|
This page - Royal Events :
Philatelic Events
|
January
|
|
February
|
|
March
|
|
April
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May
|
|
June
|
|
July
|
|
August
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
| |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September
|
|
October
|
|
November
|
|
December
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sa
|
Su
|
| |
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Headlines - Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin at
Yalta Conference.... US/British victories in Far East....
Horrors of concentration camps broadcast.... Roosevelt
dies; Truman President.... Mussolini hanged....
Hitler commits suicide.... V-E Day.... British take over
Lebanon, Syria.... Germany divided by Allies.... Atomic bombs dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.... V-J Day.... US occupy southern....
Korea, Soviets occupy north.... United Nations founded.
Royal Events
8 May : Victory in Europe Day - ecstatic crowds stand at Buckingham Palace to
greet the Royal family and the Prime Minister. The King makes a broadcast in the
evening.
Visit to the liberated
Channel Islands.
5 July - election day and the surprise defeat of Winston Churchill, (announced
25 July). Clement Atlee (Labour) becomes the new Prime Minister. George is
naturally very saddened to see Winston go.
15 August : Victory over Japan - George gives his thanks to all who served and
those who suffered, he goes on to remind the people of the need to now rebuild
the nation and the Commonwealth.
|
Philatelic Events
Airmail : Other
: Postmarks
As the war came to an end at the start of 1945, many people considered how
victory would be celebrated. The idea of a special stamp issue was widely
supported, but all efforts continued to be focussed on finishing the war and the
country was in a very bad economic situation - the idea that a stamp issue would
raise funds from abroad seems to have been rejected.
Victory postmarks went ahead using dies that
had been issued back in 1943, but stamps would have to wait.
Cover for VJ Day with rarer 15 August (a Bank Holiday) Victory bells postmark
>
|
 |
Many members of the public submitted calls for Victory
stamps to the Post Office - some even sent in their own designs.
|
Airmail -
Map showing British Transport Command Air Routes in 1945.
Routes for British military, and official service air mails.
March - 1½d forces
air-letter on sale. Use extended from 13
July to send to forces in Australia, New Zealand and South West Pacific
area, replacing the 6d air letter.
29 March - announcement that all 1½d prepaid
letters up to 1 ounce, and 1d prepaid postcards to be sent by airmail to
armed forces in British Northern Africa, Central Mediterranean, Malta,
Middle East, Persia, Iraq, East Africa, Aden, Gibraltar and the Palestine
Police Force. [see also 27 April].
21 April - first civil air service between London and Scotland since
outbreak of war.
Railway Air Services daily Croydon - Prestwick.
27 April - airmail [see 29 March] now extended to West Africa, Northern and
Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland and South Africa.
|
 |
June - special airmails sent to services overseas for the
Parliamentary Election. Envelopes printed in red with 'Official Paid' frank
in red containing ballot paper, declaration of identity, airmail envelopes
for return, and information about the candidates. No despatch date
postmarks, but most mail backstamped.
2 July - Scottish Airways commence Stornoway to Glasgow (one way only) 'Airway
Letter' service. Cachet applied. 4d fee. (Until 1947 when Scottish Airways taken
over by BEA).
3 July - new air service between Gothenburg and London.
9 July - end of
airgraph service to Canada.
31 July - end of the
airgraph service
9 August - airmail accepted for
Iceland; 5d first ounce, 3d each additional ounce, postcards 2½d.
6 September - airmail
accepted for Dodecanese Islands; 5d first ounce, 3d each additional ounce,
postcards 2½d.
7 September - airmail
accepted for France and Switzerland; 5d first ounce, 3d each additional ounce,
postcards 2½d.
10 September - resumption of first
class airmail to
Channel Islands. Mail carried by Channel Islands Airways Ltd, formed
from the pre-war Jersey Airways and Guernsey Airways
14 September -
airmail accepted for all-air services to Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius,
Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Portuguese East Africa, Reunion, Seychelles,
Somalia, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, Tanganyika, Uganda and Zanzibar; 1/3
per
½ ounce for letters, postcards 7d, air-letters 6d, (except
Madagascar and Reunion).
25 September -
limited airmail service to Australia and New Zealand (arriving in NZ on 5
October) for businesses only. Maximum weight
½ ounce costing 1/3, and no more than 2 letters per week from
any business. Letters had to be sent to the Department for Overseas Trade and
endorsed 'Anzair'.
28
September - airmail accepted for Hong Kong, Malay States, Strait Settlements,
Siam, French Indo China; 1/3 per half ounce, postcards 7d, air-letters 6d.
29
September - airmail accepted for Holland; 5d for 1 ounce, postcards 2½d.
4
October - airmail accepted for Danzig; 5d for 1 ounce, postcards 2½d.
12
October - airmail accepted for Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Vatican; 5d for 1
ounce, postcards 2½d.
