A very early letter from a soldier in France to his wife back in Guernsey in which he give clues as to where he is without actually giving details although his own details have been censored.
At the start of the war mail from members of the British Expeditionary Forces was charged at normal rates and surcharged at the single rate if not ‘stamped’ accordingly. However, after the 28th August 1914 free postage was given for postcards and letters weighing less than 4 ounces.
The Advanced Base Post Office was established in Amiens from the 18th August to the 28th December 1914.
Circular censor marks were used by the BEF from August to December 1914. They were replaced by square marks for security reasons after the retreat from Mons.

Since it was not easy for troops to obtain postage stamps ‘in the field’, Field Service Postcards with a printed 1d stamp were issued to soldiers prior to free postage being granted in the December. These are very scarce sent to the Islands.

Later cards were provided without the pre-printed stamp and are much more common. The cards were quicker getting through the mail system as they had a number of everyday statements printed on the reverse. The soldier either ticked or crossed out the appropriate wording as required which cut censoring time to a minimum.
CDS : ARMY BASE POST OFFICE-È-  B  13 OC 14  
The ABPO was situated at this time in the offices of the Cie. Transatlantique in Le Havre

One of the first volunteer drafts to leave Guernsey sailed from St Peter Port early in 1915 to join their regiment the Royal Irish Regiment for training in Ireland prior to going to France.

The RGLI took their mascot with them to Canterbury where they trained for the Front but when they left for France Joey returned to pulling a milkcart in Guernsey.

Postcard sent from the seaplane base in St Peter Port. The circular cachet was applied at the base before the card was flown in one of the units seaplanes to the seaplane
base Cherbourg where it entered the French forces mail scheme.

A number of committees were set-up in all the islands to send Aid to the troops of all the allies whether at home or abroad.

Example of a censored civilian letter from neutral Holland to Guernsey.

Examples of marks found on mail to and from Guernsey during WW1

9th Division Headquarters.

9th Division Train.

Volunteers from the Guernsey and Alderney artillery militias served in 9th Division’s ammunition column (Train) supplying ammunition to the guns a very dangerous job.

Army Post Office (HD) 35 was situated in Bourne Park camp near Canterbury, Kent which is where the GRLI trained prior to going to France.

The FPO 109 and 119 CDS’s were used by the RGLI during the time it was in the front line.

This cachet of the French seaplane squadron stationed in St Peter Port is the most common, but still very scarce. A three line mark does exist but very few examples are known.

This US army Post Office mark is thought have been used at the French seaplane base but no definite evidence has been found to date.

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