Contents · Researching First World War Postcards 2 ... Dunluce Castle and then possibly in Valetta on Malta and later Lemnos before opening in Alexandria on 5 April 1915, where it

Durham at War 1 Researching First World War Postcards 2

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Contents

Army and field post marks, 1914-1918 2 Base Army Post Offices (Number references) 3 Other Base Army Post Offices (Letter references) 4 “L” series: Italian Front 5 “PB” series: Russia 7 “PP” series: Italy (for heavy artillery units in 1917) 7 “R” series: Divisional Railhead Post Office 8 Other “R” series 8 “S” series: Stationary post offices and location 11

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Army and Field Postmarks Marks, 1914 – 1918

1914

When the British Army deployed to France in 1914 the postal service was not ready and many of the early cards and letters sent home were posted by soldiers in French and Belgian post boxes and these arrived in England with the French or Belgian post marks, which sometimes were also stamped, “LONDON POST PAID”.

As the Army Postal Service got organised the initial postmarks with the words, “ARMY POST OFFICE”, were used, numbered 1 through to 100, numbers 1 to 18 were single ring date stamps and 19 – 100 had double rings.

1915

In 1915 the system changed and date stamps with the words “ARMY POST OFFICE”, were used at static post offices well behind the line, whilst those with the words “FIELD POST OFFICE”, were used by units in the field. With the main exception to this being the Home Defence postmarks [APO HD] which were single ring date stamps.

The first four Army Post Office numbers used in France were allotted to the the Base Army Post Offices, which as well as using normal hand stamps also used “Krag” machine date stamps.





Base Army Post Offices (Number references)

Base Army Post Office 1 [Re-designation of ARMY BASE POST OFFICE] was open in Le Havre between 22 January 1915 and 5 November 1919.

Krag machine cancel.

Base Army Post Office 2 [Re-designation of APO 47] was open in Rouen between 22 January 1915 and 29 October 1919.

BAPO 2 Hand stamp, BAPO 2 ”Krag” machine stamp

Base Army Post Office 3[Re-designation of the Postal Regulating Depot]was open Boulogne between 22 January 1915 and 13 January 1920.

BAPO 3 Hand stamp, BAPO 3 ”Krug” machine stamp

Base Army Post Office 4[Re-designation of APO S.14]was open in Calais between 15 June 1915 and 29 January 1918 when the office building was destroyed by enemy bombing.

BAPO 4 Hand stamp.





Other Base Army Post Offices (Letter references)

Base Army Post Office K, [Re-designation of APO SZ.47] was open in Kantara, Egypt between 5 April 1918 and 29 July 1920.

Base Army Post Office T, was open in Port Said, Egypt between 31 January 1916 and 7 May 1920 it was re-designated APO Port Said in April 1920.

Base Army Post Office W, was open in Brindisi, Italy as a Base Post Office for the Adriatic Mission, between 10 February 1916 and 28 Feb 1916.

Base Army Post Office X, opened in Salonika Town and was originally based in an old drapery warehouse at 39 Rue Franque which was burnt down in the great Salonika Fire on 19 August 1917, during which no letters or fittings were lost. The following day a temporary office was open two miles outside the town, but then moved to No 1 Shed on the English Quay on 21 August 1917.

Base Army Post Office Y, this base Army Post Office was based on HMT Arcadian, during the landings at Gallipoli in 1915. The ship reached Lemnos on 10 April 1915 where the office opened. Owing to the danger from submarines the office was moved to HMT Aragon on 26 May 1915. In November the office moved again, this time to tented accommodation on East Mudros, but a few days later a heavy storm damaged the tents and the base was moved to a stone building near the Egyptian Pier. BAPO Y closed when the British withdrew from the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1916. It was re-opened on 27 March 1919 in Constantinople to support the Occupation Troops in Turkey and was closed by November 1920.

Base Army Post Office Z, opened in 1915, the original location was on HMT Dunluce Castle and then possibly in Valetta on Malta and later Lemnos before opening in Alexandria on 5 April 1915, where it remained until 11 November 1919.





