Arabic and English. One example used here to pay the letter rate (along with 1 piastre for the registry fee) from Jaffa to Jerusalem. \ PALESTINE Army Post Office SZ44 EEF Franking 16 August 1918 — ; =. baal RISE cree Army Post Office SZ32 é : ; C Vor eo 3 March 1919 CARTE POSTA oo Ee Partie réservée a) ay 4 n e in a Correspondance 7-7 Se decal My Fibs y SEM By yas PVEI=fFIWS7 REV. I. M. SINGER Rishon-le-Zion, Palestine. —DHco— As additional denominations of the EEF stamps were needed, a new printing was made in London, with the stamps being perforated rather than rouletted. A 4 milliemes for postcards (shown here used to Malta) was issued on 16 July 1918, and a definitive 5 milliemes on 25 September 1918 to replace the earlier surcharged one for ‘domestic letters (shown here as a pair used from APO SZ32 at Bir Salem to Cairo). PALESTINE Army Post Office SZ44 EEF Franking 30 August 1918 7 November 1918 Additional denominations issued on 16 July 1918 included 2 piastres for international registered letters (shown used from Jerusalem to France) and a 5 piastres high value (used here on an overfranked souvenir cover to OETA Headquarters). PALESTINE Field Post Office SZ30 - Jewish Organizati 26 March 1919 Ramleh/OETA 7 January 1920 eS Various Jewish organizations used both the military and civilian post offices set up in Palestine by the EEF. Upper example was was sent postage free to the U.S. by a member of the Jewish Legion (Pte. Simkin of D Company of the 39th Royal Fusiliers) located at Ludd. Lower example sent internally from the American Mogen David office at Ramleh to Ludd. PALESTINE O.E.T.A. - E.E.F. EEF Franking 4 April 1919 In due course, by the end of 1918 eleven denominations of E.E.F. stamps were issued, ranging from 1 milllieme to 20 piasters. While these were initially used in Palestine, they were eventually placed on sale throughout the former Ottoman territories in the Near East, Including Transjordan, Lebanon, Syria and Cilicia. This philatelic cover franked with the complete set sent to England. PALESTINE OETA Postmarks In December 1918, the British established the OETA (Occupied Enemy Territory Administration) to govern Palestine. To reflect this change, new double-circle datestamps inscribed "O.E.T.A. - E.E.F." were initially placed in use in Jaffa on 14 December and in Haifa and Jerusalem on the 15th. O.E.T.A. - E.E.F./Jerusalem comment cncneen 17 February 1919 = O.E.T.A. - E.E.F./Jaffa a 5 January 1919 = — Sr ee. eee oo. SAFER Upper cover franked with G.B. 2d stamp to pay registry fee (military postage was still free) to England. Lower cover has 1 piastre in EEF stamps to pay international letter rate to Egypt. Note elusive small censor label. PALESTINE OETA EEF/Acre Inbound Mail 12 May 1920 This cover, sent from Northwich to a British officer c/o the Deputy Military Governor of Acre, shows the seldom seen large OETA skeleton cancel of that city used as a receiving mark. It is recorded as being used from September 1919 to July 1920. PALESTINE Field Post Office SZ60 Military Mail 21 February 1919 Nazareth/OET 6 May 1919 EL, O. ee oe ee is, POS T- CARD » Sigg, ee. a of pe ue . Serie 597 CARTE POSTALE Wc a 4 : : Ls Union Postale Universelle © , _POST CARD — WELTPOST-VEREIN | © { MOUTOBBIM KAPT'S. j Postcards sent by the same soldier with earlier example postmarked with FPO SZ60 (at Nazareth) and cachet of Cable Section of the Royal Engineers. Second card sent less than 3 months later has postmark with town name. PALESTINE Army Post Office SZA3 Military Mail 3 August 1919 Army Post Office SZ58 1 March 1919 cocegcecmes Spree REGIST ERED LETTER, THisle TTER MUSTE BE GIVEN TO AN OFFICER OF TH Post OFfice TopBe STERED. AND A RECEIP) OBITAINED FOR IT. THE ADIDRESS MUST BE WRITTEN) ON THIS SIDE. REGIST/ERED. LETTER, £ TuisLett sa mMusr SRrick ee 3 RY Post OFFICE T ore AND ARECEIPY oR, ED FOR i : ay 44 THE AD DRESS MURT BE WRI TTEN| ON THISUSID® \ oe _ - te Sey Le | he 5 WMA, See Essa. “WA. 0 see NIE Oe NA oA ee ooh ‘ Sew WAL OA Son Neoe : ( i = W = oc = Wa sway a ef Stationery envelopes with indicia indicating that 2d registry fee was paid. Upper examples sent from Rafa (Gaza Strip) via APO SZ43 at El Arish in the Sinai. Lower example sent from Jerusalem via APO SZ58 (Palestine - Line of Communications office). PALESTINE Army Post Office SZ44 American Red Cross Mail 24 October 1918 Outbound & Inbound 29 November 1918 THE AMERICAN RED CROSS + COMMISSION TO PALESTINE a) allot sano Lieut. YD) bam : "Ce. DESPAIGHING OFFICER ee e \Ssion ro PS a Ce 1 AY HPI i Official mail of the American Red Cross Commission to Palestine. Upper cover sent unfranked as O.H.M.S. Official Business. Neither the "O.H.M.S." nor the oval "Despatching Officer" handstamp is recorded in the literature. Lower cover sent registered to Major Trowbridge of the ARCC in Jerusalem. PALESTINE EEF Overprints Following agreement on the future mandatory status of Palestine at the San Remo Conference, the British established a civil mandate administration on 1 July 1920. To reflect this change, the earlier EEF stamps were overprinted "Palestine" trilingually (in Arabic, English and Hebrew), which were issued on 1 September 1920. . Sie Corel Jaffa 19 September 1920 E Haifa oC ; 6 July 1922 — : Zz Lae “4a Tiberias 7 March 1922 ae pete ee Sig Mee BS Decne Examples shown on postcard to Gaza, letter to London and registered letter to Italy. Note that references to OETA or EEF no longer appear in the postmarks. PALESTINE Jerusalem EEF Overprints 7 March 1921 9 September 1925 Low value EEF overprints used on printed matter, generally found on fund raising requests from religious groups. TRANSJORDAN As the Allied troops moved to occupy former Ottoman territories in the Palestine area, a small detachment was ordered to advance into what became designated as Transjordan. NEJD TRANSJORDAN I Field Post Office C.12 ~ ee . 