SHOW MENUAirmail Rates to H.M.Forces 1939-46
Before World War II, airmail to HM Forces overseas was carried at the Civilian rates to the destination, or the all-up rates once the Empire Air Mail Scheme came into operation. The latter was abandoned at the start of the war, with air service at the standard rates (letters 1s 3d per ½oz, postcards 7d) introduced shortly afterwards.
All-up mail at basic surface rates was introduced from 2nd February 1945, at first only to certain commands and then generally from 6th March 1946. This arrangement ceased as of 15th September 1947, but all-up at Commonwealth surface rates was restored for forces in Europe on various dates between 1949 and 1952 (see the surface postcard rates for details).
"Thin Postcard" Service 1941-45: This provided an airmail service to the Forces in certain theatres with items that were cheaper and lighter than a standard letter at 1s 3d – the rate throughout was 3d. It required the use of a thin postcard – either the 2d Post Office cards uprated or commercial cards of the same thickness with 3d in stamps. After the introduction of air letters in 1942, the only place to which they could be sent was Malta.
Air Letter Service: this service was a more widely available alternative to the thin postcard service, using lightweight forms that continued in use as "aerogrammes".
Abbreviations used below
BEF = British Expeditionary Force, BNAF = British North African Force, CMF = Central Mediterranean Force, EAC = East Africa Command, MEF = Middle East Force PAIFORCE/PAIF/PIF = Persia and Iraq Force, SEAC = South East Asia Command, WAF = West Africa Force
| Date | Letters | Postcards | Air Letters | Available destinations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 (4 Oct) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | HM Ships |
|
| 1939 (25 Oct) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF (except BEF in France) by any available airmail service HM Ships |
|
| 1939 (1 Nov) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
HM Ships |
|
| Civilian rates | Civilian rates |
Army/RAF (except BEF in France) by any available airmail service |
||
| 1941 (2 Apr) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d |
MEF, EAF, Army/RAF in Malta HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean |
|
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships elsewhere |
||
| 1941 (1 Oct) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d |
MEF, EAF, Army/RAF in Malta HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean |
|
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships elsewhere Force Overt |
||
| 1941 (19 Nov) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d |
MEF, EAF, Army/RAF in Malta HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean |
|
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships elsewhere Force Overt and Free French Forces |
||
| 1941 (24 Dec) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d |
MEF, EAF, Army/RAF in Malaya, Malta HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean and on China Station |
|
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships elsewhere Force Overt and Free French Forces |
||
| 1942 (18 Mar) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d |
MEF, EAF, Army/RAF in Aden, Burma, Ceylon, India, Iran, Iraq, Malta HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean and on East Indies Station |
|
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships elsewhere Force Overt and Free French Forces |
||
| 1942 (27 May) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d |
MEF, EAF, Army/RAF in Abyssinia, Aden, Burma, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Malta, Somaliland (British and Italian) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean and on East Indies Station |
|
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships elsewhere Force Overt and Free French Forces |
||
| 1942 (29 Jul) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d |
MEF, EAF, Army/RAF in Abyssinia, Aden, Burma, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Malta, Somaliland (British and Italian) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean and on East Indies Station |
|
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships and Merchant Navy elsewhere Force Overt and Free French Forces |
||
| 1942 (7 Dec) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
MEF, EAF, PAIFORCE, Army/RAF in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Aden, British Somaliland, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Somalia (Italian Somaliland) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean Command and on the East Indies Station and in East African waters Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships and Merchant Navy elsewhere Force Overt and Free French Forces elsewhere |
||
| 1943 (5 Mar) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
MEF, EAF, PAIFORCE, Army/RAF in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Aden, British Somaliland, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Somalia (Italian Somaliland) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean Command and on the East Indies Station and in East African waters Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| 6d |