“L” Series: Italian Front

APO L1, open in Aquata (Army Depot) 8 December 1917 – 10 December 1917 [re-designation of APO S101 but reverted to APO S101 until 27 June 1918 when it was again designated APO L1 until it closed on 15 March 1920.

APO L2, open in Tortona 7 January 1918 until 2 February 1920.

APO L3, open in Genoa 16 January 1918 until 27 March 1919.

APO L4, open in Milan March 1918 until 8 September 1919.

APO L5, open in Cremona 29 March 1918 until 1 October 1918.

APO L6, open in Voghera 20 March 1918 until 12 February 1919.

APO L7, open in Bordighera 10 May 1918 until 18 March 1919.

APO L8, open in Rome [British Military Mission] 31 May 1918 until 30 June 1919.





APO L9, open in Turin 20 October 1918 until 13 January 1920.

APO L10, There are doubts if this was actually used.

APO L11, open in Sirmione Lago di Garda 29 June 1918 until 29 October 1918.

APO L12 open in Parvia 5 October 1918 until 16 December 1918.

APO L13 open in France location unknown [possibly on lines of communication to Italy] 17 October 1918 until 18 October 1919.

APO L14, open in Fiume 4 July 1919 until 20 August 1919.

APO L15, open in Vienna 1919 with occupation troops.

APO L16 open in Belgrade 18 July 1919 until 27 October 1919.





“PB” Series: Russia

APO P.B.1 open in Murmansk 30 September 1918 until 27 September 1919.

APO P.B.2 open in Archangel 19 October 1918 until 24 September 1919.

“PP” Series: Italy (for Heavy Artillery Units in 1917)

APO P.P.1 used by the office supporting the units of the Royal Artillery sent to help the Italians in 1917 used between 18 July 1917 and 18 December 1918. Early examples often found with Italian Censor marks.





“R”Series – Divisional Railhead Post Office

This series ran from APO R.1 to APO R.74 with R.67 to R.73 not being used. The number was the number of the Division that the Railhead supported, thus APO R.1 was the 1st Divisional Railhead and APO R.50 was the 50th (Northumbrian) Divisional Railhead.

At Divisional railheads, whilst using the normal double ring “APO R” handstamp some railheads also used a stamp with the inner ring on the lower arc of the base flattened thus giving the appearance of a horse shoe.

Other “R” Series – Divisional Railhead Post Offices

APO R.A.1, used by the 1st Ammunition Railhead in France between 28 April 1915 and 8 November 1917, possibly also used in 1918.

APO R.A.2, used by 2nd Ammunition Railhead in France between 21 February 1915 and October 1917.

APO R.B, used by the Guards Division Railhead from August 1915 when the Guards battalions in France formed the Guards Division.





In this example the censoring officer has over stamped the post mark.

APO R.C.1, 1st Cavalry Division Railhead

APO R.C.2, 2nd Cavalry Division Railhead

APO R.C.3 3rd Cavalry Division Railhead

APO R.C.4, Dismounted Cavalry Division Railhead

APO R.G, GHQ Railhead.

APO RHD, Highland Division Railhead – became APO R.51.

APO RL, London Division Railhead – became APO R.47.

APO RM, North Midland Division Railhead – became APO R.46.

APO RN, Northumbrian Division Railhead – became APO R.50. Used by Northumbrian Division in April 1915 and then by 63rd (Royal Naval) Division in 1916.

APO RSM, used by South Midland Division – became APO R.48.





APO RWR, used by the West Riding Division – became APO R.49.

APO RP1 to APO RP5, re-designation of the APO RX1 to APO RX5 series allotted to the Canadian Divisions.

Railhead 4th Canadian Division.

APO RW1 to APO RW5, allotted to the 1st to 5th Australian Divisions.

Railhead 5th Australian Division.

APO RX to APO RX4 allotted to the Canadian Corps and re-designated APO RP1 – APO RP5 in 1917.