14 February 1919 British FPO C.12 operated in Deraa, about 30 miles east of the Sea of Galilee, serving the 12th Cavalry Brigade. This cover represents the only recorded example of the use of this marking in Transjordan. TRANSJORDAN EEF Overprints Occupation stamps issued by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force were overprinted in Arabic "East of Jordan" and issued in November 1920 for use in Transjordan. Amman June 1921 Registered cover to Switzerland with overprints on EEF stamps. Very elusive registration label affixed. TRANSJORDAN Salt EEF Overprints January 1921 2 a) ye rok sia ee Zz ce WY i i sue aceroumestinneereneas INE. PIASTRE Covers from Salt to Jerusalem franked with overprints on EEF stamps. Note that the | piastre dark blue stamps are overprinted in silver so that the new designation would be legible. LEBANON At the time of the Armistice with Turkey on 30 October 1918, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force had advanced through Palestine and Lebanon. Beirut had been captured on 8 October. PALESTINE Field Post Office H21 28 November 1918 ah British FPOs operated in Lebanon only briefly in late 1918 and into 1919 before the area was turned over to the French. The card above was mailed from HQ of the XXI Corps. LEBANON Army Post Office SZ 8 Military Mail 10 November 1918 27 February 1919 A Stationary military postal facility was quickly opened in Beirut (datestamp of SZ 8 recorded from 24 October in Proud). This office remained open until mid-June 1919 when Lebanon was turned over to French authority. LEBANON ; Army Post Office SZ 9 Military Mail 20 November 1918 2 December 1918 eae Tie aaa = a fre wD LS | oe ts a Yeas, EASE POSTALE [i fsa L, A 4 4 Michet A. David, Tripoli (Syrie). ieee ; Ky | D9303 12 REGISTERED LETTER, THISLETTER MUST! BE GIVEN TO AN OFFICER OFTHE Ff Post OFFice TO; 8E REGISTERED, AND A RECEIPT ¢/, OB TAINED FOR IT ; sno i ae ye pe : | THE AD|DRESS MUST BE WRITTEN, ON THIS SIDE. A further stationary military postal facility was opened in Tri poli, the second most important city in Lebanon. (Proud records SZ 9 from 24 October 1918 to 20 June 1919.) LEBANON EEF Franking During the British presence in Lebanon, civil mail was franked with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force adhesives. Firebrace reports these were used in Lebanon from 21 October 1918 to September 1920. Tripoli Syrie 7 February 1919 Beyrouth 28 March 1919 3 June 1919 pee ee i 2. Ee) Covers from Tripoli and Beirut with EEF stamps. The upper example pays 1 piastre for an international letter and the middle one an additional 1 piastre for registration. Lower example shows the complete set of EEF stamps used on a philatelic registered letter to Egypt. SYRIA At the time of the Armistice with Turkey on 30 October 1918, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force had advanced through Lebanon and into Syria as far north as Aleppo. Damascus had been captured on 30 September, TURKEY SYRIA IRAQ TRANSJORDAN Army Post Office SZ62 22 May 1919 This new British military post office was set up in Damascus, with SZ62 recorded from 23 October 1918 to 24 June 1919, closing when Syria was turned over to French authority. SYRIA Field Post Office D.C.5 Military Mail 9 February 1919 Field post office D.C.5 (HQ Sth Cavalry Division) operated in Syria from early October 1918. It is recorded used at Aleppo from 26 October 1918 to 3 March 1919. Registered cover with EEF stamps mailed by a Captain Davidson to a fellow officer in Egypt through the civil post office in Aleppo. (Receiving mark of FPO SZ11 at Mustapha Barracks on 9 April. SYRIA EEF Franking During the British presence in Syria, civil mail was franked with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force adhesives. Firebrace reports these were used there from 21 September 1918 to 23 February 1922. Army Post Office SZ22 4 Dec. 1918 Damas 23 Nov. 1919 Covers from Aleppo (through APO SZ22) and the civil post office in Damascus with EEF stamps paying | piastre for an international letter and an additional 1 piastre for registration. CILICIA A small detachment of British troops advanced into southern Anatolia in November 1918 following the Turkish surrender. The British occupation lasted until January 1920, when the area was turned over to the French. In turn, the French evacuated Cilicia in favor of the Turkish nationalists in November 1921. Army Post Office SZ50 21 February 1919 British Army Post Office SZ50 was established at Mersine, and its postmark is recorded as used from | November 1918 to | March 1919. Examples are very elusive, even with philatelic franking, as the British offices were replaced by Indian FPOs early in 1919. Z a CILICIA aan . Field Post Office C.13 Military Mail 16 January 1919 Field Post Office 310 15 January 1919 Naececre et OT British FPO C.13 was located at Aintab, Cilicia from November 1918 until March 1919. However, in early 1919, the British offices were replaced by Indian Army facilities, such as FPO 310 shown on the lower cover. Postage was free, but the registry fee was paid by affixing 2d or its equivalent in adhesives, including the mixed 1.E.F./British franking shown on the lower cover. CILICIA F.P.O. No. 7 Military Mail 12 May 1919 F.P.O. No. 97 5 May 1919 Several Indian post offices operated in Cilicia in 1919. FPO 7 operated at Aintab from 22 February to 8 December 1919. FPO 97 served Amanus Camp, near Mersina, in May and June 1919. Se CILICIA EEF Franking Occupation stamps issued by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force were used in various parts of Turkey during the early postwar period. They are recorded (Firebrace) as used in Cilicia from 2 September 1919 to 16 July 1920. Adana 24 October 1919 Examples shown here are used from Adana on a registered letter and parcel address card. CILICIA EEF Franking Examples shown here are used from Mersine on an overseas letter and parcel