WWII Naval Censorship - Egypt

[Michael Dobbs]

I have received an enquiry regarding the attached cover:

[color=maroon]He has sent me the attached photo of a cover from Egypt to Ashford, Kent that bears a 'PASSED BY / NAVAL CENSOR' handstamp.  The cover has an Egyptian stamp that bears the cancel "M.P.O. / -6.DE.39 4-5P" / E.604", i.e.soon after the start of WW2.  Presumably "M.P.O. stands for Military Post Office?  When did this particular censorship start / end?  Would the censor handstamp have been applied in Egypt or when it arrived in the England (if so where - Chatham, perhaps)?  Is 'E.604' Alexandria or Cairo?  Are such covers reasonably common? etc.[/color]

Many thanks, Mike  :)

[Nick Colley]

Hi, Mike, Proud has it at Port Said. The mark is Daynes N451. This usually has a number in the centre, but this appears to be absent, although there seems to be signs of something there. I think it's relatively common from Egypt - or, put another way, not particularly hard to come by.

chrs
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[Michael Dobbs]

Nick

Many thanks for your help - together with advice from others at our meeting on Saturday (where to find the MPS E numbers listing) I have now been able to respond to the enquiry.

Thanks again, Mike  :D