Surface Parcel Rates to H.M. Forces 1925-2014

Until 1925 parcels had to be sent at the normal civil postage rates to the destination. From 1st October 1925 there were special parcel rates to H.M.Ships overseas, which were extended to Army and Air Force personnel serving in Palestine from 23rd November 1936, and to all Forces overseas from 1st June 1937.

From 3rd April 1989 this service was referred to as "Economy Service", with air parcels being "Standard Service". The rates were typically the same as for inland parcels.

Surface parcel service to the Forces was deleted from the Post Office Schemes from 20th June 2014.

Notes

1. POST 53/42 (Papers listing changes to postage rates on correspondence to British forces abroad since 1925)
2. POST 53/42
3. POST 53/42
4. POST 53/42
5. POST 53/42
6. POST 53/42
7. POST 53/42
8. Belfast Gazette 27th September 1968
9. Post Office Guide February 1971
10. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet
11. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, POST 53/42
12. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, POST 53/42 (These are the rates given in the leaflet issued to the public. However, the Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.5) Scheme 1973 coming into operation on this date gives the rates as 25p - 2lb, 35p - 7lb, 43p - 11lb, 70p - 22lb, with the 25p/40p/50p/75p schedule not given until the Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.6) Scheme 1974 coming into operation on 24th June 1974)
13. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.9) Scheme 1975
14. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.10) Scheme 1975
15. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.13) Scheme 1976
16. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.14) Scheme 1977
17. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.2) Scheme 1979
18. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.3) Scheme 1980
19. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.5) Scheme 1981
20. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Scheme 1982
21. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.1) Scheme 1983
22. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.2) Scheme 1984
23. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.3) Scheme 1985
24. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.6) Scheme 1986
25. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.9) Scheme 1987 (This is the date the Scheme, whose only purpose was to introduce these new rates, came into effect, and also the date of the equal inland parcel rate change. The new rates did not however appear in a public Forces rates leaflet until the one dated 20th October 1987)
26. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet (This is the date of the leaflet issued to the public. However, the change did not appear in the Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.10) Scheme 1988 of that date – probably in error – and was not included in a PO Scheme until the succeeding one, the Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.11) Scheme 1989, taking effect on 3rd April 1989)
27. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.12) Scheme 1990 (From this point, the leaflets issued to the public did not list parcel rates, so rates are taken from the PO Schemes only)
28. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.13) Scheme 1991
29. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.14) Scheme 1992
30. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.15) Scheme 1993
31. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.16) Scheme 1994
32. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.17) Scheme 1995
33. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.18) Scheme 1996
34. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.19) Scheme 1997
35. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.20) Scheme 1998
36. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.21) Scheme 1999
37. Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.22) Scheme 2000
38. Consignia plc Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.1) Scheme 2001
39. Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.7) Scheme 2003
40. Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.10) Scheme 2006
41. Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.11) Scheme 2007
42. Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.12) Scheme 2008
43. Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.17) Scheme 2011
44. Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No.18) Scheme 2012
45. Successor Postal Services Company Overseas Parcel Post Scheme 2001