address card. Ee oe ea Mersine 9 September 1919 10 September 1919 TWO PIASTRES If CILICIA ; Tarsous EEF Franking 12 November 1919 EEF occupation stamps shown here paying | piastre surface rate from Tarsous to Chicago. wis YEMEN This outpost of the Ottoman Empire was located on the Red Sea at the southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It was cut off from the rest of the Turkish possessions by the Arab uprising in Hedjaz so did not warrant the attention of the Allies during the war. However, in 1919-1920 a small contingent of Indian troops was sent there pending the selection of a new ruler. F.P.O. No. 330 1 February 1920 20 October 1920 Only a handful of examples of mail have been recorded from Yemen. Most such items were sent through FPO 330 at Hodeida, where the postmark is recorded from 5 October 1919 to 20 October 1920 (LRD shown above). YEMEN F.P.O, No. 324 15 October 1919 Stampless "On Field Service" cover to London with extremely elusive marking of FPO 324 located at Sheikh Othman in the Aden Protectorate. The cover originated at the Orderly Room of the Ist Yemen Infantry (likely in Sanaa, which did not have its own field post office). The oval strike with the designation of this group is considered one of the most "impossible to find" military markings of the period. TURKEY Following the surrender of Turkey on 30 October 1918, Allied forces on the Salonica Front quickly advanced eastward and occupied key points in the former enemy nation, occupying Constantinople on 13 November. Field Post Office 84 26 February 1919 Field Post Office 85 17 December 1918 MIBY OY REI eRe | ae I SS pra Correspondance Editeurs ® Galata, 49445 At first, the same postmarks were employed that had been used in Greece, as examples shown from Chanak, Gallipoli and Constantinople, respectively. Sx TURKEY Military Mail The GHQ of the British Salonica Force moved to Constantinople in December 1918 and the name of the group was changed to the Army of the Black Sea on 13 May 1919. Army Post Office Y 28 March 1919 Army Post Office Y1 14 September 1920 15 November 1920 yo **8 On His Majesty’s Service: om a i oe oa ¢ Foy » es A new base post office, designated "Y," was opened and is recorded from 27 March 1919 to 12 February 1920. APO YI was a suboffice at Chanak for the processing of mail from detachments in locations without their own offices. The double-circle version of its cds was used only briefly from 2 October to 15 November 1920. TURBEW Field Post Office H.12 Military Mail 16 January 1919 Field Post Office D.28 11 August 1919 Additional examples of FPOs that moved with the forces from Greece into Turkey. Examples shown above are H.12, which acted as base post office on the quay in Constantinople until 16 March 1919, and D.28 at Moda. TURKEY Army Post Office Y2 Military Mail , 21 July 1919 25 February 1920 17 May 1920 APO Y2 was designated as a stationary office under base Y. Its datestamp originally read SY2 but later versions used Y2 -- with differing spacing between the "Y" and "2." TURKEY Army Post Office Y3 Military Mail 2 July 1920 Army Post Office Y4 15 December 1919 “APO Y3 and Y4 were further stationary offices under base Y. They were located in Bostanji and Galata, respectively. On 2 July 1920, the RAF made an experimental flight from Batum to Constantinople, where mail was postmarked on arrival. (The above Y3 example is stated to be one of only two covers carried on this flight.) TURKEY Army Post Office S.X.3 30 June 1919 Because of the inefficiency of the Ottoman postal service, commercial mail was permitted to be sent through the British APOs in Constantinople if properly franked, as was the case of the above registered cover on which postage was paid at 2 1/2d for an international letter and 2d for the registration fee. TURKEY ; British A.P.O/Constantinople 29 September 1919 5 April 1920 _ Stamboul, Rue Meydan Because of the high demand for civil mail service, a special post office named "British APO Constantinople" was opened. Its postmark is recorded from July 1919 to September 1920 (by Kennedy & Crabb). TURKEY se . Field Post Office 400 Military Mail 16 December 1920 27 December 1920 The @ L / c ss / 4 a All of the British FPOs in Turkey were closed by 30 November 1920, so the postal needs of the remaining British troops were served by Indian FPOs (established originally to serve the Indian units in the British 28th Division). The enclosure of the lower cover is datelined "Russian Refuge Camp/Touzla" and notes that postage is no longer free and must now be paid (at | anna for post cards and 2 annas for the first ounce on letters). TURKEY ; F.P.O. No. 415 Royal Air Force Mail 4 February 1921 Cover sent from the RAF Seaplane Base in Constantinople through Indian FPO 415 at Haidar Pasha. Only a few RAF covers are known from Turkey. , ae TURKEY . London Naval Mail. 19 September 1921 oe enema aiaanaieenan = ‘ —_ Registéred letter sent from H.M.S. Julius to England. Provisional registration label affixed with manuscript "M.M.O. C'pl. (Maritime Mail Office/Constantinople)." Carried by naval pouch to London, where it was placed in the mail stream. A very elusive usage, not previously seen by exhibitor. TURKEY Military Mail In May 1922, when the war between Greece and Turkey posed a threat to Allied positions around Constantinople, additional forces were sent and a new series of numbered field post offices established. Field Post Office 11 17 March 1923 Field Post Office 12 7 November 1922 en it pe Ce OOO A OEE OSE OEMS FPO 11 at Haidar Pasha is recorded from 29 May 1922 to 6 June 1923. FPO 12 was at Chanak from November 1922 to 18 September 1923. TURKEY : Field Post Office 14 Military Mail 14 November 1922 Field Post Office 15 6 June 1923 7 FPO 14: at GHQ Constantinople is recorded from 20 November 1922 to 24 September 1923. FPO 15 was at Kelia from 17 February to 6 June 1923. All occupation forces were