Gandhi FDC with British Force Post Office (BFPO) Postmark Cancellation

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Daily you are seeing 1969 Gandhi FDC from UK on Ebay, Delcampe or other stamp shows but today I am going to blog about UK Gandhi FDC with a very different CDS.

Following FDC has Cancellation from British Force/Field Post Office (BFPO) 318, which makes this very unique in my collection. FPO 318 is postoffice on HMS Kent which is part of Allied Regiment. HMS Kent (D12) was a County-class destroyer ship of the Royal Navy from 1960 to 1998. So this is a Naval Cover and I have not seen any FDC which has CDS from Sea (ship).


What is BFPO: The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) provides a postal service to HM Forces, separate from that provided by Royal Mail in the United Kingdom. BFPO addresses are used for the delivery of mail in the UK and around the world.
BFPO is based at RAF Northolt in North West London

What is a BFPO Number?

British Forces Post Office Numbers (Static) are for a given location, and/or group of isolated detachments.

British Forces Post Offices Numbers (Ships) refers to a specific ship, regardless of its location, although it may refer to some land based naval establishments.

Addressing format for BFPO mail:

Service No Rank Name
Unit/Regt
Operation Name
BFPO No

Please be advised that the Town and Country must not be included in the address.

Do you think this FDC is unique or rare?

If you have any some what similar FDC than please share with all of us and make it an interesting topic to read. So please check your collection or refresh your memory and start sharing.

Any questions, concerns or comments are welcome.

Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.