General Discussion

I have received the following enquiry asking if we know where these were used; I have answered as shown below. First Day Covers produced by the British Forces Postal Service: each bears a set of 4 stamps issued 9th October 1974 for Sir Winston Churchill, Birth Centenary.

FORCES POST OFFICE 68 – (FPHS Type B2)

BFPO 5 (Singapore)

FIELD POST OFFICE #32 – (FPHS Type S1)

I believe this could be 432 – in which case it is BFPO 35 (Krefeld, Germany)

There is a 532 but this has not been recorded used in October 1974

(There are no datestamps numbered 132, 232, 332, 632, 732 or 832)

I’ve had a closer look at the FIELD POST OFFICE scan and the missing figure has a curve at the bottom which to me suggests a 3, 5, 6 or 8 so my initial assumption that it is 432 is incorrect.  As there are no post-war datestamps with the numbers 332, 632 or 832 then it can only be 532.  There is no clear location given for 9 Oct 74 as it was used on military exercises around the world.  The nearest I have is Jan 74 in Kenya (BFPO 651).  That exercise took place in January and February 1974.

FORCES POST OFFICE 124 – (FPHS Type B1)

Unknown – not recorded used between 1970 and 1981

FORCES POST OFFICE 85 – (FPHS Type B1)

Unknown – not recorded used between 1967 and May 1975

I’ve had another look at our listings for FORCES POST OFFICE 85 and wonder if it was used at Rheindahlen, Germany (BFPO 40). We have it recorded there in May 1975; its previous recording was 1966-67 in Libya.  An October 1974 date is close enough to suggest Rheindahlen and they also had a Rheindahlen Garrison Stamp Club.

Has anyone any other covers from these FPOs around this period which may give a more precise location?