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15 September 1967
Philart First Day Cover
First Day Cover
Stamps: 3ᵈ King of the Orient commemorative, issued 1 December 1966.
Circular Date Stamp: Royal School of Military Engineering, Chatham, E"R, 16 SEPT 1967.
16 December 1968
Beef Island Airport Opening 1968 British Virgin Islands
Official First Day Cover
The $1 stamp shows the RE badge.
Stamps: Set of 4 British Virgin Islands commemoratives, Opening of Beef Island Airport, 2c,
10c, 25c & $1, issued 16 December 1968.
Circular Date Stamp: Road Town Tortola V.I. DE 16 68.
See: Article published by "The Sapper" magazine. March 1969. Reproduced by kind permission
of "The Sapper" magazine.
See : Article published by "Gibbon Stamp Monthly". June 1969. Page 293, Page 294, Page
295, Page 296. Reproduced by kind permission of "Gibbons Stamp Monthly"
1 March 1969
50th Anniversary of First UK Regular Air Mail Service
Flight from Folkestone - Cologne 1st March 1919 - see British Pathé video.
Commemorative Cover
The RE badge represents the fact that the RE were responsible for Forces Mail.
Stamps: 1s Royal Air Force 1918-1968, commemorative, issued 29 May 1969.
Cachet: Echt Geflogen Eingang in Köln 1 Mar 69.
Border: Solid line in red.
Special Hand Stamp: 50th Anniversary First Scheduled Airmail Service Germany-United
Kingdom BFPS 1076, Folkestone's coat of arms shown to the left.
Variations:
Special Handstamp Error: SHS BFPS 1077, instead of 1076, has been used to cancel the
stamp. The cover has also been given the wrong cachet "Flown Cover Received Folkestone 1
MAR 69" instead of "Echt Geflogen Eingang in Köln 1 Mar 69". The border is of a solid line in
red.
Border: Solid line in Olive.
1 March 1969
50th Anniversary of First UK regular Air Mail Service
Flight from Köln - Folkestone 1st March 1919
Commemorative Cover
The RE badge denotes the fact that the RE were responsible for Forces Mail.
Stamps: 1s Royal Air Force 1918-1968 commemorative, issued 29 May 1969.
Cachet: Flown Cover Received Folkestone 1 Mar 69.
Border: Solid line in olive.
Special Handstamp: 50th Anniversary First Scheduled Airmail Service Germany-United
Kingdom BFPS 1077, Köln's coat of arms shown to the left.
Variation:
Border: Solid line in brown.
6 November 1969
1938 - 1971 Malaysian Singaporean Service
Locally Enlisted Personnel served in the Royal Engineers between 1969 and !971.
Commemorative Cover
Stamps: 2ᵖ Machin definitive, myrtle green.
Special Handstamp: 33 Years of British Army Service by Locally Enlisted Personnel,
Malaysian - Singaporean, 22 FEB 71, BFPS 1149, Image of a Kris dagger laid on a silhouette of
Malaysia in the centre.
See: Website - British Army Locally Enlisted Personnel
6 November 1969
Gibraltar Military Uniforms
First Day Cover - First Day of Issue
Covers shows 2 Royal Engineers from 1813, 9d stamp shows the uniform of the Royal
Engineers 1786.
Stamps: 4 x Gibraltar commemoratives, Uniforms, 2s, 1ᴰ, 6ᴰ and 9ᴰ, issued 6 November 1969.
Special Handstamp: Gibraltar First Day of Issue,with cross keys in centre, -6.11.69.
6 November 1969
Gibraltar Regimental Uniforms
First Day Cover
9ᵈ stamp shows the uniform of the Royal Engineers 1786.
Stamps: 4 x Gibraltar commemoratives, Uniforms, 2ˢ 1ᴰ, 6ᴰ and 9ᴰ, issued 6 November 1969.
Special Handstamp: Gibraltar First Day Issue, with cross keys in centre, -6.11.69.
6 March 1972
Bicentenary of the Royal Engineers in Gibraltar
Gibraltar Philatelic Society
Commemorative Cover - First Day of Issue
Stamps: 3 x Gibraltar commemoratives, Bicentenary of the RE in Gibraltar, 1ᵖ, 3ᵖ and 5ᵖ,
issued 6 March 1972.
