Released by Base Censor 20

[Alan Baker]

In my efforts to put together something for the next zoom meeting, I have come across this cover. It is addressed to Mount Elgin, Ontario, Canada with a receiving backstamp dated 8th July 1944. It bears a US 6c Airmail stamp , cancelled by what appears to be FPO118, 1st July.

The censor stamp is one I have not been able to find in the limited literature I have. Is it American?

Any information would be gratefully received

[Michael Dobbs]

So we have another what appears to be Canadian cover (as it is addressed to Canada) with a US postage stamp to pay for the 6c air mail rate - see John Cranmer's cover under "How to understand this WW2 cover and letter" posted on 11 January 2021.

FPO 118 was allocated to APO S.479 under 7 L of C Postal Unit on 14/4/44 and was still shown as being with 7 L of C PU on 6/8/44.

Proud shows this as Bizerta, Tunisia (31/3/43 - 17/3/44).

I am sure that I have seen this type of censor cachet before - but where I cannot remember!

Mike  :)

[Nick Colley]

Yes, Mike, you probably have. It's in Daynes 2nd Edition, page 50, designated B401. I think it was in the 1st Edition, too. That does rather imply that John considered it a British mark, I think, not US.

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[Michael Dobbs]

Aaah - thanks Nick, I should have looked there before I responded, silly me!
Alan certainly needs to get a copy of Daynes (edited by Colley) 2nd Edition!

I agree that if it is listed there then it is almost certainly British - I wonder if it has been reported in one of our early Newsletters (now Journal) ?

Mike  :)

[Nick Colley]

You're correct, of course, Mike: Alan really does need a copy of Daynes 2nd Edition. He'd better hurry, though: I gather from Peter that there aren't many left.

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[Alan Baker]

I have suddenly realised that I have a copy of Daynes 1st Edition (signed by JD!) although I cannot remember where or when I acquired it. Probably at Banstead after a liquid lunch!

The mark is indeed shown there on P28.

Next question - where was FPO118 in July 1944 as it is outside the range Mike notes from Proud