The President's Cup Competition shall consist of an entry of 9 sheets on any subject matter covered by the aims of the Society (i.e. the pos

This is a display by MPHS member Kurt Stauffer of Prisoner of War mail from Stalag 17B. Stalag 17B was a major Nazi prisoner-of-war camp near Gneixendorf, Austria, primarily holding American airmen NCOs (downed aircrews) from 1943 to 1945.

Presented by Regis Hoffman This was the winning entry in the 2026 John Daynes Plate Competition from Regis Hoffman. The display showed the postal history from Nyasaland Field Force (N.F.F.) that was involved with military operations and occupation of south-western German East Africa during World War I.  This was his first entry in our competitions and so hearty congratulations - well done!  This entry was also shown at our joint meeting with the East Africa Study Circle the f

14th February 2026 – John Daynes’ Plate 15-page Competition (am) and a general discussion on the future of the Society (pm) This was our first Banstead meeting of the year with 12 members and guests present during the day.  We had just six entries this year (one less than last year) of which one was a postal entry and the other an overseas electronic entry from the USA.  Voting was by the members present at the meeting.    I’m pleased to announce that Regis Hoffman  from the

Peter Stockton continues his display of postal history associated with the French battleship the Richelieu. On this occasion he starts in 1950 post WW2, where the ship was undergoing refit at Brest, his display takes us through to 1986, where the ship was in use as a gunnery training vessel back at Brest.

Here FPHS and well known Zoom presenter Jamie Smith shows Part 1 of his Sudan – A Military postal History Display. Jamie, as usual sets out in detail the history of the period 1882 through to early 1900’s, showing some rare and unique postal history, which provides a great reference for both the postal and military historian alike.

From the PAIFORCE expert we have the second of Mick Carter’s displays from his extensive PAIFORCE collection. On this occasion Mick shows the remainer of his recent acquisitions, where he describes in detail the allied military operations in Persia and Iraq at the time.

From the PAIFORCE expert, we have another of Mick Carter’s displays from his extensive PAIFORCE collection. On this occasion Mick shows Part 1 of his recent 2025 – 2026 acquisitions, where he describes in detail the allied military operations in Persia and Iraq at the time.

Malcolm Cole entertains members with this new display, Life in the Trenches. Using postcards from WW1, Malcolm discusses life in the trenches on the Western Front, covering areas such as the living conditions, gas attacks, rats and smells along with the humour used by the troops to often brighten their day.

Another great display from Nick Colley. On this occasion Nick provides an insight into Royal Navy registered mail from WW2. Typically, WW2 Royal Navy covers provide little information, with their tombstone censor cachets and often undated postal markings. Here Nick shows how members can collect RN registered mail, a great display with lots of WW2 interest. This area still needs much research and provides a fascinating collecting interest.

FPHS Member Peter Webb provides this outstanding display from his collection of Indian Hospital Ships 1914 - 1919. Peter presented this initially to FPHS zoom meetings as a three part display, here it is drawn together as one and provides a unique reference for the specialist collector.

This was an excellent first meeting of 2026 - we had 12 members present of whom ten showed and we had three sessions.  Prior to the start of the meeting our President, Geoff Hanney FRPSL, presented Nick Harris with his certificate for winning the President’s Cup competition at our October meeting.   Peter Wood FRPSL  showed material from the Irish Contingent to the UN Forces in Cyprus.  The United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established 1964 to prevent a recurrence

This has become our annual Banstead all-day meeting with new acquisitions and queries - and a chat over tea/coffee, biscuits and mince pies with members displays as well!  We had a total of 14 members and 1 guest present, with Frank Schofield and his daughter having a table with books on the Royal Navy for sale and Phil Kaye selling postal history covers.  Peter High also had a small number of publications for sale.   First to display was our President, Geoff Hanney , with la

FPHS Committee member Chris Grimshaw shows a further section of his research material into the British Postal System in Constantinople December 1918 to September 1923. Set out as a day by study showing the development of mail following the British Occupation of Constantinople. Chris is looking for FPHS members and other philatelists to support his research and gives his contact details. This in-depth study provides excellent reference regarding the British military and local

Another excellent short display provided by Peter Stockton, on this occasion introducing the postal history of the French Battleship Richelieu. Initially, Peter explains the ships history from its launch in 1939 to being commissioned in 1940 and then immediately becoming the focus of Royal Navy attacks both in Operation Catapult and the Battle of Dakar. Shown are a range of covers, cards and illustrations of the ship, with various postal markings, cachets and covers used both

Society member Malcolm Cole once again provides members an interesting display, on this occasion Ambulance Trains in WW1, another of his well-researched collecting interests. Malcolm introduces the types of ambulance trains and explains in detail both use and the design features, all required to transport injured troops both from the front line, between field and stationary hospitals and also during repatriation.

The Union of South Africa Contingent to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II consisted of 159 Union Defence Force members (24 Navy, 77 Army, and 38 Air Force) and 20 South African police. This display by JIm Findlay shows some examples of mail and ephemera associated with some of these people.

To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) day, Richard gave an eighteen frame display of FEPOW (Far East Prisoners of War) philatelic and related material to an audience of 11 members and 4 guests (which included his wife, son and daughter).   The display was dedicated to Richard’s (Great) Uncle Joe (Berry) who was captured at the fall of Singapore, worked on the Burma-Siam Railway and was transferred on a ‘Hellship’ to Japan to provide slave labour there

Sadly we only had 8 members attend our meeting at the Union Jack Club on 12th July but 7 of those had something to show - the following is a listing of those who provided a summary of their displays:   Geoff Hanney   s howed a couple of modern advertising cards from Max digitisation company with a military theme. Also a number of sheets with hand drawn pictures used for birthday cards, events etc, from a soldier on the Salonica front; an Invoice for military belts from a Norf

Another of the many short displays provided for society members by Malcolm Cole. On this occasion Malcolm starts with ‘Never tempt providence’ a brief history of a WW1 cigarette parcel reply card and its sender Sgt Tanner serving with 277 Bde RFA in France. Malcolm goes on to show postcards from ‘Life in the trenches’ with some light-hearted cards and on the more serious side the benefits of wearing a good helmet in the trenches.