Four stamps depicting The Post Office At War, 1914-18
Background map image created from historical sources
Images include the 1916 postcard of The Post Office Rifles
THE POST OFFICE RIFLES, 1st Class
Originated in the 1860s as a volunteer rifle corps. The Rifles, organised as the 8th Battalion, took part in many battles including Loos, the Somme, Passchendaele and Amiens.
DELIVERING THE MAIL ON THE HOME FRONT, £1.33
The Post Office released 75,000 men for military services and took on thousands of temporary staff.
HOME DEPOT AT REGENT'S PARK, LONDON, £1.33
A reliable postal service was vital to keeping up morale. The General Post Office built a vast sorting office at Regent's Park.
WRITING A LETTER FROM THE WESTERN FRONT, 1st Class
With only rare opportunities for home leave, letters were an essential link between servicemen and their loved ones at home.
Miniature Sheet Technical Specifications
Stamps design Hat Trick Stamp Sheet size 146mm x 74mm
Stamp format Landscape
Stamp size 41mm x 30mm
Printer International Security Printers
Print process Lithography
Perforation 14.5 x 14
Phosphor Bars as appropriate
Gum PVA
Acknowledgements
The Post Office Rifles, 1916 postcard © The Postal Museum; delivering the mail on the Home Front, photograph by Arthur LP Reavil © IWM (Q114921); Home Depot at Regent's Park, London © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2016, courtesy of The Postal Museum; writing a letter from the Western Front © National Library of Scotland/Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba