Postal History of Kenya

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

F.P.O. 947. No letter.	F.P.O. 947. Asterisk
Unrecorded by Proud. E.R. 3/3/6. L.R. 28/9/63. (TYPE 4).

F.P.O. 947. No letter.	F.P.O. 967. Asterisk.	F.P.O. 967. Letter 'A'.
Not reported in Kenya by Proud after 7/2/61, extended until 22/9/61. (TYPE 4).

F.P.O. 970. No letter. Only recorded 31/7/62.	F.P.O. 970. Letter 'A'. Only recorded 14/7/62.
Unrecorded by Proud. (TYPE 4).

F.P.O. 997. No letter.	F.P.O. 997. Letter 'A'.	F.P.O. 997. Letter 'B'.	F.P.O. 997. Asterisk.
Unrecorded by Proud. E.R. 12/9/62. L.R. 18/3/63. (TYPE 3).


Nairobi. 28/9/63.	F.P.O. 28/9/63.	Cachet. E.A.C. 30/9/63.

O.H.M.S. Registered cover.

Nairobi. 28/9/63.	F.P.O. 947. 28/9/63. (No letter).

Scan of reverse.

O.H.M.S. Registered cover with postal frank from the department of Inland Revenue (Kenya) redirected to the United Kingdom by the military postal service using a F.P.O. 947 (without letter) on 28/9/63 receiving strike on the reverse and a F.P.O. 947 (with asterisk) as a forwarding strike on the front of the cover 30/9/63.

TYPE 4.


F.P.O. 947. 9/7/64.	Manuscript 947 on Registration Label.	Cachet. H.Q.E.A.C. 9/7/63.	Cachet. E.A.C. Postr Room. 9/7/63.	Cachet. Certified Offical.	F.P.O. 947. 21/3/63. Day of Issue.

Part large O.H.M.S. cover (Postage Free). From Nairobi - Kenya to United Kingdom.
Note signature of S.Sgt Hunt as it has been used several times to give 'point of origin'.

TYPE 4.

F.P.O. 947.
22/11/61.
(Kenya).
(With
asterisk).

F.P.O.
Reg. Lable.
Handstamp.
947.

Cachet.
Certified
Official.

Cachet.
Command
Pay Office.
Post Section.

O.H.M.S. Registered cover to H.Q.E.A.C.
F.P.O. 967 with asterisk. TYPE 4.

F.P.O. 967.
19/9/60.
(No letter).

F.P.O. 967.
19/6/60.
(Letter 'A').

Kingsway
Nairobi.

Receiving strikes on piece registered cover.

Kijade - Kenya.
24/9/60.

Postal Frank.
Police Station
Kihade.

F.P.O. 967.
Nairobi - Kenya.
TYPE 4.

O.H.M.S. Registered cover with postal frank of kijade Police Station address to H.Q.E.A.C. - Nairobi. The police worked with military during the Mau Mau emergency eventually taking over full control of the operation. After Mau Mau and during this period besides their normal police work they had the follow on from the Mau Mau, the Land Freedom Army which did not receive the publicity of the Mau Mau.

F.P.O. 970.
14/7/62.
(Kenya).

3d. Forces concession rate to the United Kingdom.

F.P.O. 970. F.P.O. and canceller unrecorded y Proud, this being the only recorded strike. Evidence points to it being used by the K.A.R. which would give it limited use.

Scan of reverse.

Military propaganda slogan ' Save while you serve for a home of your own;.

TYPE 4.

F.P.O. 997.
(Kenya).
(No letter).
TYPE 3.
24/12/62.

Reverse strike.
F.P.O. 997.
(Kenya).
(No letter).
TYPE 3.
10/1/63.

3d. rated local (Nairobi) cover redirected internally and to externally to Mombases (Leave center).
F.P.O. 9997 redirection strike on reverse 10/1/63.

Scan of revser with military propaganda cachet.

'SAVE WHILE YOU SERVE FOR A HOME YOU CAN OWN'.

	F.P.O. 997. 3/7/62. (Letter 'A'). (Kahawa).
F.P.O. 997. Used on local cover to H.Q.E.A.C. Evidence now points to this F.P.O. being situated on Kahawa.

