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What we collect!
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Oceania/Australia : BCOF Cancellations

 

Author
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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

08 May 2021
05:06:02pm
Field Post Office 080

From about May 1945, this datestamp on charge to 1 Corps Postal Unit had been employed at a Field Post Office at Morotai. Consequent upon the disbandment of that Postal Unit in October 1945, the datestamp passed temporarily to the control of 6 Base Postal Unit (Australia) at Morotai and had further local usage over November-December 1945 prior to actual transfer to the newly formed 8 Base Postal Unit. After a short period in reserve it was re-introduced into use at Morotai early in 1946 at the Rear Details Depot, 34 Infantry Brigade, which had become part of the BCOF Field Post Office 080.

Australian Army Post Office 214

This datestamp was recorded as being in reserve as at October 24, 1945. With the 8 Australian Base Postal Unit at Morotai in the Netherland East Indies. It accompanied that unit to Japan and by March 3, 196 was in service at HQ 4 Brigade at Kaitaichi, close to Hiroshima. Here there had been a large Japanese stores depot which became a most uncomfortable barracks for the Brigade. After a few weeks HQ 34 Brigade and a number of its components had moved to more suitable quarters at Hiro in Yamaguchi prefecture, where the 214 datestamp had been transferred to the Britcom Sub-Base area at Tokyo replacing 452. The allocation of 214 to Tokyo lifted the status of the Australian office considerably.

Australian Army Post Office 215

This datestamp was on charge to 8 Australian Base Postal Unit at Morotai as at October 24, 1945 and accompanied that unit to Japan. It had continued usage within the registration section of the Australian Base Post Office at Kure.

Australian Unit Postal Station 453

This datestamp accompanied 8 BPU to japan and the record discloses that as at March 1946 it had been allocated to 130 AGH (Australian General Hospital). The main body and stores for this hospital reached Kure on HMAS Manunda on March 21, 1946. The hospital was functional within two weeks afterwards, being located first at Kure and shortly afterwards at Etajima, and no doubt the Australian Unit Postal Station opened at about the same time. The datestamp was apparently maintained in use until late 1949, then passing into reserve.

Australian Army Post Office 512

As far as can be seen, this datestamp did not have any service during WWII. It accompanied BPU to Japan and after a short period in reserve was issued to a detachment of 34 Brigade postal section at Kaitaichi and in use by July 16, 1946. It continued in service within the 34 Brigade areas until the relevant office closed about June 1948. After another period in reserve it was again in use by June 1949, most like at Hiro. It was still in service in October 1951 and probably continued until the end of the BCOF period.

Stamps in multiples are scarce, the cutout showing the 5/- thin paper is also scarce.

Image Not Found

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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Horamakhet
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09 May 2021
07:26:49pm
re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Rob

Fantastic information.

One question, were any of the normal stamps used with army postal cancellations?

Regards

Horamakhet

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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

09 May 2021
10:19:23pm
re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Horamakhet

Yes there were, but only for a short time until the army realised that the soldiers were sending unused stamps back home for their wives and mothers to cash in at the local post office.

I have some very scarce cancelled envelopes that were used at the September 2, 1945 signing of the surrender of Japanese Forces in Tokyo Bay.

The envelopes displayed shows a normal stamp militarily used, and another with a little note at the back saying "stamps for you mother", this was the reason for HQ to have all the stamps overprinted "B.C.O.F. JAPAN 1946".

It effectively put an end to the "pilfering" of the stamps, but it created a bigger headache for HQ, when word got out that the stamps were overprinted, great interest amongst stamp collectors were born, instead of getting a few pennies for the unused stamps, they were able to get a couple of pounds for the envelopes.

The introduction of the overprint was in October 1946, 9 months after the letter was posted informing his mother of the stamps inside.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Rob



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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Horamakhet
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10 May 2021
08:13:49pm
re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Rob,

Now that is something I would love to have, it would be extremely rare.

Who knows, maybe at the next stamp club meeting something might turn up.

They usually have a flight cover or two, but they tend to be overpriced.

I have not seen any BCOF stamps or war covers there yet.

Still hoping.

Horamakhet

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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

11 May 2021
06:46:55pm
re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Horamakhet

The covers are rare. (I forgot to mention that the first upload were of two covers) I have four others, two from the Shropshire", one from the "Hobart" and another from a ship I'm trying to decipher, it has dual stamps (Australia and Britain), with a large "VJ" cancellation.

The "Shropshire" was a Heavy Cruiser and the "Hobart" was a Light Cruiser.

Image Not Found

Rob


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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Horamakhet
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11 May 2021
08:31:39pm
re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Rob,

Certainly impressive and very rare.

I have never seen covers like them.

More exciting items for me to be jealous off, then maybe one day I might find one.

Horamakhet

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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

11 May 2021
11:50:27pm
re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Horamakhet

They are seldom offered on the market, these were the only covers I have ever seen and are very historically significant.
There were many ships in Tokyo Bay, so there should be some around, though many were discarded after the war leaving only a few that can be collected.
You may find one, or even the Korean covers, they may be rare but not unique.

Rob

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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Horamakhet
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12 May 2021
08:18:26pm
re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Rob

I am going to my stamp club tonight, so I will check every single cover carefully.

Regards

Horamakhet

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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

12 May 2021
08:24:03pm
re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Horamakhet

Good luck for tonight.