withdrawn after the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on 24 July 1923. TURKEY : British Post Office/Constantinople Inbound Mail June 1922 Cover from Moscow franked with 50,000 rubles postage of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic to a British Captain at the Ciphers Office at the GHQ of the Allied Occupation Forces in Constantinople. Transit markings of Port Said, Egypt and Larnaca, Cyprus as well as the Turkish offices in Pera and Pancalti. A highly unusual usage. PART II -- THE OTHER CENTRAL POWERS AUSTRIA Following the Armistice with Austria-Hungary, one British battalion was selected from the forces then in Italy and sent into the Austria as part of the Allied occupation. This unit was stationed in the town of Imst in the Tirol from 28 November 1918 to April 1919. Army Post Office R.7 7 December 1918 Field Post Office F.D.3 20 January 1919 Lacking local field post facilities, mail was taken back to either the 7th Division Railhead or a Field Distribution | center in Italy for postmarking, as per the examples above. - AUSTRIA . Naval Transport Office/Trieste 17 February 1919 ' j : = ‘ = 4 was bk be DN British Naval Transport Offices operated in a number of major ports in Italy, expediting the inflow of supplies. Such activities were expended to Trieste, the primary Austrian port on the Adriatic, after the armistice. Cachets of these units are scarce and sought after by collectors of naval mail. AUSTRIA ; Danube Commission September 1919 3 March 1920 re ‘ Official mail from the occupation authorities set up by the Allies was carried by military pouch to the War Office in London, where it was transferred to the postal service. Above are examples of covers from regulatory bodies in Vienna for control of the Danube River. AUSTRIA | Vienna ao ae Ae ee Se ca : 27 January 1920 = 23 ae ae me = 3 October 1920 _ VIENNA EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND. WIEN 1V., ALLEEGASSE 14. 20. Dr.Hilda Clark, , +1 0/0 the Society of Friends, 16 Singerstrasse, VIE A 1, Inter-Allied Food Commission British Delegation a Food and fuel were in very short supply in Vienna at the end of the war. Organizations such as the Interallied Food Mission and the Vienna Emergency Relief Fund were set up to provide humanitarian aid to the populace. Examples of mail from these personnel are shown above. AUSTRIA . Interallied Food Mission/Vienna 1919-1920 British Railway Mission/Vienna 27 January 1920 ess SET Se Sunt cael eda: ae Aa F aS i : f i | | | Additional examples of mail from personnel involved in the British relief activities, including the British Railway Mission. Such mail was sent by diplomatic bag to London and then turned over to the postal authorities. | | | HUNGARY Although not involved in an organized occupation force, the British had military and relief personnel in Hungary. Army Post Office L.14 20 March 1919 Upper picture post card of Budapest was written in Budapest and forwarded to Fiume for processing at APO L.14. Lower card from an English pilot states that he is "living in a castle with a Croatian count" and that he and another officer are in charge of this large village (Nemetujvar) in the plebiscite area of West Hungary, which was disputed between Hungary and Austria, HUNGARY Budapest 23 September 1920 4 February 1921 In addition to military personnel, British commercial and humanitarian organizations were active in Hungary following the war. Upper cover has cachet of the "British Commercial Commissioner/Budapest." The lower cover is from a member of the "British Relief Unit/Famine Relief Fund" in Budapest. HUNGARY Budapest January 1920 This cover sent by diplomatic pouch from Budapest to England via Vienna. It has the cachet of the "British Representative/Interallied Commission/Budapest." Backstamped for receipt in Stamford on 6 January 1920. HUNGARY Budapest Danube Flotilla 1 November 1919 Gibraltar 25 April 19(20?) The Allies had gunboats patrolling the Danube from Budapest as well as Vienna. Upper card (picture of Budapest) was sent by a sailor on HMS Aphis to England. Lower card (picture of Bucharest) is from a sailor on HMS Mersey at Gibraltar en route from the Danube home to Plymouth. HUNGARY ; Army Post Office F.D.1 Fiume : 22 December 1918 British Naval Transport Office/Fiume 26 March 1919 Following the armistice with Austria-Hungary, Allied forces occupied key points around the Adriatic. Some of the British went to Fiume, the principal Hungarian port. Mail from these troops was sent back through the existing system in Italy. Note two types of special cachets for the Naval Office, both highly unusual. BULGARIA Following the surrender of Bulgaria on 30 September 1918, Allied forces on the Salonica Front quickly advanced and occupied key points in the former enemy nation. Field Post Office 77 28 January 1919 FPO 77 was located at Ruschuk from 17 November 1918 to 1 April 1919. T.26 was the FPO for the 26th Division at Varna. Lower post card sent by sailor on British warship from Varna to England. BULGARIA a Army Post Office SX 21 Military Mail 4 December 1918 ease a aa Field Post Office 77 8 December 1918 Tera Army Post Office S.X.5 19 December 1918 Examples of mail from the British forces using the army post offices in Sofia (the S.Xs), as well as the field post office for the 77th Brigade of the 26th Division in Rustchuk. BULGARIA Sofia January 1919 22 August 1921 ane Wee a ee S PU | Je Laan pe 7 2 Pp ele ee Gt Examples of covers from the international supervisory commissions in Sofia,. Upper example of official cover with the cachet of the British Military Representative; Lower example is from British member of the Interallied Commission for Bulgaria. GERMANY The first elements of the British Army of Occupation entered Germany on 1 December 1918 and soon established Cologne as the headquarters for their occupation zone of the Rhineland. resem . acelin