Postal History of Kenya

A study of the postmarks of the British military in pre-independence Kenya.

This part of the collection covers the military concentration in Kenya following the Mau Mau period, through the 'Pre-Independence' period for the three East African countries, (Tanganyika 12/12/61, Uganda 12/12/62 and Kenya 12/12/63.) followed by the forces and F.P.O. that remained and served in East Africa after the independence dates.
The military worked alongside the Local Kenya Police, King's African Rifles and the Kenya Regiment. The British forces were also involved in the Kuwait crises of 1961, the Zanzibar Rebellion, the Tanganyika Rebellion and the Swaziland emergency all in 1964. On at least two occasions F.P.O. from Kenya accompanied troops, '1041' to Kuwait and '124' to Swaziland. Both are represented in this collection.

The covers are arranged philatelically by the Field Post Office (F.P.O.) numbers and not necessarily by date. Also given is visual description of each numbered canceller recorded with the various no-lettering, lettering and symbols, these are shown either by hand drawn or photostatted copies of original strikes followed by examples of usage on covers. Many of these strikes are recorded here for the first time others extend the known usage of the cancellers. Where possible covers have been selected that prove that the strike was used in the area stated, (These are known as proving covers).

Also recorded are the cachets used by individual Army regiments, Royal Air Force and for completion the Royal Navy (Unfortunately only one cover). Most of the cachets are on cover or piece but also added are cachets cut from covers at the time (out of the waste paper baskets). Again this is to build up as complete a picture as possible.
Where possible usage dates for cancellers and cachets are given together with place of usage. Because of troop movement apart from being in Kenya this is not always possible but it is hoped that as others contribute to website gaps in present knowledge will be filled in.

E.R. Earliest record.
I.R. Latest record.

F.P.O. 34.
Unrecorded.
Only known date.
14/7/(61).

F.P.O. 96.
Unrecorded.
E.R. 1/1/61.
I.R. 24/2/63.

F.P.O. 99.
Unrecorded.
E.R. 8/12/61.

F.P.O. 121.
Unrecorded.
E.R. 23/4/63.
I.R. 4/10/63.
Damaged '2'?
Round outer frame.

F.P.O. 121.
Unrecorded.

F.P.O. 121.
Unrecorded.
Large oval frame with time.

TYPE 1.

'Blackwell' cancellers named after the manufacturer. They were intended for official mail but were used as receiving strikes and on occasion for cancelling mail.

Dunfermlin.
(Scotland)
11/7/61.

Receiving
Strike.
F.P.O. 34.
14/7/(61).
Unrecorded.

Part cover to
B.F.P. 10
(Nairobi
Kenya).

Rated 5^1/2d.
i.e. 2^1/2d per
oz 1^1/2d. part
thereafter.

	London W.1. 22/11/61.
Forces air letter rated 6d. to Kenya.

Forces Post Office.
96. E.A. H.Q.

Reverse cachet.
H.Q. East Africa.

3d. rated air mail cover to the United Kingdom. This canceller is unrecorded but origination is proved by the reverse cachet and date. During the pre-independence period for Tanganyika (1961), Uganda (1962) and Kenya (1963). British troops were stationed in Kenya using the infrastructure put into place for the Mau Mau rebellion these troops were used once during the three year period in Kuwait (1961) and three times after Independence in Zanzibar, Tanganyika and in Swaziland (all in 1964).

	F.P.O. 96. Nairobi Kenya. 13/1/1961.
F.P.O. 96. 'Blackwell' Mark/canceller used on piece as a receiving strike on official, postage free mail.

Command
Workshop.
REME
8/6/62.
East Africa.

F.P.O. 99.
8/6/62.
Nairobi.
Kenya.

F.P.O. 99. 'Blackwell' used as a receiving strike at Nairobi on official, postage free mail.
F.P.O. is confirmed to Nairobi by same day strike as cachet.

Used on piece with F.P.O. 1055.
Confirming Nairobi. 9/8/63.

Cachet.
East Africa
Command.
1/5/63.

Cachet.
Certified
Official.
(signed).