Special Handstamp: Gibraltar - RE Cipher - First Day of Issue.
1972
St. Helena Dress Uniforms
Official First Day Cover
Stamps: 2ᵖ Royal Sappers & Miners Breastplate, issued 19 June 1972.
Circular Date Stamp: St Helena Jamestown, SP C 72.
16 May 1973
!00 Years of English County Cricket
Royal Engineers Cricket Club
Official TCCB Cover - First Day of Issue
Cachet: First Day Of Issue, Posted at the exhibition cricket match in the Postsportpark Munich
on British Day - Munich.
Stamps: 3ᵖ County Cricket commemorative, issued16 May 1972.
Special Handstamp: 18 RA Exhibition Match Great Britain Day, BFPS 1400, Cricketer in front
of wicket in the centre.
4 April 1975
British Military Uniforms: Corps of Royal Engineers
Commemorative Cover
Stamps: 3 PTAS Spanish commemorative, Queens Regiment, issued 7 January 1975.
Special Handstamp: Exposition Mundial De Filatelia - Espana -75 Madrid, 4.ABR 75
Variations:
2 x 3p commemoratives, Statuette of Tutankhamun, issued 26 April 1972
6 September 1975 NIC
Deutsch-Britisches Wochenende Verden/Aller 5-7 September 1975
German-British Weekend Verden / Aller 5-7 September 1975
Commemorative Cover
Stamps: 7ᴰ Charlotte Square, Edinburgh commemorative, issued 23 April 1975.
Special Handstamp: Anglo-German Weekend Verden, 6 September 1975, BFPS 1519, Image
of a bugle ( representing the British Forces Postal Service) to the left, Royal Engineers
monogram to the right.
See: Town web-site of Verden and link to Wiki Article
Variation:
7D The Rows, Chester commemorative, issued 23 April 1975
18 December 1978 NIC
Pitcairn Islands Harbour Development "Operation Pallium"
Official First day Cover
The RE badge represents the RE involvement in the Harbour Development.
Stamps: 4 x Pitcairn commemoratives: 15ᵖ, 20ᵖ, 30ᵖ and 35ᵖ, issued 18 December 1978.
Special Handstamp: Adamstown Pitcairn Islands, First day Of Issue, 18 De 78, drawing of
anchor in centre.
Seal of Office: Chief Magistrate Pitcairn Island.
See: Wiki - Pitcairn Islands.
1 March 1979
60th Anniversary of the First Scheduled UK International Airmail Service - Folkestone -
Cologne
Commemorative Cover
The RE badge represents the fact that the RE were responsible for Forces Mail.
Stamps: 7ᵖ Wilding Welsh regional stamp, brown.
Special Handstand Stamp: 60th Anniversary of the first UK Regular Airmail Service, BFPS
1919, An image of a Bi-plane overlaid on a German and UK flag.
Text: The text in the title box is black. The text on the right of the cover is in brown.
Cover Reference No: RAF FF1-A.
Back of Cover, Insert and Photo
Variations:
Stamp: 11p The Sovereign's Orb Commemorative, issued 31 May 1978,
Text: The text in the title box is black. The text on the right of the cover is in blue. The Flight
details are also printed on the back of the envelope in German and in blue ink.
No: 0767 of 1485
Back of Cover, Insert Sir William Barlow
Stamp: 9p State Coach commemorative, issued 31 May 1978.
Text: The text in the title box is black. The text on the right of the cover is in red.
Silhouette of Helicopter printed in the Title box. CDS "Royal Air Force Biggin Hill, 22 SEP
1979" stamped next to the SHS.
Text: The text in the title box is black. The text on the right of the cover is in brown.
1 March 1979
60. Jahrestag des Ersten Planmassigen Britichen Internationalen Luftpostdienstes Koln-
Folkestone
Commemorative Cover
The RE badge represents the fact that the RE were responsible for Forces Mail.
Stamps: 50pf German commemorative, Regensburg, issued 22 May 1972.