Scan of reverse.
The R.E.M.E. Command Workshop was on the Kahawa Camp.

F.P.O. 997. Letter 'A'. (TYPE 3).

	F.P.O. 997. 24/1/63. (Kenya) TYPE 3. Certified Official.

Contents.

Reverse cachet.

O.H.M.S. Official cover (postage free), from the Forces Broadcasting Service to H.Q.E.A.C.

Forces official mail from the Command Pay office to H.Q.E.A.C.
F.P.O. 997 )NO letter) dated 19/12/62. TYPE 3.

	F.P.O. 997. (Kenya). (Letter 'B' reversed). TYPE 3. 12/9/62.
2d. printed paper rate on local cover to H.Q.E.A.C.

No letter.

Asterisk.

Letter 'A'.

Letter 'B'.

Letter 'C'.

F.P.O. 1040. Recorded by Proud 23/6/59 - 12/5/60. Extended to 5/5/64 (4 Years).

No letter.	Letter 'A'/
F.P.O. 1041. Only recorded by Proud for 21/11/57 location unrecorded. Location confirmed to Kenya 2/9/60 - 1/2/61.

TYPE 3.

F.P.O. 1040.
24/1/61.
(No letter).
(Kenya).

Cachet.
N.A.A.F.I.
Buller Camp.
Nairobi.

Local 15c. (printed matter rate) to REME Workshops.
It was most unusual for Kenya stamps to be used on F.P.O. mail. This cover would indicate that the contents were intended for an officer on the camp and that the cover never entered civil posts.

Travin Rd.
Nairobi.
7/2/61.

F.P.O. 1040.
9/2/61.
(Letter 'A').

F.P.O. 1040.
13/2/61.
(Letter 'B').

F.P.O. 1040.
15/2/61.

Cachet.
N.A.A.F.I.
Buller Camp

Redirected cover. originating at Buller Camp nairobi and redirected to the camp at Kahawa. Major Mathews would have worked at the A.D.E.M.E. Offices at Buller Camp and at the REME Workshops at Kahawa. The F.P.O. 1040 strikes used as receiving and forwarding strikes would indicate that the same F.P.O. number was used at both camps explaining the confusion experienced when trying to locate their origin.

F.P.O. 1040. NO letter, 'A' and 'B'. (TYPE 3). Used at Buller Camp and Kahawa.

Nairobi.
23/6/62.

Cachet.
British Troops
Kenya. Army
Week. 6-15 July.

Cachet.
N.A.A.F.I.
Buller Camp.
Nairobi.

Local 15c. (printed matter rate) to H.Q.E.A.C.

Similar contents and British cachet on semi-military mail. The only thing that I remember from the 'British Troops Week' was a parade up Delemere Avenue which included British Local Forces, the K.A.R. and the Kenya Regiment.

Manuscript.
On Active
Service.

F.P.O. 1040.
7/7/61.
(B.F.P.O. 616
Kuwait).

F.P.O. 1040 on 'Active Service' cover from Kuwait (Postage Free).

Scan of reverse sender and address in B.F.P.O. 616 - Kuwait.

When the Kuwait crisis began to unfold at the end of June 1961, 24 Bde. From Kenya was flown in together with F.P.O. 1040.


F.P.O. 1040. 11/5/61 (Letter 'A') (Kahawa - Kenya)	Reg. Label. With '1040' Handstamp.	Cachet. 1 Infantry Workshop. R.E.M.E. 10/5/61.
Registered O.H.M.S. cover from Kahawa Camp - Kenya. To H.Q.E.A.C.

F.P.O. 1040.
18/7/61.
(Letter 'A')
(Kuwait)

Cachet.
1 Infantry
Worshop.
17/7/61.
R.E.M.E.

Official cover (Postage free) from the same officer (known only as 'Pat') and the same military markings as the Aove cover but from B.F.P.O. 616 - KUWAIT. During June 1961 F.P.O. 1040 accompanied the above workshop to Kuwait during the first Iraq emergency. British troops were withdrawn 19/10/61. The F.P.O. workshop returning to Kahawa - Kenya.

