PoW airmail postcard 1 1/2d rate
The Airmail rate for postcards to PoWs in the far east was reduced in 1945, down to 1 1/2d from 3d. New Cards were produced with the 'stamp' in an orange-brown instead of purple.
So far so good, most of these cards were returned as undeliverable, posted in the UK in the summer of 1945 and were in transit when the war in the east ended.
Does anyone know when were these 1 1/2d cards were issued? the earliest I've seen is 24th April 1945.
I probbaly should know the answer ! but don't.
your help will be appreciated
thanks Susan
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Susan - I have the following information from my researches at Ther Postal Museum Archives which may prove helpful:
The Post Office Circular of 28 March 1945 notified that with effect from 2 April 1945 the postage rate for the special air mail postcards used for writing to prisoners of war and interned civilians in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories was to be reduced from 3d to 1½d. It went on to state that as previous the air mail service to prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East was limited to the sending of the special postcards which were sold at principal Post Offices. Except for the reduction in the postage rate, there was no change in the instructions as given in leaflet P 2327B as regards communications with such prisoners and internees.
Michael