Postal History Corner: WWII Auxiliary Services

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

WWII Auxiliary Services

On September 10, 1939, Canada declared war on Germany. Early in October, 1939, the Canadian government accepted the offers of four "National Voluntary Organizations" to provide services for troops in Canada and overseas. The Canadian Legion War Services, the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army and the Y.M.C.A. entered into a contract with the Minister of National Defence, becoming official auxiliaries operating under the Directorate of Auxiliary Services.

The auxiliary services provided invaluable sports, recreation, social and educational programs which contributed to the welfare of the members of the forces and helped preserve morale. Since correspondence to and from family and friends was important in maintaining morale, the auxiliary services provided envelopes to forces personnel in Canada and overseas. This post shows various envelopes produced by the volunteer organizations of the auxiliary services.

1. Salvation Army

Salvation Army corner (lower left) cards

Canada

Ottawa M.P.O. 301 (Landsdowne Park), March 17, 1943

Niagara Falls MPO 203, March 15, 1942

United Kingdom

4 Canadian Infantry Brigade (Royal Hamilton Light Infantry)

FPO C 4 (British Field Post Office) , Aldershot, April 22. 1941

Army Distribution Centre No. 5 (British F.P.O. 488)

Canadian Forestry Corps, Scotland, February 21, 1942

2. Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus corner cards

Canada

Camp Borden M.P.O. 202, July 16, 1945

Mountain View M.P.O. 309 (RCAF 6 Bombing and Gunnery School), May 26, 1945

Newfoundland

C.A.P.O. 3, Botwood, July 26, 1943

United Kingdom

Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps

FPO HC 2 ( British F.P.O. 640, January 8, 1944)

Headquarters First Canadian Army

FPO AC 1 (British F.P.O. 585), Southern England, April 24, 1944

3. Canadian Legion

Canadian Legion corner cards

Canada

Windsor, N.S., M.P.O. 620, May 31, 1944

Jamaica

"Y" Force, Jamaica, September 30, 1942

United Kingdom

A Group, Canadian Reinforcement Units

FPO SC 4 (British F.P.O. 248), Witley, Surrey, September 2, 1941

Canadian Reinforcement Units, C Group

F.P.O. S.C. 6, Borden, September 24, 1942

4. Y.M.C.A.

YMCA corner cards

Canada

M.P.O. 301 (Ottawa), November 30, 1939

Rivers, Man. MPO 1006, November 25, 1944

Portage la Prairie MPO 1012, July 7, 1945

United Kingdom

B Group Reinforcement Units

FPO SC 5 (British F.P.O. 247), Hampshire, August 30, 1940

Netherlands

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Headquarters First Canadian Army

F.P.O. A.A. 1, Tilberg, Netherlands, December 6, 1944

North West Europe

1 Canadian Army Base Post Office

FPO SC 758, January 5, 1945

Navy

From H.M.C. Ship, 8/12/41

From H.M.C. Ship

N.P.O. 1113 Esquimalt, B.C., August 20, 1943

5. On Active Service Envelope: All Auxiliary Service Organizations Listed

In addition to envelopes produced by each of the volunteer organizations of the Auxiliary Service, an envelope listing all four organizations was produced for troops "On Active Service".

United Kingdom