|
Harry Cope Memorial Award for Literature 2006
This book covers the five-year post-war period (after three years of war) in which British and Indian forces served in Macedonia and Western Thrace, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Transcausasia, Transcaspia, North Persia and South Russia.
The scope covers the former British Salonika Army but does not extend to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in southern Turkey.
The author is to be congratulated on the extensive research and interpretation of covers which has enabled much new information to be revealed on the British and Indian FPOs, in separate chapters for each area.
Aspects such as censorship and civilian use of APO's are also covered. Throughout, the postal history is supplemented by military and political information to explain the presence and movement of the troops, and consequently the FPOs, including detailed orders of battle.
Apart from normal occupation of former enemy territory (Bulgaria and Turkey) there was support for anti-Bolsheviks in Russia and also a presence to counter Greek aspirations in Turkey.
The maps are excellently clear, showing all relevant place names, without being cluttered by other places which are not relevant.
There are black and white illustrations of many covers.
The FPOs are fully detailed under each country, but it would have been useful to have a combined FPO list covering all the countries. This is the place to find out about the Malleson Mission, Solly Flood Force and many other little known activities. This book maintains the high standard of the Stuart Rossiter Trust Fund and is highly recommended. Published by Stuart Rossiter Trust Fund, 2004, ISBN 0 9530004 8 6. Also available from: Peter High (Postal History 2000 publication sales). [This review by Alistair Kennedy appeared in Newsletter 262 (Winter 2004)] |
