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Headlines - British attack Italian-held Eritrea.... Tobruk captured.... Bulgaria joins Axis.... Lend-Lease US war supplies to Allies on loan.... Germany invades Yugoslavia, Greece, Crete.... Allies invade Syria, Lebanon.... Germany attacks Soviet Union.... Under Hitler's instructions, Göring orders SS general Heydrich to plan "the desired final solution of the Jewish question".... Japan attacks Pearl Harbor.... US declares war on Japan.... Germany declares war on US.... Japanese victory at Hong Kong.
Philatelic Events Definitives : Airmail : Other : Postmarks As a wartime economy measure, the 6 lowest denominations were printed with a shallower engraving of the background - this resulted in a lighter shade and saved money on ink. This was achieved by making a new drawing of the frames around the portrait. Weakening of inks was also trialled, but not found to be successful. - see - views. 21 July - Definitive issue of 2˝d 'light colour' 11 August - Definitive issue of 1d 'light colour' 1 September - Definitive issue of ˝d 'light colour' 6 October - Definitive issue of 2d 'light colour' 3 November - Definitive issue of 3d 'light colour'
Airmail - April - Start of airmail rate of 3d for postcards to / from the armed services in Middle East, East Africa, Malta and the Royal Navy - lasting until late 1942. 21 April - Start of the airgraph service. At first from Cairo where Middle East Forces could send airgraphs to Britain, this service was extended to public use in 1942. 21 May - Extension to the mail service across the 'northern' trans-Atlantic route then across the US and on to Australasia/Asia (see 3 July 1940). Destinations now include Burma, Ceylon, Dutch East Indies, India, Malaya and Siam.
21 July - Prisoner of War air letter issued with a 2˝d imprinted stamp. 1 September - Railway Air Services started England - Northern Ireland service carrying airmail in both directions. Mail carried by rail to Liverpool for censorship, then flown to Belfast. An air fee of 3d per 8 ounces for packets and 3d for postcards had to be paid in addition to the ordinary inland postage. Letters posted on 30 / 31 August arrived at 9.30 a.m. on 2 September in Northern Ireland. 24 December - Postmaster General announced that a special airmail postcard service for mail to the armed services in Malaya had been established with the Post Office Special Services Departments and British Overseas Airway Corporation. Postage rate of 3d.
Other - Postwomen allowed to wear trousers - their hat is replaced by a peaked cap.
Postmarks - All entries, except *, are taken from Special Event Postmarks of the United Kingdom by George R. Pearson. Published by the British Postmark Society, 1991 who give kind permission for reproduction.
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