I decided to write a review on the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) as I think they do a fantastic job, I have been using this service for many years and have never come across a problem with the service they provide. My boyfriend is currently in the British Army and is serving away on Operations, contact with him is quite hard and this agency is a great help to me and many other families and friends of loved ones who are serving away.
BFPO is to provide an efficient and effective Postal and Courier Service in order to sustain the fighting power of UK Armed Forces Worldwide
******A brief History of the BFPO********
In 1799 a need for a Postal Service for troops in the field was considered to be essential, but unfortunately it was not established until 1808 during the Peninsular War that the First Army Post Office was put into operation. In the Jul of 1882 Queen Victoria formatted the Post Office Corps which was for service in the Egyptian and Sudanese campaigns. The Post Office Corps was then called The Royal Engineers Telegraph Reserve. In 1889 both Reserve Corps were reorganised into companies to give an efficient Postal and Telegraph Service during the South African War. In 1908 saw a further reorganisation took place when they amalgamated into the Royal Engineers (Postal Section) The Home Postal Depot was formed in London in 1914 to fulfil 2 functions. Firstly it served as a central sorting and distribution point for all Forces mails and, secondly, for the training of Royal Engineers (PS) personnel. In 1979 it became Royal Engineers Post and Courier Services, Depot at Mill Hill renamed the Postal and Courier Depot.
»BFPO Agency»
The Defence Courier Service (DCS) is a department of the BFPO Agency. The Agency is based at Mill Hill in NW London. The role of DCS is to provide a secure, discreet and efficient means of carrying Tri Service (Army, Navy, RAF) and Other Government Departments' classified material worldwide in peace and conflict, this is done through a combination of road and air service schedules.
You can purchase Bluey’s in most Post Offices in the high street, they are normally in a bundle of 5 - 10 and are completely free of charge. If your Post Office does not stock them ask your Post Office manager and they will be able to arrange for you to receive a bundle.
*******Bluey Letters*****
The armed forces have produced there own type of letter which is a blue A4 sheet of paper, which is fold into three sections with a gummed edge. On the front of the self made envelope it has a box to write the recipients name and address: Service No Rank Name Unit/Regt Operation Name BFPO No
On the back there is another box for your details of the sender, this is no different to a normal British letter. There are certain conditions that does follow with sending a Bluey, (it has been given this name due to the paper being actually blue):
No Enclosures as these are not permitted
If sending to Operational or authorised exercise it is free postage
when sending to an Un-authorised location for example; Permanent posting in Germany, Cyprus and Ireland a postage stamp is to be affixed.
I will give you a short account of BFPO numbers these are like postcodes but in Military format.
BFPO 14 is Suffield in Canada BFPO 22 is Paderborn in Germany BFPO 58 is Dhekelia in Cyprus BFPO 677 Is RAF Ascension In Ascension Island BFPO 2 is Washington In USA
These address are used and recognised by all services (ARMY, NAVY and RAF).
Anything can be written on this like a personal letter as it is very secure and safe, no other person will open or read this letter apart from the person you have addressed it to. I have been writing my my boyfriend now for approximately 10 weeks and I have not found one problem as yet. Yes it does take time as these letters go to London to be sorted into there BFPO Locations then Shipped or Air Mailed out to him. I also used this agency 2 years ago when he was out on Another Operation and again they didn’t let me down. I find the agency a great advantage to people who have loved ones out on theatre as you can write a letter and just stick it in the Normal red pillar box, No need to run around trying to find a stamp.
***** Time to locations ****
After the Blueys have been sorted into there BFPO numbers at London. They are shipped out onto planes or ship. I can only give my own experience how quickly they have took to get to there destination
Canada = 8 days - Air Mail Germany = 4 days - ? Iraq = 4-7 days - Air Mail Afghanistan = 10 - 14 days - Air Mail
As you can see they all have different time scale to reach to where they have to go.
******* E-Bluey ******This agency has moved with the 21st Century and have created something called an E-Bluey. (www.ebluey.com) As you have probably guessed you can now write an email and put it on an electrical version of the hand written Bluey. After you have wrote your letter it is then downloaded and this is all done at a main terminal machine and directs the letter by BFPO numbers to the administration posts it is then dispatched ASAP. Depending on how busy the site is depends on how quickly your letter is printed and despatched. I have used this method and I find it a lot quicker but I suppose less personal than a hand written letter. Look at the difference in time scale, is that not amazing how quick it reaches them.
Iraq = 1-4 days
Afghanistan 1 - 6 days
Unfortunately where my boyfriend is at the moment he can not use this service as he is not accessible to a computer. Therefore he is using the old fashion version of pen and paper, but at least we are in contact!!!Sending Parcels to Operation deployments have weight restrictions. A customs label is required (CN 22 label) which is available at all post offices. A price list below.
The Maximum weight allowance is 2Kg, anything over that weight will be rejected and not sent.
*******Carrier Companies Under Contract with BFPO*********
BFPO is also used by people in military families who live abroad. Various carrier companies have a contract with BFPO. This means that any items delivered by them on the behalf of a mail order company not under either a direct contract or the Parcel force One Stop Shop scheme will be accepted. The following carrier companies have a contract with BFPO:
Reality Good news for those wives who shop online, as different fashion in different countries. One thing to remember is that Royal Mail guaranteed next day delivery is not available to BFPO addresses
The Agency is based at: Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill NW London.
Helpline Tel: 08457 69 79 78
HotBlonde ã 2007 - I hope I have covered all the main aspects of this agency - if not please ask in my GB
* Post office data as of Apr 07
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What a superb review - and on a highly original subject, one that I knew nothing about until reading this. As far as I am concerned this review is Ciao at it's absolute best, entertaining (it was a good read) and highly informative. Richard.
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