12-08-2025, 05:09 PM
Here's an Army Post Office cover from June 16, 1920.
It was sent by Lance Corporal A. Jeffery (6972), a member of the British Army Occupying the Rhine [BAOR] stationed in Cologne following WW1. There is an A. E. Jeffrey (sic) in the database of the Imperial War Museum. He is listed as a sapper with the Royal Engineers with the same service number, 6972. In fact, the Anglo-Boer War medal roll index also lists A.E. Jeffrey, 6972, also as a sapper with the RE in South Africa. It would appear that L/Cpl Jeffery was a long-service army regular. The variation in the spelling of his name is an administrative error given that his service number is always the same.
He is writing to Mrs. A. Jeffery, probably his wife, at 1 Orchard Terrace, Victoria Road, Dartmouth, Devon, England.
Postal Markings on cover:
Manuscript marking on Cover
Rhine Army
Orderly Room Cachet
Oval hand-stamp, red ink
7th FIELD COMPANY / ROYAL ENGINEERS / 15 JUN 1920
By mid-1920 Britain was scaling down its forces on occupation duty due to postwar budget cuts. The BAOR was reduced to one infantry brigade group with supporting arms such as the Royal Engineers.
Double ring CDS
ARMY POST OFFICE / S.40
16 / JU / 20
S40 was the designation PO for the BAOR in 1920 (Whitney, 15/65). In 1922, sub-offices would be added and designated as S40a-h. S = S(tationary Post Office).
It was sent by Lance Corporal A. Jeffery (6972), a member of the British Army Occupying the Rhine [BAOR] stationed in Cologne following WW1. There is an A. E. Jeffrey (sic) in the database of the Imperial War Museum. He is listed as a sapper with the Royal Engineers with the same service number, 6972. In fact, the Anglo-Boer War medal roll index also lists A.E. Jeffrey, 6972, also as a sapper with the RE in South Africa. It would appear that L/Cpl Jeffery was a long-service army regular. The variation in the spelling of his name is an administrative error given that his service number is always the same.
He is writing to Mrs. A. Jeffery, probably his wife, at 1 Orchard Terrace, Victoria Road, Dartmouth, Devon, England.
Postal Markings on cover:
Manuscript marking on Cover
Rhine Army
Orderly Room Cachet
Oval hand-stamp, red ink
7th FIELD COMPANY / ROYAL ENGINEERS / 15 JUN 1920
By mid-1920 Britain was scaling down its forces on occupation duty due to postwar budget cuts. The BAOR was reduced to one infantry brigade group with supporting arms such as the Royal Engineers.
Double ring CDS
ARMY POST OFFICE / S.40
16 / JU / 20
S40 was the designation PO for the BAOR in 1920 (Whitney, 15/65). In 1922, sub-offices would be added and designated as S40a-h. S = S(tationary Post Office).
Hugh MacDonald, Wolfe Island
Member: BNAPS. PHSC, Auxiliary Markings Club, Postal Stationary Society, British Postmark Society,
AMG Collectors Club, China Stamp Society, France and Colonies Philatelic Socoety
ArGe Deutsche Feldpost: 1914-1918 e.V.