11 Armoured Div

[Jim Etherington]

Can anyone tell me the FPO being used by the 11 Armoured Division during 1945 while it was in Germany?
Jim

[Michael Dobbs]

Jim

The following datestamps were issued to 11th Armoured Division Postal Unit whilst part of 21st Army Group / BAOR:

11th Armoured Division : 3,  19,    89 issued 28.6.43
                                      (3 to HPC 14.11.43)
                                      (19 & 89 to HPC 14.10.43)
                                304, 305, 307, 308, 466 issued 5.7.43
                                527 issued 1.6.44 (to HPC 27.7.44)

The above information has been taken from typewritten notes (origin unknown) which appear to have been extracted from official returns - some of these have been used by Proud in his Volume 3 (History of British Army Postal Servoce 1927-1963).

Unfortunately the War Diary for 11 Armd Div PU does not contain a great deal of useful information - it refers to FPO DA.11 as serving 11th Armd Div and moving to Schleswig on 14 May 1945.  There is no mention of FPOs DT.11, BA.29 or B.159 in 1945.

I have a record of datestamp FPO 305 used on 12 AP 45 (censor Type A600 15730) and on 8 JU 45 with FPO DA.11; I have a record of datestamp FPO 308 used on 21 SP 45.

I hope that helps in some way.

Mike

[Jim Etherington]

Thanks Mike.
I was following up a enquiry from a fellow thematic collector. His theme is Jewish history and according to him elements of the 11 Arm Div liberated Belsen. Presumably he will now be searching for a cover with the appropriate FPO.
Jim