This section consolidates the Study Circle’s displays regarding the major conflicts of the 20th Century involving Egypt. While individual collections for these eras are growing, we have brought them together here to provide a cohesive overview of military postal history during these turbulent periods.
Below you will find displays covering World War I, World War II, the Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF).
3rd Australian Infantry: Based at Mena, Cairo, from 5.12.15 to 28.2.15 until sent to Gallipoli.
W.W.I. Turkish Officers' P.O.W. Camp: Sidi Bishr in Alexandria. Cancelled with double ring Base Army Post Office Z and showing triangular censor mark.
RAK T.P.O.: The military T.P.O. from Kantara to Railhead. Though some suggest 'R' stands for Rafa, dates show this T.P.O. in use long before the railway reached Rafa in March 1917.
German Forces: Cover from the 5th Panzer Division stamped with F.P.O. 14744C.
Italian Forces: Cover from the 132nd Division (Ariete) with a cachet of the 132nd Tank Regiment. At this date, the regiment was engaged against the 8th Army at El Alamein.
Indian F.P.O. R-11: Here the 'R' stands for Reserve, brought into use after the loss of F.P.O. 43 at Deir-el Sheim in July 1942.
1948 Conflict: Egyptian A.P.O. 4.
Sinai Occupation: Israeli A.P.O. with St Catherine Monastery cachet.
1973 Conflict: Misuse of postal stationery intended for troops. Used by a liaison officer to a civilian with an additional 10m stamp. Cancelled with postmark of the 3rd Sinai Army.
UNEF I: Cover from Swedish forces.
UNEF II: Cover from Polish forces.
MFO: Cover from a member of the British forces of the Multirole Forces and Observers.
© Egypt Study Circle