Railhead 3rd Canadian Division.

APO RX12, XII Corps Railhead, Janis Station, Salonika Front from September 1917.

APO RX16, XVI Corps Railhead Salonika Front, September 1917 – November 1918.

APO R.Y. a spare date stamp used by 63rd Division then 59th Division during security changes. [see piece on security changes].

APO RZ, allocated to the Railhead of the New Zealand Division.





“S” Series: Stationary Post Offices and Location.

APO S1, Abbeville re-designation of APO?

APO S2, Orleans 22 January 1915 – 27 February 1915 to St Omer 1 April 1916 to 27 April 1918.

APO S3, Nantes re-designation of APO 49 to Wimereux to Mervile.

APO S4, Le Mans to Poperinghe,

APO S5, Paris – became Berlin Courier 22 December 1919 – 9 May 1921.

APOS6, St Nazaire.

APO S7, Marsellies.

APO S8, Dieppe,

APO S9, Etretat,

APO S10, Dunkirk re-designation of APO 78.

APO S11, Etaples re-designation of APO 100.

APO S12, Harfleur.

APO S13, Le Treport,

APO S14, Calais 24 April 1915, Frevent 24 July 1916, Cassel 11 June 1918 – 28 March 1919.

APO S15, Bruyere Camp Rouen.

APO S16, Serqueux.

APO S17, Etaples (Reinforcement Camp).

APO S18, Camiers.

APO S19, Lumbres.

APO S20, Watten 16 October 1915, Wissant 28 November 16, Rinxent 9 January 1918, Marquise March 1918.

APO S21, Romescamp 13 June 1916, Abancourt 3 October 1917.

APO S22, Etaples (Canadian Base Depot).

APO S23, Cayeux sur Somme.





APO S24, Calais-Beamarais.

APO S25, Aire sur La Lys.

APO S26, Corbie 26 August 1916, Flixecourt 4th Army Depot 13 June 1918, Amiens 30 August 1918.

APO S27, Caudebec.

APO S28, St Saens.

APO S29, Fecamp,

APO S30, Onival 16 September 1916, ?, Doullens 22 June 1918, Cambrai 31 August 1918.

APO S31, Equiter 14 September 1916, HQ L of C Pourville 27 July 1918.

APO S32, St Omer area 9 December 1916, Poperinghe area 22 June 1918, St Omer 12 December 1919.

APO S33, Etaples 16 December 1916, La Calotterie (Water Transport Directorate) October 1918.

APO S34, Open in two locations between 20 January 1917 and 13 June 1918, Crecy 27 July 1918.

APO S35, Tilques 6 January 1917.

APO S36, Zeneghem.

APO S37, Amiens (5th Army Depot) 10 February 1917, Noyelles 24 August 1918.

APO S38, Wimereaux 24 February 1917.

APO S39, Dannes 24 February 1917.

APO S40, Ambeteuse 12 may 1917, Hazebrucke (2nd Army Depot) 5 January 1918, Wizernes 30 may 1918, Cologone 26 December 1918, Weisbaden ?, Cologne Riehl Barracks 14 June 1922, Weisbaden 1925 – 1929. Lots of Sub Offices.

APO S41, France 22 March 1917.

APO S42, Albert (3rd Army Depot South) 28 March 1917, Doullens 15 April 1918.

APO S43, Mony 14 April 1917.

APO S44, Buchy 14 April 1917.

APO S45, France 21 April 1917, Longpre 31 August 1918, Germany, Eisenborn Camp 7 June 1919.

APO S46, Peronne 21 April 1917, Aire sur Lys 21 April 1918.

APO S47, Arras 5 May 1917, Agnes des Doisans 11 July 1918.





APO S48. Haute Avesnes 28 April 1917.

APO S49, St Pol

APO S.50, Cherbourg 19 May 1917 – 26 July 1919.

APO S.51, Bethune 18 August 1916 – 28 November 1916, C0rbie 27 August 1917 – 26 July 1919.

