Queries regarding FPO and RAFPost datestamp locations
I have received the following enquiry - I have responded with the information I have (my comments are in red) which is not very helpful but can anyone provide any additional specific information please:
I have a series of covers from the same RAF leading aircraftman all noted RAF SEAAF.
One of them is from Hong Kong and I was wondering if you could tell me where the others were posted?
They are:
FPO 174 8 Oct 45 Egypt – APO S.210 by 16 Dec 45
RAF Post 9 SE Asia 31 Oct 45 Recorded used 4 May 44 to 18 Mar 46; Notes: 26 AFBB India; 231 ASRU India; RAF Pulal, Madras; Redhills Lake; St Thomas Mount
RAF Post Hong Kong 8 JLY 46
FPO 148 15 SEP 46 Palestine – possibly Jerusalem; Held by 4 BAPO as at 1 Nov 46 (4 BAPO was located in Cairo, Egypt)
FPO 594 28 SEP 46. Austria – held by APO S.459 on 1 Mar 46
The FPO numbers have been taken from “History of British Army Postal Service, Vol III 1927-1963” Edited by Edward B Proud; published by him c.1982
The RAF Post 9 SE Asia taken from “The History of the RAF Postal Service Overseas, 1942-1957” by John A Smith; published by him in 1957
Interesting to note that “The History of the RAF Postal Service Overseas, 1942-1957” Vol II: RAFPOSTs in South East Asia by W Garrard and published by Entwistle in 1991 states under No 8 BPU Area “RAFPost 9” that “Nothing is recorded”! Yet the previous page when listing “No 9 Base Postal Unit” 9 RAFPOST 9 / SOUTH EAST ASIA 4 May 44 to 18 Mar 46 (i.e. the same dates as listed by Smith in his earlier publication).
Thanks, Mike