EARLY DAMAGED MAIL "BY ENEMY ACTION": Oct. 1940 env. Rossendale to London with label on the reverse "The Postmaster much regrets that this packet has been accidentally (struck through) damaged / delayed in the post. (Initialled) and below ms "By Enemy Action" with London SE1 cds. Cross Reference: LANCASHIRE (Image)

HOUSE BOMBED, "ENEMY ACTION" ETC.: 1940-1 selection inc. 1940 env. (opened to display) used locally within London and marked REGISTERED AR, Undelivered with on reverse ms "House Bombed unable to deliver (initials)"; 2 Dec. 1940 PC Southampton to Ringwood with message"...place of abode remain happily standing [after similar night]" this after second night of air raids on Soton; Mar. 1941 env. Bromley, Kent local with pencilled "Unable to deliver owing to enemy action"; small brown card folder "LONDON UNDER FIRE" with printed "Passed by Censor" and the original 12 photos, etc. (5 items + photos) (Image)

DELAYED THROUGH ENEMY ACTION: 16 Mar. 1941 PC Keighley to Skipton with v.fine boxed DELAYED THROUGH / ENEMY ACTION hs. Originally thought to have been used for one day, 14 March, but see other lots below.Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE (Image)

DELAYED THROUGH ENEMY ACTION: 14 Mar. 1941 pair envs., both showing minor fire damage, Skipton or Keighley to Bury or Skipton with fine boxed DELAYED THROUGH / ENEMY ACTION hs. This was the day of a 40 bomber raid on Leeds which effected the GPO in the town centre. (2 items) Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE (Image)

DELAYED THROUGH ENEMY ACTION: 14 Mar. 1941 pair env. (one window env.) Keighley to Skipton with fine boxed DELAYED THROUGH / ENEMY ACTION hs and one with contemporary(?) ms. "Damaged in first bombing raid on Leeds 14/15 March 1941". (2 items) Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE (Image)

DAMAGED BY FIRE/WATER DURING ENEMY ACTION TYPED LABEL: Apr. 1941 env. & content Darlington to Chiswick, London part damaged by fire with typed label stuck to env. THE G.P.O. REGRET THIS POSTAL ITEM / WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE/WATER DURING / RECENT ENEMY ACTION. Annotated on the reverse in pencil "Rec'd under / cover Thurs 30th".Cross Reference: DURHAM (Image)

EFFECT ON MAIL OF LIVERPOOL DOCKS BLITZ MAY 1941: Pair May 1941 envs. to Reading (6 May) or Nottingham (7 May) carried by ships diverted along the Manchester Ship Canal after destruction of Huskisson No 2 dock. Cancelled by Manchester machine with Censor marks. (2 items) Cross Reference: LANCASHIRE (Image)

AIRMAIL TO TANGANYIKA - DAMAGED THROUGH ENEMY ACTION: 6 June 1941 env. Hounslow to Dar es Salaam sent Airmail and franked tied 2/6d brown (SG476) with light fire damage bottom left corner repaired with GPO Crown tape and typed label "Damage through enemy action. / Officially re-sealed by G.P.O." [initials]. Scarce and attractive. Cross Reference: KENYA, UGANDA & TANGANYIKA (Image)

RARE BLITZ "DELAYED BY(BOMB)ENEMY ACTION" ILLUSTRATED HANDSTAMP: 28 June 1944 env. (vert fold clear of marks, etc.) London to Lustleigh, Devon then redirected to Moreton Lampeter, with a v.fine lilac strike of the rare "DELAYED BY(BOMB)ENEMY ACTION" hs (RPSL Cert. 2012). Very few genuine examples are recorded. Cross Reference: DEVON (Image)

COLOUR ILLUSTRATED ENV. WITH DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF ENEMY ACTION: Sep. 1941 Colour illustrated TT & JP Sauces env. (stamp floated off) Acton to Yarmouth, I.O.W. with purple two line DAMAGED AS A RESULT / OF ENEMY ACTION. Recovered mail from SS Portsdown which hit a mine between Portsmouth & Ryde. Cross Reference: ISLE OF WIGHT, CRASH/WRECK MAIL (Image)

TAVISTOCK RELIEF P.O. AFTER BOMBING OF EXETER P.O. - MOBILE P.O. NO.85: 27 Apr. 1942 env. used locally at Tavistock franked with five KGV ½d PUC issue all tied by v.fine MOBILE POST OFFICE No.85 cds. Mobile PO 84, 85 & 86 issued to Tavistock and 84 & 85 believed used between 27 April & 23 May 1942. Cross Reference: DEVON (Image)

PARCEL POST "FREE" LABEL WITH EXPLANATORY P.O. LABEL DUE TO BOMBING; 25 Mar. 1943 part brown paper parcel wrapper with dated "RETD. LR. SECTION/LONDON POSTAL REGION" cds with a specially produced and scarce P.O. typed label "This parcel has possibly been affected by phosphorous (enemy action). The original wrapping has been withdrawn and the parcel has been.re-wrapped at this office". (Ex Daynes) Cross Reference: PARCEL POST LABELS (Image)

PARCEL POST EXPLANATORY P.O. LABEL DUE TO ENEMY ACTION SENT ONWARDS "FREE"; 24 June 1943 complete brown paper parcel wrapper to Worcestershire with KGVI 2½d still attached with "RETD. LR. SECTION/LONDON POSTAL REGION" cds's on pink "FREE" label and opposite a typed special label "K3475 / It is regretted that the accompanying parcel sustained damage subsequent on enemy action. RETURNED LETTER SECTION, GENERAL POST OFFICE, MOUNT PLEASANT LONDON". Rare complete parcel wrapper. Cross Reference: PARCEL POST LABELS (Image)

OPERATION STEINBOCK - THE "LITTLE" LONDON BLITZ: 15 Feb. 1944 window env. (fire damage at left) from Barnet to London with purple DAMAGED BY / ENEMY ACTION hs. Posted during the period of the German Operation Steinbock dubbed the "Little" or "Baby" blitz of London. (Image)

OPERATION STEINBOCK - THE "LITTLE" LONDON BLITZ: 1 Feb. 1944 env. (fire damage at left) from Birmingham to London with purple DAMAGED BY / ENEMY ACTION hs. Posted during the period of the German Operation Steinbock dubbed the "Little" or "Baby" blitz of London.Cross Reference: WARWICKSHIRE - BIRMINGHAM (Image)

MOBILE P.O. SUBSEQUENT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF LEWISHAM P.O. BY FLYING BOMB: 5 Aug. 1944 env. Registered London SE to Kingston franked with KGVI 3d, 2d & ½d all tied by v.fine MOBILE POST OFFICE No.152 used at Lewisham after the destruction of the main Post Office. Cert of Posting included. (2 items) (Image)