F.P.O. 121.
Nairobi
Kenya.
1/5/63.

O.H.M.S.
Official postage free cover to United Kingdom with 'Blackwell' used as a canceller.

'Blackwell' with time setting.
Used on piece with F.P.O. 1055.
9/8/63. Note. Close outer circle.

F.P.O. 123.
No letter.

F.P.O. 123.
'A'

F.P.O. 123.
'B'

F.P.O. 123.
'C'

F.P.O. 123. Unrecorded by Proud.
E.R. 19/10/64.
I.R. 20/11/64.

F.P.O. 124.
No letter.

F.P.O. 124.
'A'

F.P.O. 129.
'A'

Unrecorded by Proud.
E.R. 9/1/64.
I.R. 3/11/64.

Unrecorded by Proud.
Only record. 19/6/62.
TYPE 3.

F.P.O. 218.
Unrecorded by Proud.
Only record 11/11/63.

F.P.O. 256.
Recorded by Proud.
April 53 - 2/9/61.
Extended to 21/6/61.

TYPES 2 & 3.

	Teddington. Middlesex. 2/10/64.
3d. Meter mark, commercial cover to H.Q.E.A. Command redirected back to the United Kingdom with two different forwarding F.P.O. 123 strikes on 4/11/64.

F.P.O. 123. (No letter).
Nairobi - 4/11/64.

F.P.O. 123. (Letter 'A').
Nairobi - 4//1/64.

Scans of reverse strikes.

F.P.O. 123 - Type 2. Only seen used as a forwarding strike after independence.

London.
15/10/64.

Cachet.
Forces Air mail.

F.P.O. 123.
19/10/64.

Manuscript.
Redirected
19/10/64.

6d. Forces overseas rate to B.F.P.O. 10. redirected back to United Kingdom. Providing the cover was not opened this service was free. On redirection it has received the F.P.O.123 of nairobi.

TYPE 2(Letter 'B').Only seen as a forwarding strike after independence.

F.P.O. 124.
28/4/64.

Gilgil.
Kenya.
28/4/64.

Cachet.
Nakuru
Postal
Services.
29/4/64.

Cachet.
Certified
Official.

Part cover originating with what had been the K.A.R.
and was now part of the new Kenya Army at Gilgil. Members of the British Forces were seconded
to Kenya Military for training purposes. This piece ties the strike to Gilgil.
After posting in the military system it would have been passed on to the civil post office for delivery.

F.P.O. 124. TYPE 2(No letter).

Military cachet and strike from second part cover.
F.P.O. 124. (TYPE 2 (Letter 'A'). 9/1/64.

Norwich.
4/5/62.

F.P.O. 129.
Kenya.
19/6/62.

Parts of a cover to B.P.O. 10. (Kenya).
It would appear that the F.P.O. 129 is a receiving strike for Kenya.
This F.P.O. was at the time according to Proud in its last month at
Kowloon - Hong Kong. But this would appear to be incorrect and more
information is required.

	F.P.O. 218. 11/11/63.
Cover from an unidentified F.P.O. address to B.F.P.O.10 - Kenya. redirected by Staff Sergeant Hunt who's signature confirmed the cover to Kenya.

Reverse
cachet.
Post Room.
16/12/159.
H.Q.
East Africa.

F.P.O. 256.
24/12/59.
(No letter).
(Buller Camp
- Nairobi).

Over weight forces air mail cover (probably a Christmas card) rated 7^1/2d. to B.F.P.O. 39. - Aden

Scan of reverse address and Post Room cachet.

F.P.O. 256.
7/10/60.
(No letter).

Cachet.
Bn. Orderly Room.
7/10/60.
1^st Bt. The King's
Regiment.
manchester &
Liverpool.

Cachet.
Certified Official.

O.H.M.S. Cover from The King's Regiment Manchester and Liverpool to
H.Q.E.A.C. at Buller Camp using the F.P.O. 256 strike. The regiment moved to Kenya
late in 1959 for moved to Kenya late in 1959 for the Mau Mau rebellion. First stationed
at Gilgil and then at Muthaiga just outside of Nairobi. They moved to the Persian Gulf
in late June 1961 returning in October that year to be returned to Great Britain early
in 1962. It would appear from the F.P.O. 256 strike that they were at Muthaiga at the time this cover was sent.

