1939-45 Covers and cards with airletters, F.P.Os, P.O.W mail, Free French Forces, 1942 Canadian Forces cover with "Special Detachment, 1. Cdn. Corps Signals" cachet, 1945 G.B cover franked 2½d with "Invasion Fronts Appeal 1944, Y.M.C.A 3d donation" label, etc., also a few WWI and earlier covers. (c.130).

British Forces. 1939-46 Covers, cards and ephemera, the collection well written up on pages illustrating mobilisation of the B.E.F in France (with two June 1940 cards posted at London or Okehampton with Paid datestamps), 1941 cover to H.M.S "Nile" franked 1/3 Health & Pensions Insurance stamp, stationery, postal services and handstamps, 1944 O.H.M.S cover to Ireland with enclosed form "Capt Jameson is engaged in an operation which does not permit him to write but would appreciate mail from you", demobilisation, etc. (135).

Norway, etc. 1940-45 Covers from Sgt. Bob Strauss to his wife in Sussex, sent from Norway in Apr./May 1940 (5), North Africa in 1942-44 (22, with four airgraphs and a duty free parcel label, one cover with Honour Envelope adhesive label) or Italy in 1945 (6), also two covers to Mrs Strauss from her brother in the Royal Navy. The four covers and a Field Service postcard sent from Norway have datestamps of F.P.O 115 (Apr. 20, earliest recorded use, located at Harstad, Lofoten islands) or F.P.O 126 (3, Apr. 26-May 27, not recorded by Proud but clearly used there as proven by these covers and a further cover of Apr. 22 known to be from Norway), a fifth cover has a red London E.C Official Paid machine (Apr. 22) but is signed by the same Officer who has signed the May 4 F.P.O 126 cover, four with violet boxed "PASSED BY CENSOR / (crown) No 1745" (the other with similar censor No. 1590), the May 4 F.P.O 126 cover also with octagonal "PASSED / BY / CENSOR / (crown) / No. / 2414" (this type used in 1917-20 and reused in 1940, not apparently recorded used from Norway). A rare 1940 Norway correspondence with later covers. (35). Photo on Page 96. (Image1)

1942-43 Airletters franked 3d, both from General Sir George Erskine, D.S.O, G.O.C 7th Armoured Division, with excellent content on the war in north Africa, the 1942 (Nov 12) letter from H.Q 13 Corps (F.P.O 292 c.d.s) to Sir Evelyn De La Rue, talks of the great victory, only heavy rains preventing the closure of the bag at Matruh, the capture of an astonishing number of prisoners, the battlefield strewn with tanks, vehicles and guns, a minefield 20x40 miles to be cleared, the Italians depressed and not very pleased with their German allies. The 1943 (Apr. 10) letter from H.Q 7 Arm. Div (F.P.O 189 c.d.s) to his wife, tells of the death of Humphrey de Wend Fenton leading his armoured car troop against enemy transport, the race to be the first troops into Sfax which the 7th Armoured Division won, and the destruction of Sfax. Unusually good content from a very senior Officer. (2).

Royal Navy. 1939-45 Covers with various naval postmarks and censor cachets, including stampless covers handstamped red "AIRMAIL" or boxed "10D PAID", also large labels "Britain Delivers the Goods Thanks to the British Navy" (4) and a prewar cover with "DAMAGED BY / SEA WATER". (90).

Royal Navy - Ships Sunk. 1941 O.H.M.S Covers from London, a cover of April 24th to the C.O of H.M.S "Fiji" handstamped "BY BRITISH PACKET" and "SHIP LOST", and a cover with red Official Paid machine (Nov. 15) to the C.O of H.M.S "Barham" with violet boxed "RECEIVED AFTER / LOSS OF SHIP / RETURN TO SENDER". H.M.S "Fiji" was sunk during the evacuation of Crete, 523 crew taking to boats and being picked up after nightfall; H.M.S "Barham" was torpedoed in the Ionian Sea and sank with the loss of all 868 crew. Very scarce. (2). Photo on Page 96. (Image1)

R.A.F. 1939-45 Covers and cards, most written up on pages showing the various censor types (using the book by Colley and Garrard, which accompanies the lot), also two covers to the R.A.F at Stornoway addressed to Box 204 Glasgow. (77).