spammer ai SROwS ETRY Sen re a hepepcenern Field Post Office T.12 31 December 1918 Field Post Office 165 13 January 1919 220 Field Post Office H.C.1 14 January 1919 ae ¥ fea! Fe po Fe I i fe 4 (Siden tE eG. oe Ree ae — a Ludwig Bremer, Stra8burg i. E. In the initial period extending through January and February, mail was postmarked with the field postmarks brought along from Belgium and France. FPO T.12-was used by the 6th Division stationed near Bonn and 165 was used by the Guards Division at Cologne. Cachets of specific military units are unusual; cover with H.f.1 has the marking od the Deputy Assistant Directorsof Postal Services for the V Corps in Cologne. GERMANY Army Post Office R.62 6 January 1919 Army Post Office $.120 21 May 1919 Army Post Office G.R 2 July 1920 In addition to the Field Post Offices, which often moved from place to place with the troops, there were stationary offices called Army Post Offices. APO R.62 (62nd Division) was stationed at Schleiden and S. 120 at Duren. G.R (German Railhead) was located n the main railway station at Cologne; it processed the registered cover which originated with the Interallied Control Commission at Munster. GERMANY Military Mail Field Post Office 49 21 January 1919 Field Post Office D.2. 19 February 1919 i ‘Koln ah nC Tt Pa Field Post Office D.1. ~~ eee * a 19 March 1919 2 che Buch- u. Kunsthandl. (Ferd. Sohn; 3604. Nr. My Darr, ED) pt ‘ i Segreel Grn Mes lor D. las es eet “Kd a. amy Opec Palio PP pe eg eae Ba ee z omens. ae =— EG. 42046 More than 200 different postmarks were used by the British Army of Occupation in Germany, some for very brief periods. FPO 49 was used by the 2nd Division during January, but a new D.2. postmark was issued in the following month. D.1. was used by the 1st Division at Bonn during February and March 1919. GERMANY Army Post Office $.40 18 December 1919 Military Mail — 5 July 1920 13 February 1921 APO S.40 served personnel engaged in a wide variety of administrative functions of the occupation, including the Military Permit Office, Command Pay Office and Liaison Office. Each of these had their own cachet for use on mail, permitting it to be sent free until 24 August 1920 and thereafter at domestic rates. GERMANY Military Mail 29 August 1921 19 December 1920 APO S.40 at Cologne served as the base post office for the entire BAOR. Most of the FPOs had been closed down by November 1919 as the size of the occupation forces was sharply reduced, although a few remained in operation until February or March 1920. Mail of the occupation troops could be sent free of postage until 25 August 1920, when domestic postal rates (then 2d for surface letters and 3d for airmail) was required. GERMANY . Field Post Office H.9 Military Mail 19 June 1919 Field Post Office 88 24 June 1919 Field Post Office H.6 22 December 1919 = dees Aah y de hell ey ig fp) gee doaeed a a ae Be In preparation for the demobilization of a substantial portion of the forces, on 2 April 1919 the occupation troops were renamed the British Army on the Rhine (BAOR), and this designation soon showed up in return addresses. FPO 88 was used by the Southern Division at Coblenz. H.6 was at the HQ of VI Corps at Dtiren and H.9 at HQ of the IX Corps at Euskirchen. GERMANY , Army Post Office S.40 Military Mail 13 December 1919 . 13 March 1920 19 December 1920 Pm ce ALS aa So “= 15S MAR20 Li” scat Administrative markings related to specific activities in Cologne, including the City Commissioner and two different types for the Munitions Disposal Board. GERMANY Military Mail Army Post Office S.40 22 October 1919 20 May 1920 14 June 1921 IY pun usJapyig ‘wiayong UOA SssiUYoiaZi9y, a osuin uajexisodisun Aw 4. mlung 10. Am Rhein Ii. Folge Ge ee Oo. oe =e —- Oe yp WISHES eee] : FoR iM g Wes vypsuy = Ase hove Other unit cachets used from the forces in Cologne included the Inter-Allied Railway Commission, General Staff Intelligence and the Local Commission for the British Occupation Zone. GERMANY Military Mail Det” cf. E = te ; Dy neiporetedian Briticl bry oftta Wie | Gesncsy fr mat Mo Auth Yeas. Army Post Office S.40 10 August 1920 Se) 20 December 1920 _ 8 September 1923 Sam seroliio wuaphh| —"Sfoyetzn debit Hope wif ancl oy) —— oe About Me, Lass eas Thy | orator a | Lotse7 Asesa fs Lowe Geen ee Lhao- otly Ha stop fan ‘No AWG AND Sma Peed Pe ee a= Ss ee Bella Se é To care for the spiritual needs of the troops, special personnel were assigned to the occupation forces. Items above reflect mail from the Principal Chaplain and Principal Matron of the BAOR, as well as the "Imperial War Graves Commission/Rhine Army." GERMANY Army Post Office $.40 Military Mail 16 March 1920 31 July 1920 2 November 1920 Additional functional activities of the occupation forces having their own individual cachets included the General Staff, Mechanical Transportation Department and Rhine Army Dairy Farm (!) GERMANY Field Post Office 5 Military Mail 3 May 1919 Army Post Office S.40 12 September 1927 Use of registration postal stationery by the BAOR. FPO 5 was used by the 5th Brigade of the Light Division from December 1918 to November 1919. GERMANY Army Post Office S.40 Inbound Mail to BAOR December 1921 27 November 1929 SET en one é Hot yitf ’ ee... Ca hy . Lita Salads op ad ci A el a Inbound mail to members of the British occupation forces is elusive, especially from non-British sources. This probably reflects the fact that the soldiers would not normally save the letters once they had answered them. Above examples are from the Italian fieldpost office in Smyrna, Turkey and from a German civilian. GERMANY Royal Air Force Mail As an early experiment with airmail, the RAF flew some soldiers' mail by air from Cologne to Folkestone in © 1919. Service C commenced on 16 March and operated on a daily basis (except for holidays) until 30 August. This card is an example of flown mail with manuscript note "...to go by aeroplane post tomorrow," Hiatt COG Wh. and Hig KoA G a and Mae Phototypie VassperiibR. Wantes yyen ho Wt é j; O/, Army Post Office S.40 2 July 1919 Field Post Office C.1. 