British Forces Philatelic Service
British Forces Philatelic Services is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company(CIC) which operates the Forces Philatelic Bureau on behalf of the British Forces Post Office (BFPO).
The Forces Philatelic Bureau, operated by BFPS, designs and produces special handstamps and commemorative covers to mark British State and Armed Forces events. They are unique and specific to the occasion. The special handstamp carries the British Forces Postal Service number obtainable only from the Bureau.
BFPS is run by volunteers who are all ex-Services. We fundraise for GB Forces charities through philately. Our profits are donated to Service charities. For further information on our company please refer to our website (www.bfps.org.uk).
Venue Type:
Campaign or initiative
Battle of Cambrai Centenary
- 20 November 2017 — 31 December 2020 *on now
The Battle of Cambrai (November 1917, WW1) was an important landmark in the use of tanks. It was the first military offensive where British Army commanders had deployed them in large numbers.
To mark the centenary of this Battle and the first use of mass tanks, the Forces Philatelic Bureau has produced a commemorative cover to be released on the 20th November 2017.
The cover bears an image showing massed tanks deploying across the battlefield at Cambrai. A specially designed handstamp numbered ‘BFPS 3209’ will be used to cancel a Royal Mail issued 1st class ’Shattered Poppy’ stamp. The special handstamp carries a silhouette of the Royal Tank Regiment’s cap badge.
An information insert will be included and this and the cover will be presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark this centenary.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Admission
Prices of the commemorative covers are shown on the website. www.bfps.org.uk/shop
BFPO First Day Cover - Letter from Home
- 28 July 2014 — 24 November 2020 *on now
The Forces Philatelic Bureau is producing a special first day cover to coincide with the 'The Great War' issue of stamps from Royal Mail on 28th July.
The 'Letter from Home' first day cover includes the set of six stamps and is cancelled by the BFPS 3176 special handstamp "The Great War Centenary" which features a wartime mail censor's mark.
Included will be an information insert and along with the covers it will be presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark the event.
You can buy these covers from the BFPS online shop.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
Access to the website is free
Website
BFPO Commemorates The Great War - A Field Post Office
- 28 July 2014 — 30 November 2020 *on now
The Forces Philatelic Bureau is producing a special commemorative cover to coincide with the 'The Great War' issue of stamps from Royal Mail on 28th July. The cover with a single stamp highlights the role played by the Field Post Offices during The Great War. Included will be an information insert and along with the covers it will be presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark the event.
You can buy these covers from the BFPS online shop.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
Free access to website
Website
BFPO Commemorates The Great War
- 4 August 2014 — 24 November 2020 *on now
The Forces Philatelic Bureau is producing a special commemorative cover to mark the Declaration of War 4ᵗʰ August 1914. The cover with a single stamp uses an image of a contemporary newspaper headline "Great Britain Declares War", which has been used to highlight this historic event. Included will be an information insert and along with the covers it will be presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark the event.
You can buy these covers from the BFPS online shop.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
Access to the website is free.
Website
The Defence of Hougoumont 17 - 18 June 1815
- 18 June 2015 — 30 November 2020 *on now
On the 18ᵗʰ June 1815 the Battle of Waterloo saw the defeat of Napoleon’s French Army by the Seventh Coalition commanded by The Duke of Wellington. This great battle put an end to the Napoleonic Wars with France.
To mark the 200ᵗʰ Anniversary of this epic clash BFPS, in partnership with Headquarters The Royal Logistic Corps, has produced a special commemorative cover to be released on the 18ᵗʰ June 2015.
This beautifully crafted cover has an image of the painting "powder and shot" by Charles Stadden highlighting the resupply of ammunition by the Royal Wagon Train at a critical point in the defence of Hougoumont Farm. The cover bears the1st class postage stamp "WATERLOO Defence of Hougoumont" cancelled by the unique BFPS 3191 handstamp specially designed for this occasion.
Included is an A4 insert sheet with information about the Battle of Waterloo and the Royal Wagon Train. The insert and covers are presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark the event.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
Access to website is free.
