Unfranked cover to Bombay (now, Mumbai) India, ms endorsed “On Active Service” and “Written in English”, apparently from British officer (lieutenant) served in Greece with the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade (4th Division) at Salonika Greece. No sender’s unit details.
Postmarked with Indian ‘F.P.O. № 86 8 MAR. 45’ datestamp, allotted to that brigade. Inspected in Greece; stamped with unit ‘PASSED BY CENSOR No. 5328’ countersigned shield marking. Carried to the sorting office at Athens F.P.O. 17 (actually, at near-by Piraeus port), and stamped with the very rare large DEPUTY CHIEF FIELD CENSOR marking in violet applied by the Indian Censor Unit in Athens.
Directed by air to India and backstamped “BOMBAY G.P.O. DELY. WINDOW 22 MAR. 45 on arrival at final destination.
[The British unit, most probably the 57th (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. supporting the 4th Indian Division, was shipped along with HQ 11th Indian Brigade from Italy to Greece in November 1944 as emergency reinforcements to the British Forces to help stabilise the country after the German withdrawal.
The brigade’s Post Office operated at Salonika from 28 December 1944 to 4 January 1946.]
Item condition: Fine; see scans.