F.P.O. 1040 Kenya & Kuwait. (TYPE 3).

	Valetta Malta 3/12/61.
3d. Incoming surface mail to B.F.P.O. 10 from Malta. Given the 'run around' due to incomplete address.

Scans of reverse strikes.

F.P.O. 997 (No letter) & F.P.O. 1040 (Letter 'B'). (TYPE 3).

	F.P.O. 1040. 5/5/64. (Nairobi). (Letter 'A').
3d. rated 'Force Air Mail. Cover from B.M.H. (British Military Hospital) Nairobi to United Kingdom.

Scan of reverse address.

B.M.H. was situated west of Westlands in Nairobi, the wooden building still being there in 1996 when I visited.

F.P.O. 1040. Letter 'A'. (TYPE 3).

F.P.O. 1040.
12/11/63.
(Letter 'C').
(Buller Camp
Nairobi - Kenya).

Reverse cachets.
Personal - Lt. Col. Kerswell.
& H.Q.E.A.C. 12/11/63.

F.P.O. 1040. Used on 3d. rated cover to United Kingdom.
This cover was sent one month prior to Kenya Independence.

F.P.O. 1040.
24/4/64.
(Letter 'C').

Nairobi (Civil post).
24/4/64.

Cachet.
Headquarters
Nairobi Garrison.
24/4/64.

F.P.O. 1040 used on part cover four months after independence.
Local stamps now being used and Buller Camp has been re-named 'Nairobi Garrison.

F.P.O. 1040. Letter 'C' (TYPE 3). Proud records Kenya 23/6/59-12/5/60. Now extended by 4 years.

F.P.O. 1041.
(Gilfil - Kenya).
10/2/61.
(No letter).

Cachet.
Orderly Room.
10/2/61.
2^nd. Bn.
Coldstream Guards.

Cachet.
Certified Official.

F.P.O. 1041 used on a cover from the Coldstream Guards to H.Q.E.A.C.

The Coldstream Guards moved to Kenya for a three year tour in March 1959 as part of 24 Brigade. They were stationed at Gilgil 70 miles NW of Nairobbi. In June 1961 part of the Bde moved to Kuwait during the first Iraqi crisis.

F.P.O.1041. No lettr (GILGIL). (TYPE 3).

F.P.O. 1040.
(Nairobi - Kenya).
17/8/60
(No letter).

Cachet.
1^st Bn. The Royal
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
September (1960).

F.P.O. 1041 used on cover to H.Q.E.A.F. at Nairobi.

F.P.O. 1041.
5/10/60
(Nairobi - Kenya).
(No letter).

Cachet.
1^st Bn. The Royal
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
5/10/60.

F.P.O. 1041. on O.H.M.S. cover to H.Q.E.A.C. Nairobi.

F.P.O. 1041 no letter (TYPE 2).

No letter.	Letter 'C'.
F.P.O. 1055. Recorded by Proud 30/9/53 - 30/6/62.
Letter 'A' F.P.O. 1056. Recorded. 30/9/53-1/9/56.	Letter 'A' F.P.O. 1057. Recorded 5/4/53-19/12/53.

TYPE 3.

Torquay.
27/8/63.

F.P.O. 1055.
(Kenya).
30/8/63.
(Letter 'C')

Scan of reverse,

3d. Forces concession rate from the United Kingdom, re-directed with F.P.O. 1055 strike.
F.P.O. 1055 (Letter 'C'). (TYPE 3).

Portsmouth.
16/8/63.

F.P.O. 1055.
(Kenya).
19/8/63.
(No letter).

3d. rated surface mail to B.F.P.O. 10. (sent air mail). Re-directed wth F.P.O. 1055 strike.
F.P.O. 1055 (No letter). (TYPE 3)

	F.P.O. 1056. (Nyeri) 16/11/54. TYPE 3.
2^1/2d. 'Forces' concession rate for first oz. to United Kingdom.

Scan of reverse sender and address.