R.A.F. Atlantic Ferry. 1939-45 Transatlantic covers and cards including covers hand carried on the Atlantic Ferry service (8, one cover from G.B posted in Canada, another with G.B stamps cancelled "M.A.P / BY BAG"), also mail from R.A.F personnel in Canada, two other hand carried covers from Lisbon to London with circular "PASSED FOR DESPATCH / AIRWAYS CORP'N", etc. (42).

Burma/China. 1938-43 Covers from or to Major J.G.W Evans who served with the Burma Frontier Service in Burma and China, and was killed near Mongpawk in April 1943, posted from Burma (13), Singapore (3) or China (3, one registered from Fohai, two posted from Chinese F.P.O 242); covers (2) and a front to Evans c/o H.B.M Consul-General at Kunming; and two large covers from the Govt. of Burma Defence Depot at Simla both endorsed "By Fast Air Mail" with British stamps cancelled in London. A few faults, an interesting correspondence. (24).

Undelivered/Returned. 1939-45 Covers including mail to troops but undelivered and returned with various cachets (13), mail from forces in the Middle East including 1940 Egypt cover with boxed "PASSED BY CENSOR / (crown) No. 1222" (Colley A101) crossed out and replaced by boxed "PASSED / BY / UNIT / CENSOR / 183" (A300), etc. (62).

Undelivered/Returned/Redirected. 1940-45 Covers and cards to British forces, most undelivered and returned with various cachets including "Addressee Reported Missing", "Addressee Reported Prisoner of War", "Evacuated to UK", "Believed Returned to United Kingdom", etc., also redirected mail, "Detained in France During German Occupation", internal G.B cover missent to Australia, notices on the suspension of the Empire Air Mail Scheme and the Business Reply Service, air mail covers with "Air Mail fee s d / refunded" (4, also a form with 5½d in stamps attached for the air mail refund) or "1/3 PER ½oz AIR MAIL LETTER / SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE" (5, three types), an interesting lot, most written up on pages. (58).

G.B - Home Front. 1938-46 Covers and cards, ephemera, photos and picture postcards, the well written up collection, various topics including air raids, the Home Guard, rationing, paper shortages, war economies, Ministry of Food, National Savings, evacuation, Victory celebrations, a few patriotic labels, etc., also an album of postcards showing war damaged buildings in London. An interesting collection. (350+).

1940 (Sep 23) Cover sent within London with Edward VIII 1d meter, returned to sender with scarce "UNDELIVERABLE / OWING TO ENEMY / ACTION" cachet on reverse, charged 1d; and registered cover from Bournemouth to London with similar boxed cachet (possibly a forgery). Also 1941 (Aug 6) registered cover with C.O.P, both with "L.P.R / 6 AUG 41 / LONDON E.C / MOBILE P.O / No. 1" datestamps, used on this one day only at a Mobile P.O at Shoreditch after the Post Office was damaged by a bomb. (4).

1940-41 Delayed covers comprising 1941 (Mar 14) cover from Keighley to Skipton with boxed "DELAYED THROUGH / ENEMY ACTION"; 1940 cover from Portugal to England with boxed "DETAINED IN FRANCE / DURING GERMAN OCCUPATION" and 1945 (Apr 16) arrival c.d.s; and 1941 cover from Germany to New York intercepted by the British in Bermuda and detained until 1946, handstamped "RELEASED" and "HELD BY BRITISH CENSOR / RELEASED JANUARY 1946". A good group, the first very scarce, a major air raid targeting Leeds on the night of March 14th. (3).

1941 (Mar 14) Badly burnt part cover franked 2½d, from Keighley to Bingley, forwarded within a G.P.O ambulance envelope with Leeds machine (Mar 15) and enclosed explanatory slip "It is regretted that the enclosed letter has been damaged by enemy action". Several items to or from Skipton posted on March 14/16 are recorded with various "Damaged" cachets, but this is the only explanatory slip we have seen. Very scarce.