Special Handstand Stamp: Groddbritanniens Erster KOLN 51 Internationalen Luftpostdienstes
Briefmarken Ausstellun Zum 60 Jahrestag 5000, image of plane in centre.
Cover Reference No: RAF FF1-B.
Text: The text in the title box is green. The text on the right of the cover is printed in German
and is coloured black.
Back of Cover and Insert
Variations:
70pf German commemorative, Parliament - Bonn, issued 17 August 1978.
Text: The text in the title box is green. The text on the right of the cover is printed in German
and is coloured green.
Silhouette of Helicopter printed in the Title box. CDS "R.A.F. Post Office Biggin Hill, 22 SEP
1979" stamped next to the SHS.
24 June 1980
100th Anniversary of the First Use by the British Army of Man-Carrying Balloons on
Military Manoeuvres
Commemorative Cover
Balloon flight at this time was the responsibility of the RE Balloon sections.
Stamps: 10ᵖ "Common Kingfisher" commemorative, issued 16 January 1980.
Special Hand Stamp: 100th Anniversary of Military Use of Balloons, BFPS 1710, image of a
hot air balloon in the centre.
Cover Reference No: RAF FF17.
Text: The text on the right hand side of the cover is in red.
Note: This cover was flown on a Hot Air Balloon at Hankley Common, The site of the original
use by the Army of "Man Carrying Balloons", on the 24th June 1980 in Cameron N77 Hot Air
Ballon G-ZUMP.
Variations:
Blue Text:The text on the right hand side of the cover is in blue.
Stamps: 11½ᵖ "Dipper" commemorative, issued 16 January 1980.
Green Text: The text on the right hand side of the cover is in green.
Stamps: 13ᵖ "Moorhen" commemorative, issued 16 January 1980.
Note: This cover was carried on the Maiden flight Cameron 35 Hot Air Balloon "Mr Peanut" G-
PNUT.
Afterwards this cover was re-flown on a Hot Air Balloon at Hankley Common, The site of the
original use by the Army of "Man Carrying Balloons", on the 24th June 1980 in Cameron N77
Hot Air Ballon G-ZUMP.
29 May 1981
Borough of Rushmoor Military Freedom Ceremony
Commemorative Cover
The Royal Engineers have long associations with the Borough of Rushmoor.
Stamps: 13½ᵖ Machin definitive, purple brown.
Special Handstamp: Military Freedom Ceremony, Borough of Rushmoor, BFPF 1981,
Silhouette of crown and animal laid on crossed swords, taken from Rushmoor coat of arms?, in
the centre.
22 September 1982
Gibraltar Anniversaries 1982
Official First Day Cover
The 15½p stamp shows the Postal Courier Services, RE, motifs and the words " British Forces
Postal Service Centenary".
Stamps: 3 x Gibraltar commemoratives, ½ᵖ "Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce", 15½ᵖ "British
Forces Postal Service", 60ᵖ "Gibraltar Scout Association", issued 22 September 1982.
Special Handstamp: Gibraltar Anniversaries 22 September 1982, Image of the "Rock of
Gibraltar" in the centre.
22 September 1982
Anniversaries, The British Forces Post Office
Commemorative Cover - First Day of Issue
A Staff Sergeant of the Royal Engineers is shown handling the mail. The 15½ᵖ stamp shows the
Postal Courier Services, RE, motifs and the words " British Forces Postal Service Centenary".
Stamps: 15½ᵖ "British Forces Postal Service" Gibraltar commemorative, issued 22 September
1982.
Special Handstamp: Gibraltar Anniversaries, 22 September 1982, a sketch of the Rock of
Gibraltar in the centre.
Cover Ref No: 1982 Benham BGR3b.
6 July 1983
The 75th Anniversary of the TA in Wales
First Day Issue - Commemorative cover
The RE badge shown is that of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia).
Stamps: 16ᵖp "Musketeer and Pikeman", commemorative, issued 6 July 1983.
Special Handstamp: 75th Anniversary of the TA in Wales, BFPS 1908, Welsh Dragon in
centre.
Variation:
Cover sent by the 4th (V) BN, Royal Regiment of Wales to The Lord Mayor of Swansea in
1984.