18
October - airmail accepted for China (except Manchuria); 1/6 per ½ ounce,
postcards 9d, air-letters 6d. Also to Philippines; 4/3 per ½ ounce, postcards
2/1, and to Guam; 3/9 per ½ ounce, postcards 1/10 - [a cheaper rate by surface
to USA then by air was also available; Philippines 3/- per ½ ounce, postcards
1/6, and Guam 2/6 per ½ ounce, postcards 1/3].
22
October - start of twice daily airmail service; Paris - Croydon by Air France.
22 October - AEA's last flying-boat flight
from Foynes to New York. Excambian flown by Captain Blair who made the
first flight for AEA in 1942. DC4 landplanes are then used by AEA for their
trans-Atlantic flights. This is the beginning of the end for the flying-boat
service - Pan Am ends its service a week later - BOAC continue its
trans-Atlantic flying boat service a little longer.
23
October - start of daily airmail service; Brussels - London by Sabena.
 |
24
October - start of winter trans-Atlantic service; Poole, Lisbon, Bathurst,
Natal, Belem, Trinidad, Bermuda, Baltimore by British Airways.
< 24 October -
first flight by American Airlines from Hurn (Hants) to Boston and New York
using DC4 landplanes.
For Boston, covers backstamped Oct 26).
28 October - Pan Am start to use DC4
landplanes for its trans-Atlantic service. First flight made by airplane
Atlantic.
29 October - A Boeing 314A, NC18609,
made Pan Am's last flying-boat service from Foynes to New York.
9
November - announcement that air mail letters for Australia, New Zealand and
South West Pacific (1/3 per half ounce / 7d for postcards) would be carried all
the way by air. Previously only 6d airletters were flown all the way.
|
|
10
November - start of 'Springbok' service by British Airways from Hurn to
Johannesburg. The pilot of the first flight was Captain E. F. Palmer, flying an
Avro York aircraft. The flight arrived at Johannesburg on 13 November. Covers by
British Airways - 'British Airways / Speedbird emblem / South African
Airways Re-opening of direct United Kingdom South Africa Air mail service First
Flight.' The flight from Johannesburg to Hurn (leaving 10 November) was
piloted by Captain F.C.J. Fry flying an Avro York aircraft. The flight arrived
at Hurn on 12 November.
20 November - first flight by American Airlines from
Hurn to Chicago. Cachet on back of cover reads; 'This is to certify
that this cover was carried on the first commercial flight from London (Hurn
Airport) England, November 20th, 1945 to Chicago (Municipal Airport)
U.S.A. (arrival November 21st, 1945.
The plane used was the "Flagship Chicago" (land plane) of the AMERICAN
AIRLINES SYSTEM
American Overseas Airlines, Inc.'
>
23
November - first service by American Airlines from Washington, Philadelphia,
Gander, Rineanna to Hurn.
|
 |
29
November - airmail accepted for Albania and Hungary, at 5d for first ounce, 2½d
for postcards).
30
November - airmail accepted for British North Borneo, Brunei, Burma, Hong Kong,
Malaya and Sarawak, at 1/3 per half ounce for letters, 6d for postcards and
airletters).
Other -
7 April - Forces letter available at 1½d rate. For use to and
from GB, initially to armed forces in North Africa and Middle East; later in
April to South and West Africa, and in July to Australasia. Forms printed by
McCorquodale & Co Ltd. Two main types were issued with various shadings.
|
April - 150 bags of mail from France were received after they had been hidden in
Paris for five years since June 1940. Cachet applied; DETAINED IN FRANCE DURING
GERMAN OCCUPATION.
Picture from Philatelic Bulletin, March 1986 >
July - The Post Office Guide, suspended for nearly 4 years during the war, is re-issued,
price 1/-.
November - the order forbidding the printing of stamp albums
to conserve paper supplies is repealed (started September 1942).
|
 |
Postmarks -
All entries, except those marked *, 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.
|
22 to 29? May - 'Edinburgh C S'. Church of
Scotland Assembly. Skeleton handstamp. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
22 to 30 October - 'London S.W.1. C.C.I.F.'
International Telephone Conference, (CCIF = Comite Consultatif International
Telephonique). Single circle, steel handstamp. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* 1 December to 19 January 1946 - postmark 'UNITED NATIONS - LONDON 1945' with
globe, used in London Post Offices. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* 1 to 18 December - 'Post Early For
Christmas'. Block. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* 1 to 18 December - new Christmas postmark of a holly leaf decoration
with 'Post Early for Christmas',
used by many provincial Post Offices |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
* Victory Bells and V - about 400 dies sent in sealed
packages to UK Postmasters at the surprisingly early date of 1943. Strict
instructions were issued that the packages must only be opened after
instructions received.
First used after VE Day - 8 May to 9 June.
Second use after VJ Day - 15 August to 15 September.
VE and VJ Days were public holidays (2 days each) so most
postmarks are from 10 May / 17 August. [15 August cover above]. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Through the year - 'Post Early In The Day'. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1945 - 'Earl's Court Exhibition B.O. S.W.5.
Single circle steel handstamp. Was this issued during war?
Back to top
|