APO S.52, 7 April 1917 several locations until Dec 1918 when it opened in Euskirchen, Germany.

APO S 53, Rebreux 3 April 1917, Canblair 4 May 1917, Villers au Bois 13 July 1917 – 22 July 1919.

APO S.54, Douai 25 May 1917 – 15 November 1919.

APO S.55, Marseilles Camp Musse, 19 May 1917 – 8 February 1919.

APO S.56, open 15 June 1917 – 18 May 1918 Loc Unknown, Albert 14 September 1918 – 25 Jan 1919.

APO S.57, open 14 July 1917 – 24 November 1917 Loc Unknown, Fruges 18 May1918 – 25 March 1919.

APO S.58, Albert 2 June 1917 Bethune 26 October 1917 – 5 July 1919.

APO S.59, St Valery Sur Somme, 2 June 1917 – 28 July 1919.

APO S.60, Trouville Camp, Deauville, 2 June 1917 – 12 May 1919.

APO S.61, Edwartshock, 14 July 1917 – 24 August 1918, Amiens, 29 October 1918 – 30 September 1920.

APO S.62, Cassel, 30 June 1917 – 26 April 1919.

APO S.63, II Corps Area 2 July 1917 – 16 October 1918, Bonn 11 January 1919 – 10 August 1919.

APO S.64, France, 5 July 1917 – 20 December 1918, Germany 26 Feb 1919 – 1924 [Various Locations].

APO S.65, Belgium, 21 July 1917 – 11 January 1919, Germany, Eusekirchen 18 January 1919 – 28 July 1919.

APO S.66, Wormhoudt, 21 July 1917 – 20 October 1917, Ypres May 1918 – 3 September 1918 Unknown Location 25 January 1919 – 16 August 1919.

APO S.67, France, 18 July 1917, Cassel 22 June 1918 – 8 November 1919.

APO S.68, Watten, 5 August 1917 – 3 November 1918, Germany, Bonn, 15 December 1918 – 10 January 1919, TO APO S.63.

APO S.69, British Miliatary Mission to the Portuguese Army, Lens 26 May 1917 – 10 May 1919.





APO S.70, Italy, Faenza, 21 July 1917 – 15 November 1919.

APO S.71, Walincourt, 28 April 1917 – 21 December 1918, 1st Army area 15 March 1919 – 18 October 1919.

APO S.72, Achiet le Grand, 24 February 1917 – 31 March 1917, Argueves, 8 September 1917 – 3 February 1919.

APO S73, Vendroux, 10 November 1917 – December 1919.

APO S74, Frevent 6 January 1917 – 17 September 1917, Bertincourt 15 December 1917 – 21 March 1918, Doulens 20 April 1918 – 19 October 1918, Brussels 8 December 1918 – 8 March 1919.

APO S75, Acheux 8 December 1916 – 25 March 1918, Poullons 26 March 1918 - 8 April 1918, Hoymille 29 June 1918 – 14 December 1918.

APO S76, Albert area 15 November 1916 – June 1917, Peronne 26 April 1918 – 7 September 1918, Namur 17 December 1918 – 9 January 1919.

APO S77, Somme area 1 September 1916 – 25 March 1918, Arqueves 25 March 1918 – 23 May 1918, Arras 20 July 1918 – December 1919.

APO S78, Bailleul 8 September 1917 – April 1918, Near Poperinghe May 1918 – 15 June 1918, Unknown location 13 July 1918 – 2 February 1919.

APO S79, Le Torquet 5 September 1917 – 5 July 1919.

APO S80, Unknown location 27 January 1917 – 4 August 1917, Roisel 5 January 1918 – 21 March 1918, damaged by shell fire and evacuated , Caudry 31 March 1918 – 4 July 1918, Unknown location 11 February 1919 – 11 October 1919.

APO S81, Armentieres, 26 April 1918 – 24 June 1919.

APO S82, Rue 15 June 1918 – 22 March 1919.

APO S83, Trouville 27 July 1918 – 4 October 1919.