Robert

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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
        

 

Author/Postings
Members Picture
Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
08 May 2021
05:06:02pm

Field Post Office 080

From about May 1945, this datestamp on charge to 1 Corps Postal Unit had been employed at a Field Post Office at Morotai. Consequent upon the disbandment of that Postal Unit in October 1945, the datestamp passed temporarily to the control of 6 Base Postal Unit (Australia) at Morotai and had further local usage over November-December 1945 prior to actual transfer to the newly formed 8 Base Postal Unit. After a short period in reserve it was re-introduced into use at Morotai early in 1946 at the Rear Details Depot, 34 Infantry Brigade, which had become part of the BCOF Field Post Office 080.

Australian Army Post Office 214

This datestamp was recorded as being in reserve as at October 24, 1945. With the 8 Australian Base Postal Unit at Morotai in the Netherland East Indies. It accompanied that unit to Japan and by March 3, 196 was in service at HQ 4 Brigade at Kaitaichi, close to Hiroshima. Here there had been a large Japanese stores depot which became a most uncomfortable barracks for the Brigade. After a few weeks HQ 34 Brigade and a number of its components had moved to more suitable quarters at Hiro in Yamaguchi prefecture, where the 214 datestamp had been transferred to the Britcom Sub-Base area at Tokyo replacing 452. The allocation of 214 to Tokyo lifted the status of the Australian office considerably.

Australian Army Post Office 215

This datestamp was on charge to 8 Australian Base Postal Unit at Morotai as at October 24, 1945 and accompanied that unit to Japan. It had continued usage within the registration section of the Australian Base Post Office at Kure.

Australian Unit Postal Station 453

This datestamp accompanied 8 BPU to japan and the record discloses that as at March 1946 it had been allocated to 130 AGH (Australian General Hospital). The main body and stores for this hospital reached Kure on HMAS Manunda on March 21, 1946. The hospital was functional within two weeks afterwards, being located first at Kure and shortly afterwards at Etajima, and no doubt the Australian Unit Postal Station opened at about the same time. The datestamp was apparently maintained in use until late 1949, then passing into reserve.

Australian Army Post Office 512

As far as can be seen, this datestamp did not have any service during WWII. It accompanied BPU to Japan and after a short period in reserve was issued to a detachment of 34 Brigade postal section at Kaitaichi and in use by July 16, 1946. It continued in service within the 34 Brigade areas until the relevant office closed about June 1948. After another period in reserve it was again in use by June 1949, most like at Hiro. It was still in service in October 1951 and probably continued until the end of the BCOF period.

Stamps in multiples are scarce, the cutout showing the 5/- thin paper is also scarce.

Image Not Found

Like 
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Members Picture
Horamakhet

09 May 2021
07:26:49pm

re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Rob

Fantastic information.

One question, were any of the normal stamps used with army postal cancellations?

Regards

Horamakhet

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
09 May 2021
10:19:23pm

re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Horamakhet

Yes there were, but only for a short time until the army realised that the soldiers were sending unused stamps back home for their wives and mothers to cash in at the local post office.

I have some very scarce cancelled envelopes that were used at the September 2, 1945 signing of the surrender of Japanese Forces in Tokyo Bay.

The envelopes displayed shows a normal stamp militarily used, and another with a little note at the back saying "stamps for you mother", this was the reason for HQ to have all the stamps overprinted "B.C.O.F. JAPAN 1946".

It effectively put an end to the "pilfering" of the stamps, but it created a bigger headache for HQ, when word got out that the stamps were overprinted, great interest amongst stamp collectors were born, instead of getting a few pennies for the unused stamps, they were able to get a couple of pounds for the envelopes.

The introduction of the overprint was in October 1946, 9 months after the letter was posted informing his mother of the stamps inside.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Rob



Like 
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Members Picture
Horamakhet

10 May 2021
08:13:49pm

re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Rob,

Now that is something I would love to have, it would be extremely rare.

Who knows, maybe at the next stamp club meeting something might turn up.

They usually have a flight cover or two, but they tend to be overpriced.

I have not seen any BCOF stamps or war covers there yet.

Still hoping.

Horamakhet

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
11 May 2021
06:46:55pm

re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Horamakhet

The covers are rare. (I forgot to mention that the first upload were of two covers) I have four others, two from the Shropshire", one from the "Hobart" and another from a ship I'm trying to decipher, it has dual stamps (Australia and Britain), with a large "VJ" cancellation.

The "Shropshire" was a Heavy Cruiser and the "Hobart" was a Light Cruiser.

Image Not Found

Rob


Like 
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Members Picture
Horamakhet

11 May 2021
08:31:39pm

re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Rob,

Certainly impressive and very rare.

I have never seen covers like them.

More exciting items for me to be jealous off, then maybe one day I might find one.

Horamakhet

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
11 May 2021
11:50:27pm

re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Horamakhet

They are seldom offered on the market, these were the only covers I have ever seen and are very historically significant.
There were many ships in Tokyo Bay, so there should be some around, though many were discarded after the war leaving only a few that can be collected.
You may find one, or even the Korean covers, they may be rare but not unique.

Rob

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Members Picture
Horamakhet

12 May 2021
08:18:26pm

re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Rob

I am going to my stamp club tonight, so I will check every single cover carefully.

Regards

Horamakhet

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
12 May 2021
08:24:03pm

re: BCOF Cancellations

Hi Horamakhet

Good luck for tonight.

Robert

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
        

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