F.P.O. 1056. operated in Kenya 30/9/53-1/9/56. Probably at Nyeri during this period.

From the address it would appear that this soldier was in the R.E.M.E. stationed at Kabete and attached to the 74 Field Squadron who were stationed at Ellis Camp - Nyeri. The latter were engaged in building and maintaining roads in the Aberdare Forest and on Mount Kenya. Nyeri is situated between the two.

	F.P.O. 1057. 8/3/54. TYPE 3.
2^1/2d. 'Forces' concession rate for first oz. to United Kingdom.

F.P.O. 1057 is reported by Proud to have been operational in Kenya 5/4/53 at least a month prior to Entwistle) - 19/12/55.

It is reputed that this cover came from Sagana Lodge.
Which was the Queen and Prince Philip's wedding present from the people of the Colony of Kenya.

F.P.O. 1057 was attached to 39 Brigade in the Mount Kenya and Rift Valley areas,
It opened at Sagana in May 1953 and was to serve in Nakuru and Thika. It was to close at Nanyuki 19/12/55.

	Brignorth. 22/6/62.
Air letter to R.A.F. H.Q. (C.R.A.F.E.A.) in Slater's Rd, Nairobi.

F.P.O. 967. (19 Bde. Colchester) 18/12/62.

Air mail 'Forces Air Mail Rate' cover to H.Q.E.A.C. - Buller Camp Nairobi. 6d. was the double rate for 'Forces mail' this cover is not marked as such but the F.P.O. canceller proves that it is. F.P.O. 967 had been in Nairobi at least until 22/9/61. It is unreorded by Proud in this period but this cover is marked as having come from 19 Bde. Colchester.

Mufulira.
Northern
Rhodesia.
20/11/61.

Lusaka.
Northern
Rhodesia.
21/11/61.

3d. rated cover to the Deputy Director of Mechnican Engineering at H.Q. Nairobi.
The destination is recognisable as the P.O.Box 4000 was the old military address.

	Zagreb. Yugoslavia. 1961.
Air mail cover from Yugoslavia to the wife of a serving officer in Her Majesties armed force (P.O. Box 40000)

It was frowned upon almost an offence for a member of H.M. Forces to correspond with anyone behind the Iron Curtain. Hence the letter is addressed to his wife.

Nanyuki.
16/9/60.
(Civil post).

Cachet.
Postal Frank.
E.A. Land Forces.
No. 20.

Cachet.
93. M.T. Co.
K.A.R.

Reverse.
K.A.R. Emblem.

K.A.R. nanyuki to H.Q.E.A.C.

Postal Frank.
Regimental. H.Q.
Kenya Regiment.

Nairobi.
2/5/62.

O.H.M.S. cover from the Kenya Regiment to H.Q.E.A.C. in Nairobi.

The Kenya Regiment was a force comprised of local settlers formed in 1936. It was disbanded after wartime service in Madagascar and Burma only to be reformed in 1950 due to the Mau Mau rebellion. It was finally disbanded in 1963.

Dar-es-Salaam.
Tanganyika.
24/11/60.

Cachet.
Forces Mail.
6^th Bn. K.A.R.

Postal Frank No.12.
East African
Land Forces.

O.H.M.S. cover from the King's African Rifles in Tanganyika. At the time they were theoretically assisting with the forthcoming independence of their own country. They were to beomce the Tanganyika Rifles and as such they were to mutiny and British troops would have to be sent in during Debruary 1964 in the form of members of the 45 Royal Marine Commando.

Jinja - Uganda.
Sept. 1960.
(Civil post).

Cachet.
4^th K.A.R.
(Uganda Rifles).
Jinja.

Postal Frank.
E.A. Land Forces.
No.10.

Reverse emblem.
Uganda Rifles.

Cover from the K.A.R. (Uganda Rifles). To H.Q.E.A.C. using the civil mails.

Jinja.
9/11/62.

Cachet.
Postal Frank
1^st Bn. U.R.

O.H.M.S. cover to H.Q.E.A.C. in Nairobi.

London. B.F.P.O.
(No.)13. 14/6/61.
(with '19'?)