F.P.O. 256 no letter. (TYPE 2).

F.P.O.256.
24/11/60
(No letter.)

Cachet.
Flight Office.
23/11/60.
8 Independent
Recce Flight.
Army Air Corps

Cachet.
Certified Offical.

O.H.M.S. Civer from The 8 Independent Recce flight. To H.Q.E.A.F. at Buller Camp - Nairobi.
The flight was stationed in Nairobi West, presumably at Wilson's Airport. I have also seen the camp referred to as R.N.A.S. Camp - Nairobi.
It was concerned with assisting the army and Kenya Police with aerial reconnaissance.

F.P.O. 256 no letter (Type 2).
Record by Proud in Kenya April 53 - 2/9/61.

F.P.O. 256.
1/2/61.
(Nairobi).
(No letter).

Cachet.
Headquarters
Bn. K.A.R.

Cachet.
Forces Mail.

Local mail to H.Q.E.A.C. using 2d. stamp (printed paper rate) cancelled with F.P.O. 256 canceller.

Scan of reverse showing sender as a British Officer in Nairobi.

British officers were seconded from the British Army/

F.P.O.256. No letter (TYPE 2).

F.P.O. 256.
2/12/60.
(Buller Camp.
Nairobi).
30/11/60.
(No letter).

Cachet.
'A' Branch (REME?).
H.Q.E.A.F.
(Buller Camp
Nairobi).
2/12/60.

War Office 'Economy Label' used from H.Q.E.A.C. - Buller Camp
used to the Military Bus Service and redirected to the Welfare Office. The
connection would have been that of the bus was carried out by R.E.M.E.

F.P.O. 256.
27/12/60.
R.A.F. Eastleigh -
Nairobi).
(No letter).

Nairobi (civil)
27/12/60.

This cover was posted (innocently) by myself at the post office on
R.A.F. Eastleigh using at 25c. local stamp.
Instead of the necessary 3d. G.B. stamp. (That night in the hotel
I was moaned at by cp;/ Pigeon i/c the post office and informed that
it had been transferred to the civil mails as shown).

F.P.O. 256. No letter (TYPE 2).

Cachet.
Movement Control.
15/5/63.
KILINDINI.

Cachet.
Certified Official.

O.H.M.S. Cover from Kilindini (Mombasa Docks) to H.Q.E.A.C. Nairobi.
There is no indication as to whether this cover travelled by military or civil posts.

F.P.O. 256.
9/12/60.
(No letter).
(TYPE 2).

Cachet.
Garrison Unit.
Mombasa.
B.F.P.O.10.

Cachet.
Certified
Official.

O.H.M.S. cover from Mombasa to H.Q.E.A.C. Nairobi. F.P.O. 256
has never been recoded as being in Mombasa and was probably used as a receiving
strike in Nairobi.
(P.O. Box 4000 was the old military post box in Nairobi before B.F.P.O. 10 was introduced.)

Military mail originating in Mombasa - Kenya.

H.Q.E.A.C.
E.M.E. Branch.
1/1/61 (1/2/61?).

F.P.O. 2(56).
1/2/61.
(Nairobi)
(No letter).

Cachet.
Post Room.
H.Q. East Africa.
1/2/61.

Cachet.
Certified Official.

Cachet.
'48'.
Belgium Congo.
Route number.

O.H.M.S. cover from H.Q.E.A.F. to the Belgium Congo. 'Rebut; re-routed to Ruanda.


Scan of reverse Belgium Congo strikes.

At the time the Belgium Congo was in turmoil after the revolution. Troops of the United Nation were to be seen in the streets of nairobi and this cover may have something to do with these problems.

F.P.O. 256. No letter (TYPE 2).

	F.P.O. 567. 2/ (?)/62. (Letter 'A') Nairobi.
F.P.O. 567. used on air mail cover to United Kingdom.

