Meeting Report 8th March 2025 - Michael Dobbs showing “Aspects of NATO”
- Michael Dobbs
- May 2
- 3 min read
Sadly Michael’s display only attracted eight other members, with four apologies. Since COVID attendance at our London meetings has dropped considerably - what is it we need to do to encourage those in London and the surrounding districts to come to our meetings? We are a friendly Society and very informal, some gather in the UJC reception area beforehand for an informal get-together, some join us across the road in the Auberge for lunch. Our meetings are relaxed and are an opportunity to have a chat, discuss matters and raise queries, as well as view displays from guest speakers or members as shown in our programme.
Michael Dobbs FRPSL opened his display by stating that NATO - the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - was established in 1949 and moving forward to 2025 that covered some 76 years and his display touched upon various aspects of NATO during that period. He explained that his interest in NATO stems from his Army career when he served at HQ AFCENT in Brunssum and HQ NORTHAG in Rheindahlen. He started by showing a range of anniversary issues (stamps, FDCs, commemorative postmarks, slogans) starting with the 3rd Anniversary from Portugal and ending with 50th Anniversary, including commemoratives from three nations who joined in its 50th Anniversary year (Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland). This was followed by special postmarks from the different Ministerial Meetings of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) (1952-2002); meetings of the North Atlantic Assembly (1966-1986) and then onto functions: slogans and postmarks of the NATO Tattoo in the Netherlands (1961-1965) and later the NATO Music Festival in Germany (1982 & 1994); various air meetings and air events in the Netherlands, Germany and UK with special covers and postmarks; and Inter-allied Confederation of Reserve Officers conferences (CIOR) (1975-1986). He then went on to various agencies of NATO, including the Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD) and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) in Luxembourg; the NATO Defence College in Paris then Rome; the NATO School Oberammergau, Germany and the SACLANT Anti-Submarine Warfare Research Centre at La Spezia, Italy (later called the SACLANT Undersea Research Centre).
Next he moved onto the various NATO military headquarters, starting with NATO HQ itself in Paris and later Brussels with meter marks and its own postal markings from the French and later Belgian postal authorities; there were also British and American FPOs. Then it was time for the three Major NATO Commands (ACE, ACLANT and ACCHAN), starting with SHAPE initially in Paris and later Mons in Belgium, again with French and Belgian postal markings and also including British, American and Canadian FPOs. There were a couple of meter marks from the SHAPE Technical Centre in The Hague, Netherlands. He then showed mail from the various Major Subordinate Commands (MSCs) under SHAPE, including HQs AFNORTH, AFCENT and AFSOUTH and the HQs under those MSCs. These comprised covers and postcards which meter marks, civil postmarks or British and American FPOs. Also included was mail from the ACE Mobile Force (Land) (AMF(L)) from its HQ at Mannheim-Seckenheim, Germany or on exercise in various locations in Norway and Germany. He showed a Malta postcard featuring HQ AFMED and then various covers with cachets and postmarks from the different HQs under SACLANT. Lastly meter marks from HQ ACCHAN in Northwood and HQ AFNORTHWEST at RAF High Wycombe (this came into being on 1 July 1994 and merged ACCHAN, UKAIR and AFNORTH).