APO S.85, St Germaine Au Mont d’or, Allier Transit Camp, 21 July 1917 – December 1919.

APO S86, Verton near Dieppe, 17 April 1918 – 5 July 1919.

APO S87, Pont de l’Arche 15 January 1918 – 16 July 1919 [RAF Workshop 12 miles from Rouen].

APO S88, Henriville Camp Boulogne, 23 November 1918 – 31 October 1919.

APO S89, Audresselles, 29 June 1918 - 21 June 1919.

APO S90, Crecy area 27 March 1918 – 22 December 1918, Roubaix 12 February 1919 – December 1919.





APO S91, Marlboro Camp near Boulogne, 30 November 1918 – 31 October 1919.

APO S92, Bethune area, 16 March 1918 – 15 March 1919.

APO S93, Courban, 6 April 1918 – 27 january 1919.

APO S94, Headin 2 April 1918 – 31 October 1919 [From FPO TG?]

APO S95, St Pol, 11 May 1918 – 30 September 1920.

APO S96, Unknown location 11 April 1919 – 2 April 1919.

APO S97, Nancy area, 14 September 1918 – 4 January 1919.

APO S98, Romescamps, 20 April 1918 – 4 January 1919.

APO S99, Pont de Briques, 9 November 1918 – 13 September 1919.

APO S100, Taranto [Italy] 26 May 1917 – 15 November 1919.

APO S101, Arquata [Italy] 10 November 1917 – 22 June 1918 re-designated APO L1.

APO S102, Unknown Locations, 30 May 1918 – 9 August 1919.

APO S103, Aulnois, 11 September 1918 – 15 February 1919.

APO S104, Nancy area, 15 June 1918 – 22 December 1918 [HQ Ind Force RAF].

APO S105, Charmes [Vosges] 15 June 1918 – 5 February 1919, Rotterdam [Holland] 8 March 1919 – 27 January 1920.

APO S106, Brussels, 15 January 1919 – 22 November 1919.

APO S107, Poperinghe, 1 October 1918 – 30 September 1920.

APO S108, Unknown location, 21 September 1918 – 10 May 1919.

APO S109, Motteville, 5 October 1918 – 24 May 1919.

APO S110, Antwerp, 1 February 1919 – 3 January 1921, Upper Silesia with 2nd Brigade June 1921.

APO S111, Dieppe area, 9 November 1918 – 31 May 1919.

APO S112, Unknown location, 9 November 1918 – 23 January 1919.

APO S113, This office probably never opened.

APO S114, Spa, 7 December 1918 – 22 November 1919.

APO S115, Charleroi, 7 December 1918 – 22 November 1919.





APO S116, Amiens area, 12 October 1918 – 11 October 1919.

APO S117, Brussels 30 August 1919 – 18 October 1919.

APO S118, Lille 20 October 1918 – 17 May 1919.

APO S119 Cambrai, 2 November 1918 – 5 December 1919.

APO S120, Germany, 28 December 1918 – 4 January 1919, Duren, 8 March 1919 – 8 November 1919, Allenstein, January 1920 – 13 August 1920, Oppeln Upper Silesia January 1921 – 16 February 1922.

APO S121, Unknown location, 2 November 1918 – 11 January 1919.

APO S122, APO S123, APO S125, APO S126 and APO S129 These APO’s operated but probably used other date stamps.

APO SW1 – APO SW4, Australian Stationary Post Offices.

APO SWZ – APO SWZ2, New Zealand Stationary Post Offices.

APO SX1 – APO SX24, Stationary Offices under Base Army Post Office X in Salonica.

APO SY1 – APO SY5, Stationary Offices under Base Army Post Office Y Turkey. [Note the S is not always included on the date stamp.]

APO SZ1 – APO SZ62, Stationary Offices under Base Army Post Office Z Egypt, Palastine & Lebanon.



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Contents · Researching First World War Postcards 2 ... Dunluce Castle and then possibly in Valetta on Malta and later Lemnos before opening in Alexandria on 5 April 1915, where it