BNAF and HM Ships and Merchant Vessels serving the area WAF and HM Ships and Merchant Vessels serving the area |
|||
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d |
Army/RAF elsewhere HM Ships and Merchant Navy elsewhere Force Overt and Free French Forces elsewhere |
||
| 1943 (8 Apr) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
MEF, EAF, PAIFORCE, Army/RAF in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Aden, British Somaliland, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Somalia (Italian Somaliland) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean Command and on the East Indies Station and in East African waters Airletter service extended to HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service is available Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| 6d |
BNAF, WAF HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Mauritius, Seychelles HM Ships and Merchant Vessels serving the areas above |
|||
| 1943 (29 Sep) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
MEF, EAF, PAIFORCE, Army/RAF in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Aden, British Somaliland, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia (Italian Somaliland) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean Command and on the East Indies Station and in East African waters HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service is available Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| 1s 6d per ½oz |
9d | 6d | Army/RAF in China | |
| 6d |
BNAF, WAF HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland HM Ships and Merchant Vessels serving the areas above |
|||
| 1943 (13 Oct) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
EAF, PAIFORCE, Army/RAF in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Aden, British Somaliland, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia (Italian Somaliland) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean Command and on the East Indies Station and in East African waters HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service is available Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| 1s 6d per ½oz |
9d | 6d | Army/RAF in China | |
| 6d |
MEF, BNAF, WAF HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland HM Ships and Merchant Vessels serving the areas above (Ordinary air mail service to MEF, Syria, Cyprus, Transjordan, Egypt, Palestine suspended as "no longer offered any benefit") |
|||
| 1944 (27 Mar) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
EAF, PAIFORCE, Army/RAF in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Aden, British Somaliland, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia (Italian Somaliland) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean Command and on the East Indies Station and in East African waters HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service is available Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| 1s 6d per ½oz |
9d | 6d | Army/RAF in China | |
| 6d |
MEF, BNAF, WAF Gibraltar HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland HM Ships and Merchant Vessels serving the areas above (Civil service to Gibraltar, many other European/North African destinations suspended for "operational reasons" – also affected Forces in Gibraltar to whom mail was carried at Civilian rates) |
|||
| 1944 (12 Jul) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
EAC, PAIFORCE, Army/RAF in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Aden, British Somaliland, Ceylon, Eritrea, India, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia (Italian Somaliland) HM Ships in Eastern Mediterranean Command and on the East Indies Station and in East African waters HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service is available Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| 1s 6d per ½oz |
9d | 6d | Army/RAF in China | |
| 6d |
MEF, BNAF, WAF HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland HM Ships and Merchant Vessels serving the areas above (Civil services to Europe/North Africa generally restored – specifically Gibraltar, Morocco, Tangier, Algeria, Tunisia) |
|||
| 1944 (23 Aug) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
EAC, SEAC, PAIFORCE, Ceylon Command, India Command, South West Pacific Area HM Ships Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| Civilian rates | Civilian rates | 6d | HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service was available |
|
| 6d |
MEF, BNAF, WAF, CMF Palestine Police Force HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland HM Ships and Merchant Vessels serving the areas above |
|||
| 1945 (1 Jan) |
1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
MEF, BNAF, WAF, CMF, EAC, SEAC, PAIFORCE, Ceylon Command, India Command, South West Pacific Area HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland HM Ships Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above Merchant Navy personnel on ordinary commercial service calling at ports in areas above |
|
| Civilian rates | Civilian rates | 6d | HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service was available |
|
| 6d |
Palestine Police Force |
|||
| 1945 (4 Feb) |
1½d - 1oz 6d - 1½oz 6d for each extra ½oz |
1d | 1½d |