28 July 1919 Postcard sent to London through APO S.40 in Cologne by a member of the No. 2 Balloon Wing of the RAF. Identified mail from RAF personnel is elusive and sought after by aviation collectors. Bag tag for mail to be dropped at Cologne in the event that weather forced the plane to land elsewhere. GERMANY Naval Mail An Allied delegation was sent to Heligoland to supervise the destruction of the fortifications on that strategic island in the North Sea. Cachet of the Heligoland Sub-Commission is shown on a cover sent by a Captain in the Royal Navy. Hamburg 4 May 1919 Helgoland 3 March 1921 Kiel 29 May 1920 British personnel engaged in humanitarian activities. This picture postcard of Hamburg endorsed "Sailor's Mail" was carried by pouch to London where it was marked "Received from H. M. Ship" and placed in the mail stream. Message states that the S.S. Lake Linden had “arrived with a cargo of flour for the relief of the City." Another Allied Commission was directed to supervise the destruction of the fortifications at the naval base in Kiel. This card has the cachet of the Fortification Sub-Commission. GERMANY Army Post Office S.40 Naval Mail Mail from the British representatives on the naval control commissions with both special cachet of the president of the commission and printed return address. The upper example has censorship initials “E.C.” for Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Charlton. GERMANY , Army Post Office S.40 Rhine Flotilla 10 January 1919 aur ey ORE Se a é wi ; : 17 July 1922 Turik elle : . pe cea aa 2 is ee MR Sd The occupation forces included a flotilla of motor launches that patrolled the Rhine from their base at Cologne. Mail from the Rhine Flotilla received a special oval cachet and could be sent via APO S.40 or the German civil post office. Covers with this marking are especially prized by collectors of naval mail. BRITISH FORCES A. P.O. S.40 Military Mission in Berlin 16 September 1919 2 semniaeincancaie = ; : ; a _... Army Courier Office S.5 oes Dee ee a 18 January 1921 Although most occupation activity took place in the Rhineland, some Allied administrative functions were conducted in Berlin. No fieldpost office was established so mail was marked with the cachet of the British Military Mission and either sent via the Army Courier Service or carried by pouch to Cologne where it entered the normal mail stream. GERMANY i Army Post Office $.40 Military Mission in Berlin 30 January 1920 13 February 1920 Berla— Kitser-FriedietMussom_ og a We Orit kaver Bieeherpoygene RGD Ne = ' a Se. fa et | A Sn ay : 0 Qe EN a es ee Cee Ff Piatloy Sttlrriel ; : i tte, 7 =o 6 ss nena « : *. es Berlin — Kgl. Schauspieihaus t Bo BERLIN. Tae oh f tare é Picture postcards of Berlin sent without and with (probably High Commission Office/Berlin) unit cachets via APO S.40 in Cologne. BRITISH FORCES Essen Occupation of the Ruhr 17 July 1920 Army Post Office $.40 14 October 1920 Con ait ale er) {ysl Ral es S441 COO } Krtededins Ac oe | Se soos arene svecenseen pe ecegtantatet the ' Zeche ver, Salzer und Nenack, r i | i 2 ae z is cies 2 i: = i a i Miss Lena Patt ergon, an ' ‘ ” a AAG Hetty: 1 Hake = ea sice Lay ‘ Lf . Ak a : : 2 ESSEN COAL _ BURE AU | vu. Ula 1920 = E ‘ (Rep aration fommission) 3 = 5 When Germany fell behind in reparations payments, Allied forces were sent to occupy the industrially-important Ruhr Valley. Additional field post facilities were not opened. Thus, mail was either sent through the German civil post office or forwarded to APO S.40 at Cologne for processing. GERMANY Army Post Office S.40 Interallied Rhineland High Commission 12 March 1920 Most of the activity of the Interallied Control Commission was centered in Cologne. Thus, the cachet of the Rhineland High Commission was widely used on mail processed by APO S.40 in that city. GERMANY Army Post Office S.40 Interallied Rhineland High Commission 3 March 1922 7 December 1926 Postal Address Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission British Department. Box 204. - A. P. O. S/40 British Army of the Rhine. Additional examples of High Commission mail. The cover with imprinted return address is most unusual, being the only one seen by exhibitor. GERMANY Army Post Office $.40 Armaments Sub-Commissions 23 July 1920 9 March 1921 The Inter-Allied Control Commission had branches in several cities in Germany. Above examples show cachets of the Armaments Sub-Commisions in Hannover, Frankfurt and Cologne -- all mailed through the British APOs in Cologne. GERMANY Armaments Sub-Commission Stuttgart 22 June 1920 Army Courier Office S.5 4 25 August 1920 Additional offices of the Sub- commission were opened in S Dusseldorf and Stuttgart. Examples of mail from these subsidiary offices is elusive GERMANY Armaments Sub-Commission Army Post Office G.R. 27 July 1921 Official O.H.M.S. cover from the Armaments Sub- Commission in Munster. Mailed registered through the G.R. (German Railhead) military post office in Cologne. The Registration label inscribed "A.P.O. G.R." is very elusive, with only a few examples recorded. GERMANY Inter-Allied Aeronautical Commission Army Post Office $.40 16 December 1919 Miinchen waa hn ee ee 2 March 1920 oe ee ©.P Ketonantical. Inte ‘ ; Army Courier Service S.5 os 46DEC1919- —— 17 January 1921 a BEB Commission Contrel on « 6é 4 = evonautical Inte Jo x ees Le eo Ge LAr Ooon, Gray bo Sa ae . a Unc ong ton db FULL The Control Commission operated a small aeronautical section in Berlin, but there was also a small sub- commission supervising the closing down of warplane factories in Bavaria. Mail showing unit cachets of this organization is very elusive, with only five examples being recorded from the British delegates. | GERMANY Army Post