The War Office.
14/6/61.
E.M.E. 7.

Incoming air mail cover from the War Office - London to ADEME at B.F.P.O.10 - Kenya.


London B.F.P.O. (No.) 15? 24/4/61. (Letter 'B').	Cachet. A.G.21 - War office. 21/4/61.

Incoming air mail cover from the War Office - London to ADEME at B.F.P.O. 10 - Kenya.

Incoming courier mail to the British Military in pre-independence Kenya.

Cover from 'Armed Forces Courier Service' Headquarters presumably in London.
Dated 17/11/61. With scan of reverse strike.

541 Ordnance Depot
Kaahwa.

47 Command Workshop
(Kahawa).

Camp Commandant. Kahawa.	Infantry Workshop. (Kahawa). Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineering.
Command Pay Office. (Buller Camp - Nairobi).

Military Cachets cut from local mail to H.Q.E.A.C.

Flight Office. 8 Independent Recce. Flight. Army Air Corps. R.N.A.S. Camp - Nairobi West.	Special Operations. Head Quarters. East African Command.	Headquarters. 24 Infantry Brigade Group. (Gilgil?)
1 Company, Royal Army Service Corps	Head Quaretrs. East African Command. (Buller Camp - Nairobi.)	R.E.M.E. Inspectorate. East Africa.

Command Workshop.
R.E.M.E.
(Kahawa).

Military Cachets cut from local mail to H.Q.E.A.C.


F.P.O. 656 1/8/62. (Nairobi) 1/8/62.	Cachet. REME Workshops Army Air Corps. 31/7/62.	F.P.O. 656 9/12/61. (Nairobi - Kenya). (No letter).	Cachet. 60 Tpt Coy. Wksp REME. 7/12/61.
Pieces from local (Nairobi) official mail.

F.P.O. 656
28/4/63.
(Nairobi).

Cachet.
H.Q.E.A.C.
27/4/63.

H.Q.E.A.C. O.H.M.S. Cover to United Kingtom using the F.P.O. 656 strike.

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


F.P.O. 576 - 20/8/61. (Nairobi-Kenya). Letter 'B'.	Cachet. Orderly Room. Infantry Workshop REME.	F.P.O. 576 - 15/5/62. (Nairobi - kenya). No letter.

F.P.O. 576.
19/1/62.
Nairobi.
(No letter).

Cachet.
Command
Pay office.
Post Section.

F.P.O.576 used on a local O.H.M.S. postage free cover. Presumably paying for spares purchased by REME.

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

Royal Navy - Mombasa, Kenya - Indian Ocean


Good similar cachet 'on piece' With similar cachet, R.N. Frank. Mombasa 14/12/55.	Reverse cachet on O.H.M.S. label. 'Residential Naval Officer Mombasa. 31/10/55'.

1/- rated cover from the Royal Navy at Kilindini (Mombasa) Kenya to H.M.S. Gambia.
Stamp cancelled with the postal frank of the Royal Navy at Mombasa.

H.M.S. Gambia was in Kenyan water during May 1955 as a dock strike by local workers threatened to bring the harbour to a standstill.
The Royal navy kept a cruiser within easy reach of Mombasa as only a ship of this size could carry enough specialists and other
staff capable of running the docks should the Africans strike.

The period following Kenya's independence from Great Britain.

F.P.O. 124.
15/3/93.
Kenya.

RNLO.
16/3/93.
Mombasa.

Royal Navy cover with 18p. airmail rate to United Kingdom.
There are 8 days between the cachet and the F.P.O. 124 strike so although this F.P.O. had been in Kenya there is no confirmation between the strike and cachet.

	F.P.O. 129. 23/2/94. Kenya.
1^st Class stamp used on a post card from Kenya to United Kingdom.

After Kenya independence British troops remained in Kenya in a security role. They were used in Zanzibar, Tanganyika and in Swaziland all during 1964. They were also used as instructors to the three independent countries. Permission was also granted to Great Britain for British troops to hold manoeuvres in East Africa. The port of Mombasa (Kilindini) was also used by ships of the Royal Navy.

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