A cover dated 10 May 1945 with a Post Office Express Delivery label. Pilot Officer FM Numan sent this to relations in Jersey. He was based at RAF North Weald, which is in Epping Forest, hence the Epping Single Circular cancellation. North Weald was an important Spitfire base during the war. The letter was franked with 2½d and 6d KGVJ stamps. However, the ruling rate at that time was 6d. Express Mail was in theory sent by special messenger.
The German Commander in Jersey formally signed the surrender documents at 10.45 on May 9 and British Forces are reported to have arrived in the afternoon. The first mail to leave the Channel Islands was cancelled on May 9. This cover was sent Express Delivery, and should therefore have arrived as soon as any ordinary mail posted in the UK on Armistice Day.
Our member, Robert Corden (robert.corden@talk21.com) asks…. “Can any member please help me with uniform 4d post which pre-dated 1d post and was used on the mainland for a very short period. I understand that only 1000 covers were used and most of these in Scotland.
Were these used in the Channel Islands? Or are any known which were sent to the CI.”
Robert Corden
(Tel: 01932 848623)