Office S.40 | Inter-Allied Aeronautical Commission 30 January 1920 Stuttgart 7 February 1920 Army Courier Office S.5 30 May 1920 Several varieties exist of the cachets used by the aeronautical section of the Control Commission. These were used in various offices of this organization, nearly all in 1920 and 1921. GERMANY Army Post Office S.40 Late Usage of Military Mail 28 September 1927 2 July 1929 26 September 1929 The occupation of Germany officially ended on 30 June 1930. However, most of the activity of the various commissions was completed long before; most of the troops had returned home and APO S.40 at Cologne was the final military post office. (However, as shown by the middle item, the Interallied Rhineland High Commission was still conducting business as late as 1929.) Occupation items from the late period are seldom seen. ALLENSTEIN The first British troops assigned to keep order during the preparation for and carrying out of the Plebiscite in Allenstein arrived at the beginning of February 1920. This territory, consisting of roughly the lower half of East Prussia, was heavily populated by ethnic Germans, so it was not expected that there would be much sentiment to join Poland. The actual vote was held on 11 July 1920, and 97% favored remaining with Germany. The troops and officials supervising the plebiscite left soon thereafter. See a a eR parse z Re PO ae 2 ‘Se [ee jieteen ye? yobnwd, Wr | Athen slén FPO S.120 was established to handle the mail of the British troops and officials. This postmark is recorded as used from 7 February to 13 August 1920. The upper cover was sent by Sir Ernest Rennie, president of the Interallied Commission, to his wife in England. Lower cover franked as a souvenir with the 1 mark stamp overprinted for Allenstein by an officer. Unit cachets show both serifed and sans-serif lettering. ALLENSTEIN Interallied Commission British Forces Examples of cachets inscribed “Commission of Administration and the Plebiscite/Treaty of Versailles/Allenstein.” Long cover sent by Major David-Dells, who was in charge of the communications office, to Lt. Col. Hills, Acting Deputy Supervisor of Transport in Danzig. It bears a cachet with “Communications” not previously recorded in the literature. Note cachet with “Police” on the other cover. BRITISH FORCES Allenstein Bischofsburg 6 May 1920 Official cover with cachet of the "Commission of Administration and the Plebiscite/Allenstein/Treaty of Versailles." On the reverse, there is a similar cachet with "Police" in the center. Sent to the British Secretary of the Inter-Allied Commission at the Admini- Strative HQ in Allenstein City. ALLENSTEIN ll i Inbound to Allied Railway Commission Allenstein 20 May 1920 MARIENWERDER The Allied administrators of the Plebiscite arrived in Marienwerder on 17 February 1920. The actual voting to determine whether the inhabitants wanted this territory at the southwest corner of East Prussia to remain with Germany or join Poland was scheduled for 11 July. The sentiment to remain German was very strong and amounted to 92% of the total. The troops and officials supervising the plebiscite left soon thereafter. SOY SO Sy Se FPO H.2. at Danzig handled the mail of the British troops and officials. Two special cachets were applied to letters; these were inscribed “Interallied Commission of Government and Plebiscite/Marienwerder” and “Allied Administrative Commission/British Section/Marienwerder, East Prussia. BRITISH FORCES Field Post Office H.2. Marienwerder 15 May 1920 25 July 1920 Although postage was not required on mail from British soldiers at this time, some of the men wanted to use the special Marienwerder stamps as souvenirs on their letters home. These were dutifully cancelled at the FPO and sent on their way in the examples shown above. MARIENWERDER Deutsch-Eylau 9 March 1920 lrG. DR.Bennett RE S| Commission Inter Allee ode Chemins ad Fer “o.oG Piers Brikish Pemy oF Ke Rhine. This envelope, showing the large cachet for the Allied Regulatory Commission, was sent from Deutsch- Eylau to the British Headquarters in Cologne. Polish postage had been applied but was not required for official mail. SCHLESWIG The first of the plebiscites to be held around Germany was in Schleswig, the northernmost province. There, the voting was held in two segments: the northern part on 10 February 1920 and the southern on 14 March. The results were nearly a mirror image, with the north voting to join Denmark by 75% and the south to remain with Germany by 80%. The official transfer of the northern territory took place on 15 June 1920. er SO ae Hf tes AA a sands LESVIG Slesvi 2, ORTOFRE! om REBEVED FROME SHE Yhy NprpAeer Re kt erent f ‘ ash NO CHARGE K Lei The British troops and officials could send mail free of postage, but no fieldpost office was opened for this territory. However, it was necessary for letters and cards to be struck with official cachets to obtain this service. | Those above include the the Press Bureau and two types of International Commission markings. | SCHLESWIG Postage stamps were prepared for use by civilians in Schleswig as well as to pay fees on International Commission mail. The first set consisted of pictorials inscribed in Danish but denominated in pfennigs and marks. These were issued on 25 January 1920. Flensburg 2 March 1920 Zoe Covers franked with various denominations of the first pictorial stamps issued for Schleswig, including the highest denominations on a value declared letter. SCHLESWIG Flensburg 22 February 1920 Re ee ee es - 23 February 1920 Za Mucbefel® PLEBISCIT SLESVIG | Srl YOu Grpetlrichy titer /¢ C20 tng, aualefrarse 10.88) 5 Registered covers prepared philatelically for sending to collectors in Germany franked with the Plebiscite stamps, including the 5 mark high value. SCHLESWIG A vote was taken on 10 February 1920 in the northern half of the province (Zone 1), with 75% favoring joining