Latest Updates from the world of philately
Stamps on Military History – New Zealand 1984.
New Zealand issued a set of stamps on Military History on 07 Dec 1984.
24c – South Africa 1901 40c – France 1917.
58c -North Africa 1942.Three New Zealanders of 2nd New Zealand Divison were awarded Victoria Cross.
70c -Korea and Southeast Asia 1952-70
APS Cover May 2019 –Platinum Jubilee 4th Battalion The 8th Gorkha Rifles
APS Cover issued on 13 May 2019 to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of 4th Battalion The 8th Gorkha Rifles. It was raised on 15 Mar 1941. In World War II the Battalion took park in Burma Campaign and Rfn(Later Hav) Lachhiman Gurung earned the Victoria Cross in the Battle of Taungdaw in Burma. It has taken part in all operations post Independence and has earned two MVCs and Two KCs among many other Gallantry and Distinguished Services’ awards.
APS Cover Ser No 20/19
APS Cover Dec 2018 – Bicentenary of 2nd Battalion The Rajputana Rifles.
APS Cover issued on 24 Dec 2018 to mark Bicentenary of 2nd Battalion The Rajputana Rifles. It was raised on 05 Nov 1817. Captain John Augustus Wood was awarded Victoria Cross on 09 Dec 1856 during Battle of Bushire. The Battalion earned victories in Battle of Tololing during 1999 Kargil War
APS Cover Ser No 36/18.
The Brockville Rifles– Commemorative Covers – 2016.
In 1866, a major re-organization of militias in the Brockville area created the 41st Brockville Battalion of Rifles. During the First World War, it won battle honours Amiens and Pursuit to Mons and Major Thain MacDowell, earned the Victoria Cross. It is now the Primary Reserve Infantry Regiment of the Canadian Army.
The Badge of the Regiment which forms part of stamp design and the cover has following features
Canada Post issued a commemorative cover on 02 April 2016 to commemorate 150th Anniversary of The Brockville Rifles.
APS Cover Nov 2018 -The Deccan Horse – Centenary of Jordan Valley Day
APS Cover issued on 03 Nov 2018 to commemorate Centenary of Jordan Valley Day The Deccan Horse was raised in 1790 as part of Military treaty between East India Company and Nizam of Hyderabad.
In 1918 during the Second World War 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) and 20th Deccan Horse were deployed as part of British Expeditionary Forces under General Allenby in Jordan Valley. On 23 Sep 1918 in a gallant action near village Khan-e-Sumariyeh Risaldar Badlu Singh inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and forced them to surrender. He made the supreme sacrifice and was awarded The Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry award of British Empire. The Deccan Horse was awarded the Theatre Honour “Palestine”
23 Sep is celebrated as Jordan Valley Day every year by Deccan Horse. A Special APS cover was released in 2018 to commemorate the centenary of Jordan Valley Day.
APS Cover Ser No 25/18.
APS Cover Jan 2019 – Sestercentennial – 1st Battalion The Maratha Light Infantry
1st Battalion The Maratha Light Infantry was raised on 04 Aug 1768 at Bombay as the 2nd Bombay Sepoys. It won eight Battle Honours in pre WW I and added another five during WW I in Mesopotamia. It won seven more battle honours in WW II while serving in North Africa, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Italy.
During Operations in Italy, Sepoy Namdeo Jadhav was awarded “Victoria Cross” on 09 Apr 1945 during assault across River Senio.
APS issued a cover on 30 Jan 2019 to mark its 250th Anniversary (Sestercentennial).
Cover no 07/2019.
Centenary of End of World War I – Philatelic rundown of a deadly period.
A Killing in Sarajevo on 28 Jun 1914 led to a deadly War in Europe from 28 Jul 1914 to 11 Nov 1918. It led to mobilisation of 70 million military personnel and death of nine million combatants and seven million civilians.
The Allied Powers – France,Russia,Britain and USA vs Central Powers -Germany,Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire were pitched against each other in various battle grounds across Europe and elsewhere.
On 02 Aug 1914 , the 29th German Infantry Regiment stormed Luxembourg City.This was one of the Beginnings of World War I. Artist Pierre Blanc captured this storming in a pen drawing (now part of National Museum of History and Art in Luxembourg) which features on a stamp issued by Luxembourg on 23 Sep 2014 to remind us of the start of World War I.
Zeebrugge Raid – The Zeebrugge raid on 23 April 1918 was an attempt by Royal Navy to block the Belgian Port of Bruges-Zeebrugge. The British intended to sink obsolete ships in canal entrance to prevent German vessels including Submarines from leaving the port and interfere in Allied control of English Channel and North Sea. British Ships HMS Thetis, Intrepid and Iphigenia were used as block ships alongwith Submarines C1 and C3 and 4th Battalion of Royal marines. Submarine C3 commended by Lt R D Sanford was able to blow viaduct with an explosion and he was awarded Victoria Cross for this action. Allied promoted Zebrugge Raid as a Victory and eight Victoria Cross were awarded including a Victoria Cross for the entire 4th Battalion of Royal Marines.
British Forces Postal service a special cover on 23 Apr 1973 to mark 55th Anniversary of Zeebrugge Raid.
Victoria Cross awarded to Royal Naval Aviators for actions in World War I
Flight Lieutenant Reginald ‘Rex’ Warneford VC of Royal Navy was awarded Victoria Cross for his actions over Ghent ,Belgium on 07 jun 1918 by attacking and destroying German Zeppelin LZ37.
Squadron Commander Richard Bell Davies was awarded Victoria Cross for his heroic actions of saving his colleague Smylie at Ferrijik,Bulgaria in his single seater Nieuport on 19 Nov 1915.
Ascension Islands issued a set of stamps on these Victoria Cross awardees on 07 May 2009.
Indians in World War I
Indian Army Personnel were awarded 18 Victoria Crosses in World War I in various sectors.
France -Belgium sector (10 Victoria Cross)- including Three Victoria Crosses to 39 Garhwal Rifles
Mesopotamia Sector (06 Victoria Cross)
Palestine Sector (02 Victoria Cross).
Battle of Jerusalem 1917
General Allenby also mentions in his report that he and his staff with mission heads and military attaches of France,Italy and USA entered the city on foot and received at Jaffa gate by Guards representing England,Scotland,Ireland,Wales, Australia, New Zealand, India ,France & Italy.
He received Christian,Jewish & Muslim Community Leaders to ensure sanctity and protection to all holy sites and even sent his Indian Muslim Soldiers to guard Islamic religious sites.
Israel issued a stamp on Centenary of this historic Battle 13 Jun 2017 . A First Day Cover is listed. The stamp shows the sergeants,Mayor of Jerusalm and General Allenby entering Jerusalem on Foot. The Cover also features the Allenby Memorial at Jerusalem.
Haifa Day
The Indian Army commemorates September 23 every year as Haifa Day to pay its respects to the two brave Indian Cavalry Regiments Mysore Lancers and Jodhpur Lancers that helped liberate the city following a dashing cavalry action by the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. In the autumn of 1918, the Indian Brigade was a part of the Allied Forces sweeping northwards through Palestine in what is seen as the last great cavalry campaign in history.
Israel issued a stamp on 06 Feb 2018 to commemorate the Centenary of Battle of Haifa with Indian Cavalry at Haifa.The Tab shows the Jodhpur Lancers insignia.
The First Day Cover Design Features the Memorial for fallen Indian Soldiers at Haifa.