Circular Date Stamp: DYDD CYHOEDDIAD CYNTAF, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE, 15 MAY 1984,
LLANELLI DYFED.
Stamp: 16ᵖ "C.E.P.T. 25th Anniversary Logo" commemorative, issued 15 May, 1984.
6 July 1983
British Army - Royal Engineers (1813)
First Day Cover
Stamps: 5 x "British Army Uniforms" commemoratives, 16ᵖ, 20½ᵖ, 26ᵖ, 28ᵖ and 31ᵖ, issued 6
July 1983.
Special Handstamp: First Day Of Issue, Aldershot, 6 JULY 1983.
11 March 1985 NIC
Centenary of Mafeking The Corps of Royal Engineers
Bophuthatswana Crest and Badges Series 17
Commemorative Cover
Stamps: 25c Bophuthatswana commemorative.
Special Handstamp: Mafikeng 1885-1985, 33.1, 1985.03.11.
See: Wiki article: Mafikeng
24 September 1985
Regiments Of the Garrison Alderney
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Official First Day Cover
The 9p stamps shows a Sergeant of the Royal Engineers 1890.
Stamps: 5 x Alderney commemorative, 9ᵖ, 14ᵖ, 29ᵖ, 31ᵖ and 34ᵖ, issued 24 September 1985.
Special Handstamp: Guernsey Post Office, Alderney, First Day of Issue, 24-9-85, British Army
insignia in the centre.
8 June 1996 NIC
Lest We Forget
The figure on the Cover is of a Royal Engineers Officer - Falklands 1982.
First Day Cover
Stamps: "Royal British Legion, 75th Anniversary" Isle of Man issued commemoratives, 20ᵖ,
24ᵖ, 42ᵖ and 75ᵖ, issued 8 June 1996.
Special Handstamp: "Lest We Forget" Isle of Man-8-6-96.
8 September 1987
125th Anniversary of the development of Ballooning in the British Army
First Day of Issue
The Army Balloon factory at Aldershot was run by the RE.
Stamps: 4 x Victorian Britain commemoratives, 18ᵖ, 22ᵖ, 31ᵖ and 34ᵖ, issued 8 September
1987.
Special Hand Stamp: 125th Anniversary of the Development of Ballooning in the British Army,
BFPS 2156, image of an early hot air balloon in the centre.
Cover Ref No: RFDC 57.
Signed: Peter J. Bish, Friend of the British Balloon Museum and Library Ltd.
See: web-site - Images of the Army Ballon Factory and balloons.
web-site - The British Balloon Museum - Ballooning History.
15 September 1989
Ontulling Monument at Driel
Royal Engineers 260 & 553 Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers 20 & 23 Field
Company.
Commemorative Cover
Cachet: 15 September 1989 Onthulling monument te Driel (Unveiling monument at Driel), Small
sketch of the monument.
Stamps: Nederlands commemorative, Nederlands Liberation, issued 14 July 1945.
Circular Date Stamp: Driel Oosterbeek 15 -0.9 - '89.
Serial No: 0253.
See: web-site - Traces of War.
Wording on the bottom left corner of cover:
In de nacht van 25 - 26 september 1944 evacueerden zij de 1e Airborne Divisie over de Rijn.
"Zelden hadden zovelen zoveel aan zo weinigen te danken"
The night of 25 to 26 September 1944 they evacuated the 1st Airborne Division across the
Rhine. "Seldom had many owe so much to so few "
2 August 1990
Queen Mother's 90th Birthday 2 August 1990
First Day Issue
Postal and Courier Services R.E.
Stamps: 4 x commemorative : "90th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother", 20ᵖ, 29ᵖ,
34ᵖ and 37ᵖ, issued 2 August 1990.
Special Handstamp: BFPS no 1990 The British Forces Offer Heartiest congratulations to Her
for her 90th birthday.
Signed: Air Commodore Sir Archibald Winskill CBE DFC AE, Captain of the Queen's Flight
1968 - 1982.
