British “Parliamentary Election” pre-printed special cover dispatched from the Constituency of Buckingham to voter enlisted most probably in the British regiment supporting the 5th Indian Brigade (4th Division), moved from Italy to northern Greece. Stamped “Official Paid” to be used for voting by post for the general election of the 26th of July 1945.
[The 1945 United Kingdom general election was held on 5 July 1945, when the civilian electorate voted, but the results were declared on the night of the 25th due to collecting and counting the votes of those serving overseas)].
Addressed to the Returning Officer at County Hall Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks); sender’s ballot was mailed on 6 July 1945 through the Indian Army FPO 24, based at Verroia from 5.4.45 to at least on 27.12.45.
[F.P.O. 24 was first moved from Taranto to Volos and then to Salonika. Having disarmed the guerrilla forces, the British Army settled down to a virtual occupation of Greece. In the redeployment of forces the 5th Brigade with its F.P.O. 24 established itself at Verroia. It started operating there on 5 April 1945 and closed on 27 December 1945.]
The British regiment supported the 5th Indian Brigade (4th Division). It moved with the division from Italy to northern Greece, where the brigade’s Post Office operated at Salonika from 19 March 1945 to 18 February 1946.]
The postmark shown is used on the First Day of a second device type used.
Carried by the British Army Postal Service to England.
Item condition: Very fine. Very few covers are known to have mixed Indian and British stamps; see scans.