1941 (Mar 14) Fire damaged cover from Skipton to London franked 2½d, with Officially Sealed tape on two sides, handstamped boxed "DELAYED THROUGH / ENEMY ACTION", very scarce. Also a 1941 cover with a forgery of a similar cachet, an accompanying article showing the difference between the genuine and forged cachets. (2).

1941 (Mar 14) Cover franked 1d from Skipton to Gisburn, a little fire and water damaged, Officially Sealed tape at left, twice handstamped boxed "DELAYED THROUGH / ENEMY ACTION" in red and black. The only cover we have seen with two examples of this scarce cachet, strangely applied in different colours, very scarce. Photo on Page 110. (Image1)

1942 (Jan 24) Cover from Orpington to Tunbridge Wells handstamped with the rare "DELAYED BY / ENEMY ACTION" "Bomb" cachet. Also a 1941 cover with a forgery of the cachet, an accompanying article showing the difference between the genuine and forged cachets. (2). Photo on Page 110. (Image1)

1943 Fire damaged cover (letter enclosed) from Cape Town (Apr. 11) to Berkshire handstamped violet "DAMAGED AS A RESULT / OF ENEMY ACTION"; 1943 stampless O.A.S cover to Cornwall with Army censor 3019, a little water damaged, backstamped violet "DAMAGED BY ENEMY ACTION" with arrival c.d.s of Bugle (July 7); and a 1940 (Nov 8) cover from Beckenham to Anerley redirected to Bristol, soiled and sealed with an "E.R Found open or damaged and officially sealed" tape, Anerley backstamp (Nov. 13), endorsed "Damaged by enemy action"; also a 1941 cover with a forgery of the two line cachet. (4).

Women at War. The very well written up collection on 103 double pages, entitled "They Also Served, The Role of Women in Britain during WW2", divided into five sections - "A Womens Place", "Maintaining the Home Front", "Promoting the War Effort", "Supporting Military Operations" and "Going Home". Many covers and cards, ephemera, photos, picture postcards, badges, stamps, etc., including Australia 1928 Specimen Neopost meter with "Rosa Centifolia" advert, complete booklet of Spitfire Fund 6d labels, 1944 Australia airletter to Box 111 Bletchley (undercover address for Bletchley Park), 1945 stampless airletter from a former Far East P.O.W posted from Canada with "BRIT. LIB. P.O.W MAIL / POSTAGE FREE", Christmas airgraphs, etc., also some additional loose items including "Womens War Work" National Savings Committee stamps (20), etc. (100s).

Channel Islands. WW2 Red Cross message forms (9), occupation issue covers (43), ephemera, stamps, a few earlier and later covers, etc.

Red Cross. Covers and cards, stamps, postcards and ephemera, mainly World War Two but some earlier, including Message Service forms and covers from various countries, P.O.W and internee mail with WWI card from a British civilian internee in Turkey, fund raising labels, etc. (100s).

Propaganda Forgeries. German forgeries of G.B KGVI definitives (7), British or American forgeries of Germany Hitler head issues (2, one Hitler skull type) or French stamps (5), also six propaganda leaflets. (20).

Undercover Addresses. 1941-43 Covers (2) from Italy to P.O Box 506, Lisbon (Thomas Cook address for mail to England), one with yellow G.B address label tied by oval "THOS. COOK & SON LTD / 19 APR. 1943 / BERKELEY ST. W.1" cachet and posted in London franked 2½d (T.C./S perfin). Also two Belgian postcards to "O.C.A, 10 Rua do Loreto, Lisboa" (forwarded to Belgian Embassy, London); a small cover from "F. Marques Feliciano, 75 Rua do Crucifixo, Lisboa" to England containing a seasons greetings card from a company in Budapest; and a British censorship slip P.C. 85 "mail for enemy occupied territory must be sent through the Red Cross or Thos. Cook & Son.". (6).

Thomas Cook Undercover Mail - Australia. 1943 Covers from Croatia (registered), France (2), Italy (3) and Hungary (3) all to P.O Box 520, Lisbon, the Thomas Cook undercover address for mail from occupied Europe to Australia, one of the French covers with a handwritten address to Sydney. A rare group, this P.O Box 520 address much rarer than the well known P.O Box 506 address used for mail to the UK. (9).