6 February 1992 NIC
Royal Engineers (1813)
First Day Cover - First Day Issue
Cotswold Cover
Stamps: 6 x Isle of Man commemoratives, 50th Anniversary of the Parachute Regiment, 2 x
23ᵖ, 2 x 28ᵖp and 2 x 39ᵖ, issued 6 February 1992.
Special Handstamp: First Day Of Issue, 6 Feb 1992, Douglas-Isle of Man, Parachute
Regiment Emblem in the centre.
19 November 1992
Operation "FRESHMAN" 19 November 1942
Commemorative Cover
A raid on the Vemork Norsk Hydro chemical plant in Norway was carried out Royal Engineer
paratroopers.
Stamps: 24ᵖ Madonna and Child commemorative, issued 10 November 1992.
Special Handstamp: 50th Anniversary of Operation Freshman, BFPS 2341,The Emblem of the
airborne forces Bellerophon mounted on the winged horse Pegasus, is in the centre.
Cover ref No: AF9 JS(AC)68
3 April 1992 NIC
The Zulu War 1877-1879
The Heliograph
Commemorative Cover
Royal Engineer Officers are shown trying to Establish Heliograph communications from Tulega
to Fort Ekowe.
Stamps: 28ᵖ "Tennyson in 1856" commemorative, issued 10 March 1992.
Special Hand Stamp: 113th Anniversary of the Relief of Fort Ekowe, 3 APR 92, BFPS 2324,
Zulu war shields with crossed spears in the centre.
Cover Reference: JS(AC)59.
See: Wiki: The Heliograph and Zulu War
25 May 1992
The Crimean war 1855
The Cable Plough and The Electric Telegraph
Commemorative Cover
A team of Royal Engineers are shown using the Cable Plough to bury the Telegraph cable.
Stamps: 20p "Victoria Cross" commemorative, issued 11 September 1990.
Special Hand Stamp: 137th Anniversary of the Battle of Kerch, 25 MAY 92, BFPS 2323,
Emblem of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the centre.
Circular Date Stamp: On the reverse: Operation "Warden", 15 APR 1992 ADANA, ( Operation
"Warden" was the Northern Exclusion Zone imposed on Iraq 1992 - 2000).
Cover Reference No: JS(AC)57.
See: Wiki - Crimean War
13 March 1993
The Boer War 1899 -1902
The Wheatstone Automatic Telegraph
Commemorative Cover
The Royal Engineers Balloon and Telegraph sections are represented on the cover but not
named.
Stamps: 24ᵖ "40th Anniversary of the Accession" commemorative, 6 February 1992.
Special Handstamp: 93rd Anniversary of the Relief of Bloemfontein, 13 MAR 93, BFPS 2350,
Royal Engineers Badge shown in the centre.
Cover Ref No: JS(AC)69.
Reverse of Envelope and Insert
See: Wiki: The Boer War and The Cooke and Wheatstone Telegraph
1 July 1993
The Battle of the Somme 1916
Commemorative Cover
The cover shows a horse drawn cable wagon manned by a team of Royal Engineers.
Stamps: 28ᵖ Scottish Regional Machin definitive, dp bluish grey.
Special Handstamp: 77th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, 1 JUL 93, BFPS 2370,
Badge of the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
Signed: Sir Anthony Rawlinson Bt .
Cover Ref No: JS(AC)77
6 June 1994 NIC
Operation 'Overlord'
The attack on the Caen Canal & River Bridges
Commemorative Cover - First Day of Issue
The RE badge represents the fact that Royal Engineers were present in the attack teams.
Stamps: 25ᵖ "Tank and Infantry advancing, Ouistreham," commemorative, issued 6 June 1994.
Cachet: Personally signed by Corporal E Tappenden, Radio Operator to Major John Howard
whose radio signal "Ham & Jam" indicated the successful taking of "Pegasus Bridge".
Special Hand Stamp: 50th Anniversary D-Day, The taking of Pegasus Bridge, 6-6-94, BFPS
2419, Image of bridge and soldier in the centre.
Signed: E Tappenden.
See: Wiki: Pegasus Bridge
12 October 1995
Ulster Operation Banner
Commemorative Cover
RE paratroopers served in Ulster.
