Indian Army Units used British censor hand stamps which were given on loan. On the WF there were no Indian Army only censor h/s just the loaned British ones. British Army censor marks are found on Indian FPO covers from Egypt, East Africa, and Transcaucus (Black Sea) campaigns.See attached from Batum Indian FPO 406.

Chris, I am researching the WWI Burma PoW camps working with Bill Bennett. There are 2 regular camps: Thayetmyo (Jan 1915-Dec 1918) and Meiktila (July?1918-?1920). Shwebo was a rest camp with capacity of 90. The work camps at Aungban and Thamakhan probably didn't have associated postal history. The work camps helped with the Southern Shan States Railway.

If you have or can advise on where I might find additional covers from any these camps, it would be much appreciated.

Thank you
Bob Gray

The two covers uploaded are both dated 13 Oct 14, which is the same date as mine. You said you have covers from Ahmednagar before this date, are they on camp postal stationery? I am looking for the earliest possible date.
Thank you.
Bob

I am trying to determine the earliest date for use of printed "PRISONER OF WAR-LETTER"/CENSORSHIP STAMP/Passed by Commandant" envelopes at Ahmednagar, Indiafor WWI.

I have seen published a cover dated 21 Oct 1914 and have in my collection 13 Oct 1914 based on Commandant's hand stamp.
The Indian National Archives show draft envelopes that do not look like the one ultimately printed and no availability date. Are their other sources?
Does anyone have earlier covers?

TY

Bob

During WWI the Netherlands accepted both civilian and military refugees. These were put in camps and their mail would have been censored there. This is a general introduction of the subject in English:  https://www.wereldoorlog1418.nl/refugees/vluchtelingen/militairen.html  Most of the military refugees were Belgium soldiers trying to avoid capture by the Germans. There were also English and German soldiers and a few deserters who were kept separate.

Many refugees were allowed to work outside the camps and some brought their families to live nearby.  Bergen am Zoom held several thousand refugees.

The covers I have seen from other camps have Franc de Port (Postage Free) hand stamps. The Hague convention 1907 gives soldiers who seek refugee status the same rights as a PoW, including free postage.

Unless the sender identifies as a soldier, I would assume the cover is from a civil refugee internee.


The requirement to accept military refugees was part of the Hague Convention of 1907.

These are very scarce hand stamps. Mail Agency 1 was used on civil post at Amani, Tanganyika; No 3 at not known and No. 5 at Dodoma area all from June to Aug 1917. Postal Agencies were used on an emergency basis by FPOs. Also one is mentioned at Port Amelia in Portuguese East Africa. Source: Proud's History of the Indian Army Postal Service Vol . II.

Graham,
Thank you for the explanation. I could not find anything like it associated with India. The cover likely traveled from India to London where it was hand stamped prior to being forwarded to Germany through a neutral country.
I will p.m. you regarding the censor book.

Best regards,

Bob

Hi Nick,
Thank you for your advice on this. I will try with some India collectors as well.
Kind regards,
Bob

Attached WWI cover from India to Zossen (Halbmondlager) PoW Camp Germany. The verso of the cover shows a partial hand stamp that reads: "Contrary to Regulations/ 
Letters for Prisoners ?/ must be ??"

Would appreciate some help: does anyone know if this is a British h/s or Indian one and does anyone have the rest of the text of this hand stamp.

Thank you,

Robert Gray