Simple answer is - I have no idea!
Noted it first happened in the previous query from Chris.

Frank - A very nice cover and write up - a good find, thank you.

Mike

Frank

An excellent item, even an exceptional item as I suspect the oval registration marks are rare.

Mike  :)

Frank & Peter

I have come across this which indicates that there were Labour Companies in the Army Service Corps in WW1:
[url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/royal-pioneer-corps]https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/royal-pioneer-corps[/url]

Also see this link and scroll down to ASC Labour Companies
[url=https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-army-service-corps-in-the-first-world-war/]https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-army-service-corps-in-the-first-world-war/[/url]

Note that the Army Service Corps did not receive the 'Royal' prefix until 1918.
The Labour Corps was formed in 1917 and disbanded in 1920.

Mike  :)

I put the question to Peter Burrows and he has responded with the attached.

Mike  :)

Canadian member and Editor of the Canadian Military Mail Study Group Newsletter has written to me (he currently cannot access email as his local library has closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rules in Canada) asking if anyone has a record of Type A102 censor stamp 2340 used by the Canadians.

He has a cover and enclosed letter (see attachments) from a Captain with 1st Anti-Tank Regiment RCA, but cannot make out the FPO mark - he can see a 9 in the FPO, but whether it is a 95/96/----- 99 is not known.

I have attached scans, but these are from photocopies he sent me.

I have looked through the late Alistair Kennedy's WW2 censor ledger (he was another who relied upn his local library for email access, despite having a computer at home!) but he does not show 2340.

Thanks, Mike  :)

Michael Lockton FRPSL gave a display to the Society on 12 January 2013 and the report of that meeting gave the following information on red envelopes:

[color=maroon]He started off by explaining that some have the view that the forerunner of the green envelope was a special red envelope (Army Form W 2043).  The red envelope had its origins in the Crimea War when journalists complained of lengthy delays in getting their reports back to England for publication.  They were introduced as press envelopes to expedite delivery, but Michael had not seen any and didn't know if any exist now.  The British Army issued red envelopes (AF W 2043) for matters of a personal nature only and these had to be signed by the Commanding Officer and were not subject to any delay by censorship.  The writer had to sign an 'I certify ..." declaration.  They were thought to have been mainly used by officers and Michael showed examples from the collections of the late Martin Wilcox, Alan Brown and George Crabb.  Few such letters occurred and their use was discontinued quite early in the war.  The Indian Army produced their own envelopes, but there was no imprint which showed the printer, but they did have a printing date and there are three known printing dates recorded. [/color]

Mike  :)

Peter - WW1 is not my area, but I feel you ought to do a one page write up for the Journal - may attract further responses from members who either are not online or don't access the forum.

Mike

Thank you all for your comments - I have relayed these to the person who made the enquiry and in thanking me for the information I have provided thus far he has responded as follows:

[color=maroon]Cricket is listed on the card but was not played at the Games according to the statistical gurus on cricket because England, Australia and New Zealand decided not to send in a cricket team.[/color]

He is a cricket collector and is always asking me for FPO information on various 1973 UK cricket FDCs he obtains.  I have been corresponding with him on this aspect for a few years now.  He appears to be a (part-time?) dealer and has his own website - feel free to take a look: [url=http://www.noelalmeida.com]http://www.noelalmeida.com[/url]

Thanks, Mike  :)

I have received the following enquiry:

FIELD POST OFFICE 190 - 25 OC 40
A300 censopr, numbered 89

[color=maroon]Good morning, can you please help? I have a cover dated 25/10/40 sent from Egypt to London. it has assessor mark similar to A300 however the inside and outside square lines are wavy not straight! I cannot find in my WW2 Censor mark book; can you identify this for me?[/color]

My first thoughts were that it was wear and tear - that was before I saw the cover.  Now I am not so sure - what ar your thoughts please, or has anyone else seen other numbers in the same "style"?

Thanks, Mike  :)

Oh I see now!

However the Union Flag is on the front of the card, I wonder why we are not listed in the text and there is nothing in the Wikipedia entry to say we didn't take part.

Not only the judges, what about the audience!

Mike

Alan - are you sure the UK didn't take part?

It is listed as a participant  on Wikipedia - [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Allied_Games#Participating_nations]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Allied_Games#Participating_nations[/url]

I agree about the grenade throwing - an explosive sport unless, of course, they removed the detonation and used it as a form of shot put??

Mike

I have received the following query:

[color=maroon]Can anyone tell me why this card has no stamp? It is from a Sergeant in the US Army in France writing home to the USA.  It is annotated "solders mail".
Is it supposed to have a postage stamp?[/color]

The Inter-Allied Games was a one-off multi-sport event held from 22 June to 6 July 1919 at the newly constructed Pershing Stadium just outside Paris, France following the end of World War I.

Thanks, Mike  :)

Frank

Scruffy it may be, but what a fantastic cover, clearly showing the changeover from one censor type to another - and signed by the Divisional Commander as well!  Thanks for sharing a very special cover.

Mike  :)

Peter / John

Peter: Many thanks for this - an extremely useful update which I was not aware of.

It extends the use of (Type A500) 5785 from just 14 Nov 42 to 2 Jun 43

Looking through the update referred me to a page in the book which I did not look at before - and that page has an illustration of censor stamp 5785 on a cover also addressed to the same person at John's cover and could well be the same censor signature and postmarked KINGSTON / JAMAICA m/c cancel of NOV 14 1942.  This adds to the number of references to and illustrations of covers and cards in the Jamaica book relating to the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada:- pages 09-02-55, 09-02-69, 09-07-4 & 5, 09-07-9, 09-07-13 to 15.

Mike  :)