Interesting. Thank you both for your help.

Michael

Hi Ross

Further to this, I checked my collection and found an AMLC from the same person franked at 25c and cancelled on 7 April 1944 at EA APO72. This is Yatta, Kenya, KAR (K) 73's home base.

Capt Roger Noble was seconded to 73 (K) KAR from the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He spent 4 years in East Africa.

Regards

Michael

I have this East African WW1 cover originating at Bissel in Kenya. Alongside an Indian FPO23 cancel there is an inverted triangle mark "Welsh/4". Can anyone tell me more?

Hi Ross

73 KAR is certainly a Kenya battalion.

The root of your query results from the frequent re-designation of units to avoid confusion as KAR expanded dramatically during WW2.

In this case, 73 (K) KAR arose from the re-designation of 31 KAR as the Nyasaland battalion 3/1 KAR was re-designated 31 (Nyasaland) KAR which is listed as deploying to India.

73 (K) KAR is listed as operating in the Islands Area, specifically Mauritius.

Regards

Michael

Many thanks Mike

Many thanks for your expert advice regarding this rates mine field, Michael

Can someone give me clarity on these rates which I struggle to understand? Are all correct and why?

Registered at FPO 3d envelope plus 10d in stamps March 1942 from Syria to Basutoland
On active letter May 1944 through FPO from Italy to Basutoland no charge
Army air letter August 1944 through FPO from Italy to South Africa 3d
Forces air letter August 1945 through civilian post from London to Kenya 1.5d
Army air letter October 1945 through FPO from Lebanon to Basutoland no charge
Army air letter January 1947 through FPO from Egypt to South Africa no charge
On active service letter December 1947 through FPO from Egypt to South Africa 3d
Registered at FPO 3d envelope plus 2.5d in stamps April 1948 through FPO from Egypt to South Africa
Forces Air Mail May 1951 through FPO from Egypt to Seychelles 2.5d
Forces air mail letter My 1951 through FPO from Egypt to Seychelles 5d
Registered at FPO 4d envelope plus 4.5d in stamps August 1952 from Egypt to London
Forces Air Mail May 1955 through FPO from Egypt to Seychelles 10d

I am particularly puzzled why army mail from Egypt to Southern Africa had 3d affixed while, in the same period, from Egypt to Indian Ocean was only 2.5d. I'm sure someone can give me a simple answer.

Many thanks, Michael

Is there a member who can help me, at least in part, regarding the following?

Post ww2, MELF is numbered 1 through to 27. Are these groupings of units or postal addresses?
At what dates were the various East African and Indian Ocean pioneer companies formed?
African and Indian Ocean pioneer companies were organised into groups. Which companies went into which groups?
The groups were attached to British Army divisions. Which ones and where? I believe most companies were posted to Egypt but some may have been in Palestine or elsewhere.

The Society published a fine article about African pioneers post ww2 in 2002 but it doesn't contain this detail.

Michael Johnston

Further to my earlier posts, I would be interested to hear any thoughts regarding the various marks on this 1943 cover addressed from an evacuation camp in Tanganyika to Polish troops with Persia and Iraq Forces. The letter travelled to the Polish Legation in Nairobi for handling. The initial cancel at Nairobi appears to be Proud D26 which he lists as being in use in 1933 only.

[quote author=Chris Weddell link=topic=1849.msg7647#msg7647 date=1604003571]
Michael,

          Are these Polish Forces in Egypt and Palestine Field Post Office Numbers?

[/quote] Chris, a couple with Paiforce, one in Palestine and some in Italy. Regards Michael

I have recently acquired a number of covers to WW2 Polish Forces particularly relating to the Anders Army. While I bought them for a quite different reason, I would like to know where I can find details of the various Polish Forces post offices. Can anyone help?

I have a number of pieces of WW2 correspondence from T C Williams of Bramley Hill, South Croydon. It's quite well known and stretches from Northern Rhodesia through Kenya, Ceylon and to Burma. I wonder if anyone has more details of this 3NRR officer, even a photo? Many thanks.

This serviceman was a prolific letter writer and either he or the recipient helpfully numbered each piece of correspondence. These reveal 10th Coastal Battery was at Berbera, Somaliland, between no later than end of January 1945 (your letter 252) and at least until end of April 1945 (letter 291). I have some more Dickerson correspondence but it's tucked away in the loft at the moment. Michael

Many thanks for your help, Mike.

I believe he was travelling on his own or with a small number of junior infantry officers alongside a draft of airmen en route to India in October 1943.

I am a new member so I hadn't seen your article. It sounds great so I will look it up in the archive as soon as possible.

Best regards,

Michael

I have a small number of pieces of correspondence from a young Buffs officer who became attached to Northern Rhodesia Regiment during WW2. During late 1943, he went on a Bombay bound troopship to Mombasa via Suez. In a letter to his wife, he lists his travelling address as RNYYY, APO 4815. Can anyone tell me more?