Denmark. This caused a second set of stamps denominated in Danish currency and overprinted "1 Zone" to be issued on 20 May. Tondern 29 May 1920 2 June 1920 a . G Bae Fe Registered covers franked with various denominations of the second pictorial stamps issued for Schleswig, including a pair of 15 ore on a COD letter. BRITISH FORCES Flensburg Schleswig 23 __ 1920 Slesvig Commission Internationale. FLENSBURG. The mail of the Allied Plebiscite Commission was designated with either a special cachet or printed corner card. On 26 January 1920, a small quantity of the German-denominated stamps was overprinted "C-I-S" for the International Schleswig Commission. The use of these stamps on cover is very uncommon. UPPER SILESIA The last of the plebiscites to be held around Germany in this period was in Upper Silesia, where the territory was disputed with Poland. The voting took place in March 1921 with the overall result being 60% in favor of Germany. However, the preference was heavily for Poland in certain districts. As a result, the Allies decided to divide the territory, with the western portion remaining with Germany and the eastern going to Poland. Initially, there was no British fieldpost service in the territory so mail was forwarded by the Army Courier Office in Berlin. Later, APO S64 was opened in Tarnowitz. Cachets on the covers above are for the Inter-allied Commission and the British Silesian Force. BRITISH FORCES Upper Silesia wae Oppeln 20 March 1921 Beuthen 18 October 1920 On occasion, generally when addressed locally, official mail was sent through the German post office operating in Upper Silesia and franked with the special stamps issued by it. Two examples are shown, including one with an adhesive overprinted to commemorate the Plebiscite and valid for postage only on that day. BRITISH FORCES Kattowitz Upper Silesia 6 November 1920 24 March 1921 CONTROLLER AEE. 199 ‘ Official covers of the Inter-Allied Commission, showing two different markings of the Controller of Railways. BRITISH FORCES Oppeln Upper Silesia — 21 July 1920 ra cmon | - Sa _ oT Army Post Office S.40 ae a 4 2 August 1921 SOB SO ae OPPELN. Synagoge und Eisha The card above was sent in 1920 through the civil post office in Oppeln by a member of the British Section of the Allied Administrative Commission in Upper Silesia, with the appropriate cachet. The cover below was sent from the rail transport office Regulatory Station in Oppeln. It went by military pouch to Cologne, where it entered the mails at APO S.40. BRITISH FORCES Army Post Office S.120 Upper Silesia 11 June 1922 13 June 1922 __ REGIST ERED LETTER, ETTER MUST; 6E GIVEN TO AN See r OFFICE TOL BSE REGISTERED, ANDA RECEI a" o: er 2 OB} TAINED FOR IT. oh THE AD|DRESS MUST BE 2% MAUTTEN) OR 11S BE. fic? é HeupentiAk ee Co fre a Ee Hor Bern BARS LON DOW EC / an Ee .Awo, 2 As a result of the plebiscite, which came out about 60% for Germany and 40% for Poland, the Allies decided to partition the territory. APO #8.120 is recorded used at Oppeln in the sector allocated to Germany from April 1921 to June 1922. Printed matter envelope above has marking of "D.A.D.R.T. (Deputy Assistant Director of Railway Transport)/Upper Silesia." Registered mail (LRD above) from this period is very unusual. UPPER SILESIA Beuthen 10 September 1920 In April 1920, German official stamps were overprinted “C.G.H.S. (Commission du Gouvernement Haute Silesie)” for use by the various Allied-controlled administrative bodies in the territory. SAAR The final chapter of the British military presence in Germany in the aftermath of World War I was a plebiscite held in the Saar territory on 13 January 1935 after 20 years of French occupation. The inhabitants were given the chance to vote to join Germany or France or to remain independent under the League of Nations. Some 1,500 British troops were sent (along with Dutch, Italian and Swedish forces) to oversee the voting. FPO 10 was established to provide a postal service for them between December 1934 and February 1935. Field Post Office 10 21 February 1935 Registered letter sent internally by a member of the British Saar Force to another member at Saarbricken. Postage was 4 1/2 pence, the same as if it had been mailed domestically in the United Kingdom. SAAR a : Saarbriicken Military Mail 13 January 1935 17 January 1935 Heute cng = a Volksabstimmung i im Saargebiet a British mail could be sent through the civilian Saar post offices if postage was paid in local stamps. These examples show two different cachets of the Headquarters of the British Saar Force. Upper cover has the special commemorative postmark used only on the day the plebiscite was held, 13 January 1935. SAAR Field Post Office 10 Official Mail 25 December 1934 Official O.H.M.S. cover sent | = 7 within the Saar Territory. It has : « x)? _ 3 ~S AS , the uncommon unit cachet of : . x the "Saar Force/Headquarters" ~e NAN g 7 applied at lower left. Mailed Ok y and apparently processed on us ft Christmas Day. SAAR to Field Post Office 10 Inbound Military Mail 23 January 1935 21 February 1935 ee Tae RR, SAAR, PLEBISCITE FORCE, los, 5S | pe Strasee 15 SEGA See Inbound mail to the Saar Force is unusual, with registered examples being even more so. Upper cover sent from England to Saarbrucken, where it was received two days later. Lower example sent from FPO 10 to England and then returned to the Saar as the addressee's unit had been assigned there. A most unusual usage. SAAR Field Post Office 10 Military Mail 21 February 1935 Final Day of British Military Postal Service in Germany The Saarlanders voted over 90% to rejoin Germany. Accordingly, the troops supervising the plebiscite were withdrawn after the administrative work was completed. The last day in service for FPO 10 was 21 February, and the above cover -- endorsed with the cachet of the Commander of the Royal Lancers -- was sent on the final day of usage.