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Would like the FPHS to know that the Military Postal History Society will be at booth 712. Boston 2026 is from May 23 to May 30.
It will also have a one frame exhibit in the America's Pavillion.
If you are attending please stop by the MPHS table.
I have received the following enquiry from Germany:
Dear Sirs, I am a philatelic historian from Germany and am researching a mysterious British prisoner-of-war air letter that was included in Michael Dixon´s exhibit and called there "a German propaganda production". It is illustrated in the catalog "British PoW Air Mail Stationery, The Exhibit, by Michael D Dixon, on page 54. Do you have any data or information about this item? I am thankful for any kind of help! Thank you for your consideration!
Details of the publication can be found here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-WWII-Prisoner-War-Stationery/dp/B0BN9FNDBZ
I believe that the author died in 2024 - open the following link and scroll down to Michael D. Dixon:
https://militaryphs.org/blog/home/in-memoriam/
I have received the following enquiry:
I am in possession of a cover front with this 1946 postmark that Webb knew of only 7 in existence. There was some doubt about where RAFPOST130 was based in Hong Kong when Col. Webb wrote his book in 1961. Is any more known now? Please put me in touch with anyone who may have information. Thanks
As I have both John Smith's and Bill Garrard's booklets on RAF Postal Service Overseas I have responded as per the attached document. However, if any member has additional information please do respond here.
Thanks, Michael
I have since received the following response from the person making the enquiry:
Col. Webb quotes your first extract and comments 'nevertheless examples of it are curiously rare. Mr. Fugle, who was at Kai Tak from 4 September 1945, tells us that all his letters home were marked RAF POST-6-SE ASIA. In his opinion RAF POST 130 was allotted to 5358 Airfield Construction Unit, which was building an airstrip, later demolished, at Pingshan, whose HQ were in Kowloon.
Pingshan was in the New Territories near the Chinese border and the back of my cover front confirms that they had to go into town to the cinema. Kai Tak was in town so this seems to support Mr. Fugle's view.
We may have to wait until service records are released to answer this question and look at which units the senders came from. In the meantime I am collecting images of all the items to identify as many senders as possible and would be grateful for any images your members can provide.
Does anyone have any covers postmarked RAFPOST 130, if so please scan front and back and send them to me or post here on the forum.
Thanks, Mike
Can anyone tell me what is going on here?
The attached February 1941 cover to UK has a 4d Swaziland definitive affixed and is cancelled at SA APO 1, the South Africa Forces base APO in Durban.
Why the Swazi stamp? Why the 4d rate? I cannot find any evidence that this is a true rate.
The cover came on an album page which suggested it originated from Natal Force, East Africa. I can find no evidence to support this.
Any thoughts?
Michael
Michael, I do not know for sure, but it would not surprise me if Swazi stamps were valid, bearing in mind geography, and the probability of Swazi troops serving in or with South African Forces. The rate is a bigger issue, theres nothing to indicate airmail or anything like that, and the normal surface rate to the UK was three'happence first half ounce and a halfpenny per subsequent half ounces. There's no way that small envelope has the weight, so I'd think it's been deliberately over-franked for philatelic purposes, even if it did have a letter inside. regards, Neil
FPHS members attending BOSTON 2026 are encouraged to visit the MPHS table and show support to our USA equivalent society!