Scan of reverse address.

Cover from Mrs Mathews to her husband who was on course in the U.K.

F.P.O. 567. Letter 'A'. (TYPE 2).


F.P.O. 567. 22/5/62. (Nairobi - Kenya). (letter 'A').	Cachet. 210 Signals Squadron 21/5/62. (Infantry Brigade).	Reg. Label. manuscript. (F.P.O.) 567.

Cutting from large local O.H.M.S. cover addressed to H.Q.E.A.F. Nairobi.

F.P.O. 567. 28/3/62. (Letter 'A').

3d. Forces concession mail from H.Q.E.A.C. to United Kingdom using F.P.O. 567 strike as a canceller.

F.P.O. 567 TYPE 2

	Nairobi. 19/4/62.
	Reverse. F.P.O. 576. (Nairobi) 20/4/62. (No letter).
Local cover to H.Q.E.A.C. with F.P.O. 576 as a receiving strike.

Reverse.
F.P.O. 576.
(Nairobi)
19/3/62.
(No letter).

Reverse cachet.
H.Q.E.A.C.
E.M.E. Branch.
17/3/62.

3d. Forces concession rate to the United Kingdom using F.P.O. 576 as a canceller.

F.P.O. 576 No letter (TYPE 2).

F.P.O. 576.
10/3/62.
(Nairobi).

Reading.
15/3/62.
(Retour).

F.P.O. 576. used on air mail cover to United Kingdom with scan of reverse address and confirming cachet.

Scan of reverse address and cachet.

Covers from Mrs. Mathews to her husband who was on a course in the U.K.

F.P.O. 576. (TYPE 2). Used in Nairobi.

F.P.O. 576.
20/6/61.
(Letter 'A').
(Nairobi).

F.P.O. 256.
20/9/61.
(No letter).
Proving strike
For Nairobi.

2d. Local printed paper rate to H.Q.E.A.C. using F.P.O. 576 as a canceller. As far as I am aware this is the only recorded strike of this canceller since it was used in Egypt during 1949.

F.P.O. 576. Letter 'A'. (Type 2).

	F.P.O. 576. 20/8/61. (Nairobi - Kenya). (Letter 'B')/
2d. rated (printed paper rate) cover from REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) to the local 'Auto Spares' company. From other correspondence it would appear that there was a back log in repairs and this resulted in orders being placed locally.

Cachet. R.E.M.E. Regiment. R.H.A.		F.P.O.656. 9/12/61. (No letter). (Nairobi).
F.P.O. 656 on piece. Collected from R.E.M.E. mail from H.Q.E.A.C. Buller Camp Nairobi.

The 3^rd Royal Horse Artillery were posted to Kenya +- 1959 and were stationed at Gilgil with a standby commitment to fly to Oman in the Persian Gulf if required. They also 'flew the flag' in Kenya and Uganda.

F.P.O. 656.
6/7/62.
(No letter).
(Nairobi).

Cachet.
Save While
You Serve.

Reverse cachet.
H.Q.E.A.C.
6/7/62.
E.M.E. Branch.

Incoming 'Forces Mail' from the United Kingdom cancelled and cacheted on arrival in Nairobi.

Scans of reverse address and proving cachet.

F.P.O. 656. No letter. (TYPE 2).

F.P.O. 656.
6/12/61.
(Nairobi - Kenya).
(No letter).

Cachet.
60 TPT COY
WKSP REME.
5/12/61.

F.P.O. 656 used on local O.H.M.S. postage free cover from 60 Transport Company Workshop REME.
This F.P.O. has been incorrectly record as Cyprus until 30/6/62.

	Jersey 1/4/63.
	Reverse strike. F.P.O. 656. 7/5/63. (Nairobi - Kenya). (No letter).
F.P.O. 656 used a redirection strike back to the United Kingdom. 6d. rate from Jersey - Forces concession air mail rate for 'not over 1^1/2 oz.'

F.P.O. 656. TYPE 2.
Unrecorded in Kenya by Proud. E.R. 5/12/61. I.R. 7/5/63.

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