Stamps: 19ᵖ Ulster regional, Machin, bistre.
Special handstamp: 26th Anniversary of the deployment of Airborne Forces to Northern
IrelandBFPS 2487, Symbol of Ulster in the centre.
Cover reference No: AF 25 JS(AC)97.
12 January 1999 NIC
1900 The Start of the Anglo-Boer War Spion Kop 100th Anniversary
The Balloon Section RE moving up to take part in The Battle of Paardeburg 24 February 1900.
First Day Cover
Stamps: 4 x commemoratives: Millennium Series, The Inventors tale, 20ᵖ, 26ᵖ, 43ᵖ and 63ᵖ,
Issued 12 January 1998.
Circular Date Stamp: Whitehall London SW1.
Cover Ref No: JS(MIL)1.
19 October 2000 NIC
Alderney Garrison Island (part iv)
Alderney Guernsey Post Office
First Day Cover
The 2 x 36p stamps show Royal Engineer soldiers, who are wearing busbies with a blue pouch,
on parade.
Stamps: 8 x Alderney - Bailiwick of Guernsey commemoratives, Garrison Issue, 21ᵖ, 26ᵖ, 36ᵖ
and 40ᵖ, issued 19 October 2000.
Special Handstamp: Guernsey Post Office Alderney, First Day of issue, silhouette of a canon
in the centre.
See: Alderney
17 February 2001
The 1st Balloon Section Royal Engineers - Battle of PAARDEBERG 17-26th February 1900
Commemorative Cover
Stamps: 44ᵖ "Lightning" commemorative, Issued 1 February 2001.
Special Handstamp: 101st Anniversary of the Battle of PAARDEBERG, British Forces Postal
Service 2622, Image of a balloon to the left and an image of the RE cap badge to the right.
Cover Ref No: COF 2 - 1900.
30 April 2004 NIC
D-Day Veterans 60th Anniversary Don Sheppard
Sapper - Royal Engineer - 51st Highland Division.
First Day Cover
Stamps: 40c Don Sheppard, Grenada commemorative, issued 3 May 2004.
Special Handstamp: G.P.O. Grenada W.I., APR 30 2004.
Signed: Don Sheppard.
21 March 2005
60th Anniversary WWII 1945 Operation Plunder - Crossing of the Rhine
Commemorative Cover
The cover shows RE Sappers building a Pontoon bridge across the Rhine.
Stamps: 1st class Machin, orange.
Special Handstamp: 60th Anniversary Operation Plunder, The Crossing Of The Rhine.
5 July 2007
BFPO Farewell Parade and Beating the Retreat
Commemorative Cover
Stamps: 1st Class Machin definitive with security eclipse, gold.
Special Handstamp: Beating Retreat, British Forces Post Office, 5 July 2007, BFPS 3022.
Signed: General Sir K. O'Donague KCB CBE, Chief of Defence Material and Brigadier M.G.
Hickson OBE, Director BFPO.
8 November 2007 NIC
Lest We Forget Passchendaele 1917
A Royal Engineer Signal ServiceTelegraph detachment laying a field telephone cable is shown
on the cover.
First Day Cover
Stamps: 4 x 1st Class "Lest We Forget" commemorative, issued 8 November 2007.
Special Handstamp: Lest We Forget, Monument Road, Birmingham, 8th Nov 2007, Silhouette
of a "British Tommy" shown in the centre.
12 May 2012
The Berliner - 21st Anniversary of the Last British Military Train
Commemorative Cover
The locomotive crew was initially professional railwaymen who were serving members of the
Royal Engineers (Railway Operating Division).
Stamps: 1st Class "Forth Railway Bridge" commemorative, issued 13 October 2011.
Special Handstamp: 21st Anniversary of the Last BMT - 12 May 12, BFPS 3154, image of the
BMT shown in the centre.
Insert - The Berliner - British Military Train, Insert 2 - Route of the BMT.
See:
BBC Report. The Train that connected East to West Berlin.
British Forces News report - You Tube. Berlin Military Train back on the tracks.
Note: These covers can be purchased from the British Forces Philatelic Service. and are
sold in aid of the Berlin branch of the Royal British Legion.
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