What do the initials FM stand for

[Michael Dobbs]

I have received an enquiry asking what the initials FM are for.  On the face of it this appears to be a simple question but I don't think I've seen a proper explanation (but I'm not a French military mail collector).

[color=maroon]I have a couple of postcards sent to UK from France in 1940 and instead of a stamp the sender has written "FM" I am guessing this is Forces Mail but would appreciate confirmation from you[/color]

As far as I can tell the initials stand for Franchise Militaire - but what is this in English please (we never had languages other than English in my school days)

French Military or Military Frank ?

Many thanks, Mike  :D

[Robin Davis]

Hello Mike,

As far as I am aware "FM" are the initials for "Franchise Militaire" which translates to "Military Free" and :) is the equivalent of the British "OAS".

Hope this helps.

Kindest Regards

                  Robin

[akennedy]

FM presumably used as the writer was in France.

[Frank Schofield]

Gents
You find these initials on British mail from around Dunkirk, usually RNAS
Frank Schofield

[Khalid Omaira]

I found in a book written by William C. Robertson, titled "FREE FRENCH CENSORSHIP IN SYRIA" a cover with Franchise Militaire handwritten. The author states: ([b]"Franchise Militaire" indicates that it was free military mail; this is the source of the initials "FM" sometimes seen on French military covers[/b]). In another book written by him "SYRIA AND LEBANON - FREE FRENCH CENSORSHIP WORLD WAR II", he show two examples: A surface cover from Aleppo to Alexandria dated 27/11/41 with "FM" handwritten, and another one, surface from Damascus to Egypt with the same initial. The two covers without stamps, but with different censors types or cancels.

[Colin Tabeart]

David Trapnell, who has written several monographs for us, says FM = Franchise Militaire, which stands for free military postagel privilege - see page 2 of his "French Military Posts & Railways 1914-18", which we all have. Clearly the equivalent of the German "Feldpost".
Colin