Military Heritage 2

MILITARY HERITAGE 2
Our previous flyer of military offers issued in 2006 was so well received, that we have been searching our stock to see what other interesting items relating to the armed forces we could find and offer to you. We always try to obtain good relevant signatures on our covers where possible and this selection is no exception. Obviously with signed limited editions several of these offers are in finite supply and thus very collectable and early ordering is therefore recommended.

Item 1
We start this time with a cover we produced to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire fighter plane, which was central to victory in the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire was designed by the late R J Mitchell and we had arranged for our cover to be signed by his son Dr Gordon Mitchell. The lead in time when planning a cover of this nature can be some time and regrettably Dr Mitchell developed Parkinson’s Disease after agreeing to sign for us and was therefore only able to ‘initial’ the covers rather than apply a full signature. Nevertheless, this is a superb commemorative cover celebrating the key plane, which tilted the balance of the Battle of Britain in the allies favour. This is a limited edition of just 300 covers and has never been offered by us before. To complete this offer this cover comes with a packet of 100 plane stamps. Spitfire Commemoration cover plus 100 plane stamps for just £9.95.

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Item 2
Sir Winston Churchill needs no introduction. The man who became British Prime Minister in the darkest days of the Second World War and oversaw the government of the country. Noted for many keynote speeches and quotations that will remain embedded in British history and arguably our greatest statesman ever. We offer two covers both produced to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s death in 1965 and cancelled by our special ‘Victory’ postmark to commemorate the end of WW2. One bears a solitary Union Jack stamp, the other bears the Miniature Sheet issued by Royal Mail to commemorate the end of WW2 and is our ‘Official First Day Cover’ for that issue. We offer two Sir Winston Churchill covers for Just £14.95.

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Item 3
National Service was introduced in 1939 with the onset of World War Two and continued through to 1960 when it was finally stopped. This cover was produced by us to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the last national Service Soldier (Lieutenant R Vaughan) to leave the army which occurred in 1963. The cover is signed by Norman Tebbit, latterly Lord Tebbit of Chingford, who himself did 4 years National Service in the RAF. A very attractive cover and we do not have many of these available. National Service Memorial signed Cover just £14.95.

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Item 4
The Dambusters raid remains a talking point to this day. No single action in WW2 has attracted more attention, discussion and analysis. The famous attack by RAF 617 Squadron upon the hydroelectric dams in Westphalia on 16 / 17 May 1943 was one of the most audacious attacks ever made in the history of warfare. Using specially adapted Lancaster bombers 133 aircrew delivered the famous ‘bouncing bombs’ created by Dr Barnes-Wallis. Eight of the planes, which left RAF Scampton that night never returned and of those 56 crew only two survived. In total nearly half of the aircrew that made up 617 squadron were lost in one night. A costly endeavour in human terms but one that is a legend in aerial warfare. Our cover commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the Dambusters Raid and is signed by Squadron Leader George (Johnny) Johnson DFM, who was a bomb aimer in one of the Lancaster’s attacking the Sorpe Dam as part of the Dambusters Raid. The reverse of the cover depicts Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC. Dambusters 60th Anniversary signed cover just £14.95.

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Item 5
Our next offer is a cover we produced for the 60th Anniversary of The Normandy Veterans Association. The cover was produced to celebrate the service of remembrance held in St Paul’s Cathedral in October 2004. The postmark is for NEXPOWA, the National Ex Prisoners of War Association and is signed by Lord Carey of Clifton. Lord Carey was the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury a position he held from 1991 to 2002. He does not often sign items such as this and we are extremely pleased to be able to offer this cover and signature to you. Normandy Veterans Association cover signed by Lord Carey for £14.95.

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Item 6
The next item on this flyer celebrates the life of Field Marshall, The Viscount William Slim who came to prominence during the Burma campaign of WW2. After the war Viscount Slim was commander of the allied land forces in South East Asia and later Governor General of Australia. The cover is signed by his son Viscount John Slim who is the second holder of this hereditary peerage. This cover has a fully detailed reverse side and was sponsored by the Slim Society. Viscount Slim signed cover £14.95.

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Item 7
This offer relates to tank warfare. Tanks were first used by the British army at the Battle of the Somme on September 15 1916. This cover is postmarked exactly 90 years later and shows an advancing tank. In all 49 tanks were available that day but 36 did not reach their starting points. However the advance that day was 2500 yards across a three mile front. These new machines clearly worried the defending troops and were the forerunners of the modern tanks available to the military today. Our cover is signed by Lieutenant General Andrew Ridgeway who was ‘Colonel Commandant Tank Regiment’ at the time of signing these covers last year. These have not been offered before and we are sure they will be popular. Tank signed cover £14.95.

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Item 8
Peace was finally achieved in Korea in 1953 after fierce fighting. This cover which we originally produced in 2004 celebrates that fact. When the Victoria Cross stamps were issued by Royal Mail last year we had a second stamp affixed and a special Victoria Cross postmark applied. To round this cover off, it is personally signed by Bill Speakman VC, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during fighting in Korea on 4 November 1951. At the time of writing Bill Speakman remains one of the very few living recipients of the Victoria Cross. Korea VC Signed cover just £14.95

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Item 9
The final offer this time is our Official First Day Covers for the 2004 Crimea stamp issue. Our Thin Red Line cover celebrates the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders actions at Balaclava, Crimea in 1854 and is signed by Major General Andrew Graham, Colonel of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regiment. The second cover shows H.M. The Queen unveiling the Victoria Cross and George Cross memorial in Westminster Abbey and is most appropriately signed by Eric Wilson VC, holder of the Victoria Cross awarded in Somalia in August 1940. Originally cited posthumously in the London gazette it subsequently emerged that Eric Wilson had been taken prisoner and was alive. 2004 Official Crimea FDC signed by Andrew Graham or Eric Wilson £14.95 each or £28.95 the pair.

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