Website
The Battle of Waterloo 18 June 1815
- 18 June 2015 — 30 November 2020 *on now
On the 18ᵗʰ June 1815 the Battle of Waterloo saw the defeat of Napoleon’s French Army by the Seventh Coalition commanded by The Duke of Wellington. This great battle put an end to the Napoleonic Wars with France.
To mark the 200ᵗʰ Anniversary of this epic clash BFPS, in partnership with the Waterloo 200 committee, has produced a special commemorative cover to be released on the 18ᵗʰ June 2015.
This beautifully crafted cover has an image of the painting "Wellington at Waterloo" by Robert Alexander Hillingford showing Wellington riding through the battle encouraging the troops. The cover bears a 1st class postage stamp cancelled by the unique BFPS 3190 handstamp specially designed for this occasion.
Included is an A4 insert sheet with information about the Battle of Waterloo and the Waterloo 200 committee. The insert and covers are presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark the event.
This version is an unsigned limited edition of 200. Available from this shop.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
Access to website is free.
Website
The Battle of Jutland Commemoration
- 31 May 2016 — 31 December 2020 *on now
The Battle of Jutland took place between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet on the 31st May 1916 in the North Sea, off the mainland of Denmark. Involving some 250 ships and 100,000 men, this battle was the only major naval surface engagement of World War I. Both sides claimed victory in this indecisive battle, though Britain retained control of the North Sea.
To commemorate the centenary of this historic battle British Forces Philatelic Service has produced a Forces cover, which will be published on the 31st May 2016.
Showing the positions of the British and German Fleets, the cover bears an appropriately designed smiler stamp. This will be cancelled by the BFPS numbered 3197 special handstamp, which incorporates the Jutland Centenary logo.
Complete with an insert in full colour a brief description of the historic sea battle. Both are presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir of the Centenary.
This superb cover can be ordered now from the BFPD online shop (www.bfps.org.uk).
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
The website is free to access.
BFPS WW1 Special Issue Stamps First Day Cover
- 21 June 2016 — 30 December 2020 *on now
Royal Mail will be issuing its next selection of World War 1 stamps on 21June 2016. The ongoing themes of Poppies, Poetry, War Art, Memorials and Artifacts form a beautiful and poignant collection that serves as a fitting way to commemorate this tragic conflict. Accompanying this issue will be the First World War Minisheet entitled ‘The Post Office at War 1914 -18’.
The Forces Philatelic Bureau will be producing three BFPO official first day covers to compliment this stamp issue.
Two of the covers will bear original artwork silhouetting a typical wartime scene. One of these covers will be serviced using a full set of stamps, whilst the other will use the three 1st class stamps only. The third cover will be the BFPO Tri-Service generic FDC and will bear the Minisheet.
All three covers will be franked by the new ‘Philatelic Forces Bureau First Day of Issue special handstamp BFPO 707’.
These covers can be bought from our online shop (www.bfps.org.uk).
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Admission
Free to access the BFPS website
Website
BFPS 3200 Centenary of The Battle of the Somme
- 1 July 2016 — 31 December 2020 *on now
The Battle of the Somme was fought by the armies of Britain and France against the German Empire. The action took place on both sides of the upper reaches of the River Somme in France between 1 July and 18 November 1916. It was the largest battle of the Western Front, with more than one million men wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.
BFPS has produced a commemorative cover to mark the centenary of this gruesome battle.
The image on the cover is from the painting 'Battle Of The Somme, Attack of the Ulster Division', by artist J.P. Beadle. (This painting is reproduced by the kind permission of Belfast City Council. The original painting currently resides in Belfast City Hall - 2016). A 1st class stamp from the Royal Mail’s WW1 issue will be cancelled by the specially designed BFPS 3200 Battle of the Somme special handstamp which incorporates an image of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Free access to the BFPS website.
Website
BFPS 3199 First Use of the Tank in Battle
- 15 September 2016 — 31 December 2020 *on now
Tanks were first used in Battle on the 15 September 1916 at Flers-Courcelette on the Somme. Although this initial foray was not regarded as an outright success, the tank, during the next 100 years, went on to become one of the most developed and fearsome weapons used in modern warfare.
