Belgian Congo/MEF in WWII

[Regis Hoffman]

Can anyone provide more information or references for the cover below?

It is a registered cover from the Belgian Congo to actress Dorothy Lamour in Hollywood. The registration label reads "R (?) P M 101 MEF". The boxed cancel on the stamps reads "Poste Militaire - No 101" with a date of 25 March 1944. It also bears a Belgian Congo censor mark and a British military censor mark (#6382).

Apparently Belgian Congo forces were attached to the British Middle East Forces. This cover appears to originate from this force, but was mailed in the Belgian Congo. How to reconcile this?

Thanks!
Regis Hoffman

[Graham Mark]

The 6382 handstamp appears to be under the registration label.
The registration label does not look British and maybe the MEF stands for something other than Middle East Forces.  With the postmark in Leopoldville I would expect the British type censor to have been en-route to USA - Nigeria - Gold Coast etc, but then the British type marking would be over anything applied in the Congo.
Is it possible the registration label was loose so the US censor made sure it did get lost by moving it to the edge and putting his cellotape over it?
Just a suggestion !!
Graham

[akennedy]

The postmark BPM 101 was used by the Belgian Congo force serving in Middle East Forces, probably in Egypt at this time, 25 Mar 44.
The Leopoldville datestamp 31 Mar 44 is a transit marking.

I think the censor stamp number is 6282, not 6382 - under magnification there is a trace of the foot of the 2 to the right of the registration label.

Alistair Kennedy