Bfpo 3143, Bfpo 3053

I came across 2 separate British stamps (Machin heads) with BFPO postmarks (both recent-- April 2011)

One is BFPO 3143

The other is BFPO 3053

I checked the BFPO website and these numbers weren't listed. It is my understanding that the postmarks are for field post offices (the actual post office branches) where the BFPO numbers (e.g. BFPO 6 for Lisbon for example) are like zip codes.

My question: In which town/country is BFPO 3143? BFPO 3053? Normally with a whole cover, this would be easy to figure out because the soldier would include his BFPO number (BFPO 6 Lisbon for example) in the return address. OTOH, I don't have whole covers so I am puzzled.

Hi Chris & welcome to the forum.

The dates with the BFPOs mean a lot. I believe they are used similar to ours here in Canada. Whatever military units are attached to this BFPO means a lot too because of the dfferent military exercises and campaigns. For any given period of time that BFPO may have been located at location "Y" and after that it may have moved to another theatre and be located at location "Z". These are just hypothetical examples really. In other words, the locations for a lot of the BFPOs are static. There are of course, some permanently based BFPOs that do not move.

I too am having a hard time getting information of older FPO locations for Britain.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Hi,

Have you tried contacting BFPO?

Here are their details from their web site:

BFPO Enquiries Information

Office opening hours are:
Monday to Thursday 7.30 - 16.00 (BST)
Friday 7.30 - 15.00 (BST)

BFPO Enquiries Team
British Forces Post Office
West End Road
Ruislip
Middlesex
HA4 6DQ
Tel: 08457 69 79 78

Email the BFPO Enquiries Team: desbfpo-enquiries@mod.uk