To commemorate this historic Centenary BFPS has produced a limited numbered edition of 100 commemorative covers, which will be issued on the 15th September 2016.
The main image on the cover is of a WW1 MK1 Female Tank specially created by the artist Vincenzo Auletta and is reproduced with his kind permission. The 1st Class stamp ‘Poppies’ from the Royal Mail’s WW1 issue will be cancelled by the ‘BFPS 3199 First Use of Tanks in Battle’ special handstamp.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
Where
Web site based only
Admission
Access to the website is free
Website
The Centenary of the Commonwealth War graves Commission
- 21 May 2017 — 31 December 2020 *on now
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ensures that 1.7 million Commonwealth Forces who died in the two world wars will never be forgotten. They care for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 154 countries. The values and aims, laid out in 1917, are as relevant now as they were a 100 years ago.
On the 21st May this year the Commission celebrates its Centenary and to honour this remarkable anniversary BFPS has produced a commemorative cover.
An image of Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium shows the care and attention that the Commonwealth Graves Commission takes when carrying out its works and along with the 1st class commemorative stamp it gives a very reflective theme to the cover. The stamp will be cancelled by a unique British Forces Postal Service special handstamp No. 3203. The centerpiece of this cancellation features the Commissions Centenary logo.
The cover comes with an information insert and these will be presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark the event.
They will cost just £6 for the standard version and £12 for the signed limited edition version.(UK/BFPO p&p free).
You can also order the covers by post by sending a cheque (payable to 'BFPS CIC') to BFPS The Old Post Office Links Place Elie Fife KY9 1AX.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
Access to the website is free
Website
Centenary of Passchendaele 2017
- 31 July 2017 — 31 December 2020 *on now
The Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres was fought between Allied Forces and German troops in some of the worst conditions WWI ever saw. It was even referred to as the "Battle of Mud" due to the amount of mud and grime that was caused by heavy rain and destruction of the land by artillery bombardment. Losses on both sides were extremely high.
On the cover a very apt image of the painting “'Passchendaele' - Soldiers In Mud Near Ypres In Belgium During World War I” by artist William Hole shows the miserable conditions that the troops had to endure. The cover bears the Royal Mail special issue WW1 1st class stamp “‘Dead Man’s Dump’, Isaac Rosenberg” which will be cancelled by the unique British Forces Postal Service special handstamp No 3205. The centerpiece of this handstamp features a sketch by artist Merle Drury of the ‘Cross of Sacrifice’ from Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium.
An information insert is included and this and the cover are presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark the Centenary.
You can order these covers via mail order by sending a cheque made out to BFPS CIC and sending it to BFPS, The Old Post Office, Links Place, Elie, Fife, KY9 1AX.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
Access to the website is free
Wilfred Owen MC
- 4 November 2018 — 31 October 2020 *on now
Wilfred Owen enlisted into the Artistic Rifles Officers' Training Corps on the 21st October 2015. After he finished his training he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Manchester Rifles. He served in France both in the trenches and on the front line where he experienced first-hand the 'horrors of war'. These not only changed his life but were to form the basis of some of his poems. For "conspicuous gallantry' Owen was awarded the Military Cross on the 4th October 2018. He was killed in action on the 4th November 2018 one week before the Armistice was signed.
To mark the centenary of his death BFPS has produced a numbered limited- edition commemorative cover to be published on the 4th November 2018.
Each commemorative cover will have an A4 information insert both of which will be presented in a protective cellophane slip making a highly desirable collectable.
There will be only 100 of these numbered limited-edition covers produced and these can be bought from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop).
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Web based only - www.bfps.org.uk
Admission
Access to the website is free
Website
http://www.bfps.org.uk/shop/commemorative-covers/cc72-bfps-3218-wilfred-owen-mc
British Forces Philatelic Service
The Old Post Office Links Place
Elie LEVEN
Fife
KY9 1AX
Scotland