(All-up rate) Ceylon Command, India Command, SEAC Royal Navy and Merchant Navy (where air services were available) |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
3d | 6d | Forces in/at Malta | |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
MEF, BNAF, WAF, CMF, EAC, PAIFORCE, South West Pacific Area HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above |
|
| Civilian rates | Civilian rates | 6d | HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service was available |
|
| 6d |
Palestine Police Force |
|||
| by 1945 (4 Apr) |
1½d - 1oz 6d - 1½oz 6d for each extra ½oz |
1d | 1½d |
(All-up rate) Aden Command, Ceylon Command, Malta Force, India Command, BNAF, CMF, EAC, MEF, SEAC, Palestine Police Force, PAIFORCE, and (where rates are more favourable) Gibraltar Royal Navy and Merchant Navy (where air services were available) |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
WAF, South West Pacific Area HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above |
|
| Civilian rates | Civilian rates | 6d | HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service was available |
|
| 1945 (26 Apr) |
1½d - 1oz 6d - 1½oz 6d for each extra ½oz |
1d | 1½d |
(All-up rate) Aden Command, Ceylon Command, Malta Force, India Command, BNAF, CMF, EAC, MEF, SEAC, WAF, Palestine Police Force, PAIFORCE, and (where rates are more favourable) Gibraltar HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland Royal Navy and Merchant Navy (where air services were available) |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
South West Pacific Area Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above |
|
| Civilian rates | Civilian rates | 6d | HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service was available |
|
| 1945 (17 May) |
1½d - 1oz 6d - 1½oz 6d for each extra ½oz |
1d | 1½d |
(All-up rate) Aden Command, Ceylon Command, Malta Force, India Command, BNAF, CMF, EAC, MEF, SEAC, WAF, Palestine Police Force, PAIFORCE, and (where rates are more favourable) Gibraltar Army/RAF in Canada, USA, Bahamas, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and other destinations in the Western Hemisphere HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland Royal Navy and Merchant Navy (where air services were available) |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
South West Pacific Area Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above |
|
| Civilian rates | Civilian rates | 6d | HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service was available |
|
| 1945 (15 Aug) |
1½d - 1oz 6d - 1½oz 6d for each extra ½oz |
1d | 1½d |
(All-up rate) Aden Command, Ceylon Command, Malta Force, India Command, BNAF, CMF, MEF, SEAC, WAF, Palestine Police Force, PAIFORCE, and (where rates are more favourable) Gibraltar Army/RAF in Canada, USA, Bahamas, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and other destinations in the Western Hemisphere HM Forces in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, British Somaliland, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanganyika, Uganda, Zanzibar Royal Navy and Merchant Navy (where air services were available) |
| 1s 3d per ½oz |
7d | 6d |
South West Pacific Area Force Overt, Forces c/o Army Post Office, Fighting French Forces if serving in areas above |
|
| Civilian rates | Civilian rates | 6d | HM Forces in all other countries to which ordinary air mail service was available |
|
| 1946 (2 Jan) |
1½d - 1oz 6d - 1½oz 6d for each extra ½oz |
1d | 1½d |
(All-up rate) Aden Command (MEF), CMF, Ceylon Air Forces, Ceylon Command, India Command, MEF, Palestine Police Force, PAIFORCE, South East Asia Air Force, SEAC HM Forces addressed directly to countries above HM Forces in countries to which a civilian air mail service is available HM Ships and Merchant Navy |
| 1½d - 1oz 1d for each extra 1oz | 1d | 1½d |
(All-up rate) – "Letters and postcards prepaid at ordinary postage rates ... are normally conveyed by air" Azores Force, BAOR, Iceland Force |
|
|
1½d - 1oz 6d - 1½oz 8d - 2oz 3d for each extra 1oz |
1d | 1½d |
Malta Force, HM Forces in Malta and Gibraltar (i.e. most favourable of Forces and Civilian rates) |
|
| 1946 (6 Mar) |
rates standardised – see Europe and outside Europe | |||
Notes
- Post Office Circular 4th October 1939
- Post Office Circular 25th October 1939
- Post Office Circular 1st November 1939
- Post Office Circular 2nd April 1941
- Post Office Circular 1st October 1941
- Post Office Circular 19th November 1941
- Post Office Circular 24th December 1941
- Post Office Circular 18th March 1942
- Post Office Circular 27th May 1942
- Post Office Circular 29th July 1942
- Post Office Circular 2nd December 1942
- Post Office Circular 3rd March 1943
- Post Office Circular 7th April 1943
- Post Office Circular 29th September 1943
- Post Office Circular 13th October 1943
- Post Office Circular 24th March 1944
- Post Office Circular 12th July 1944
- Post Office Circular 23rd August 1944
- Post Office Circular 28th December 1944
- Post Office Circular 2nd February 1945
- Post Office Circular 4th April 1945 ("as previously notified to all offices")
- Post Office Circular 25th April 1945
- Post Office Circular 16th May 1945
- Post Office Circular 15th August 1945
- Post Office Circular 2nd January 1946
