The start and escalation of the Bush or Terrorist war in Rhodesia required the establishment of a specific postal service to suit the special requirements of the service members and those who wished to communicate with them, as the existing postal network did not operate in the remote and hostile environments service members were often located in. In collaboration with the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, the Military Post Office (MPO) was established in February 1974, serving Operation Hurricane in the north and north east of Rhodesia, which grew and became more complex with time and the escalation of the war. The system developed was as follows: Service members received, upon call-up, specially printed M.P.O. labels which they were required to complete. A 'specimen' label would be given to any member of the general public who wished to communicate with them. On this label was indicated their regimental number, name and initials, company and unit. Additional completed labels were then affixed to any postal article, charged and posted in the normal way. All postal items bearing such labels were, initially, sorted and delivered to 2 Brigade Headquarters, Old Cranborne Barracks. They were then sorted there and delivered to sub MPO's in the operational areas. Should it be required, they were further delivered into the field by whatever Military Transport was available. The system was expanded into the Operation Thrasher area in the eastern border district, then into Operation Repulse in the Fort Victoria area, with a corresponding increase in sub MPO's and delivery networks.

( A far more detailed explanation of this service can be found in the article written by Cecil Russell, a copy of which is available upon request)

The labels used were as follows: MPO 2 Salisbury, GREEN, Operation Hurricane
MPO 3 Umtali, SALMON, Operation Thrasher
MPO 4 Fort Victoria, WHITE, Operation Repulse
MPO 5 Gwelo, GREY, Operation Grapple
MPO 1 Bulawayo, YELLOW, Operation Tangent – although this saw limited use with the cessation of hostilities.

The system of MPO's catered for all postal articles addressed TO service members. Mail FROM service members were sent without charge, and required the endorsement 'Forces Mail' and relevant unit handstamp.

The selection offered below is related to the MPO system. It is interesting to note that these covers exist in far smaller quantities than mail sent from service members, which is strange as one would assume that members of the public would be in a better position to communicate with, rather than receive mail from them. A possible explanation is, to a service member in a hostile and remote area, the last thing on his mind would be to retain an envelope for the sake of philatelic prosterity.

M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY, black on green (c. 1974 'original' printing)

M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY, black on green (c. March 1975, redesignation to M.P.O. 2)

M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY, black on (lighter) green, reprint sans serif lettering, (later reprint)

M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY, '1' deleted with a '2' in ink, black on green (use of original printing to redesignated M.P.O.2)

M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY, black on salmon (March 1976, opening of Operation Thrasher, mail initially still sorted in Salisbury)

M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY deleted with rubber stamp bar and UMTALI below, in violet (May 1976, sorting moved to Umtali with existing stock of labels handstamped), black on salmon

M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY deleted with rubber stamp bar and UMTALI below, in red (May 1976, sorting moved to Umtali with existing stock of labels handstamped), black on salmon

M.P.O. 3 UMTALI, sans serif lettering, black on salmon

M.P.O. 4 FORT VICTORIA, sans serif lettering, black on white

M.P.O. 5 GWELO, sans serif lettering, black on grey

M.P.O. 1 BULAWAYO, sans serif lettering, black on yellow

1974 14th March, stampless cover endorsed at top 'FORCES MAIL / NEW SYSTEM', green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, red boxed 'OFFICIAL FREE' cachet. Label scored through endorsed 'RTS' and alongside 'Gone Home'. With original contents enclosed being a printer Army 'MESSAGE FORM', explaining that the envelope 'I AM GOING TO FORWARD THIS TO MYSELF – UNDER THE “NEW SYSTEM” – AS ANNOUNCED IN THE SUNDAY MAIL OF MARCH 10th, 1974'. Extremely rare early use.

1974 15th September, cover sent Airmail from Durban, South Africa, green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label. Very scarce early and foreign incoming cover.

1974 17th September, printed blue/blue AIR LETTER, green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label, sent from Bulawayo, postage paid at 3c.

1974 20th September, cover with green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label, machine cancelled BULAWAYO, postage paid at 3c.

1974 (?) 20th September, cover with green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label, indistinctly cancelled VICTORIA FALLS (?), postage paid at 3c.

1974 24th September, home made newspaper wrapper, TWO green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY labels, SALISBURY machine printed 14c postage paid label, this having fallen off and then sellotaped over (now detached again). Some faults, most unusual.

1974 30th September, decorative printed cover with green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, the '2' deleted with a '1' in ink, SALISBURY machine cancelled, postage paid at 3c

1974 30th September, cover with green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label, machine cancelled CRANBORNE, postage paid at 3c. Original letter enclosed.

1974 2nd October, cover with green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label, machine cancelled BULAWAYO, postage paid at 3c.

1974 3rd October, printed brown 'ON GOVERNMENT SERVICE stampless cover, green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, the '2' deleted with a '1' in ink, tied with boxed red 'H. Q. 1 BRIGADE / OFFICIAL FREE' cachet, machine cancelled Bulawayo.

1974 20th November, cover from South Africa surface mail, endorsed at top '1st DAY OF ISSUE' (?), green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label. M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY scored through and endorsed 'NOT 2 PRTN COY' and 'Try Causeway'. The 4c South African stamp cancelled over CAUSEWAY 21 JAN 75. Unusual illustrating delivery once a service member returned home.

1975 3rd March, stampless cover endorsed at top 'FORCES MAIL', but without any further required cachet, green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, the '2' deleted with a '1' in ink, machine cancelled GWELO. The label endorsed 'NOT MPO 24 / NOT O Coy 3RHU'. Unusual.

1975 18th March, cover with green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, the '2' deleted with a '1' in ink. machine cancelled BULAWAYO, postage paid at 3c.

1975 22nd March, cover with green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label, the '1' scored through and endorsed '24', this being the forward or field sub post office, machine cancelled BULAYAWO, postage paid at 3c.

1976 11th October, cover with green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, machine cancelled SALISBURY, postage paid at new increased 4c rate. Violet M.P.O. 2 cachet on reverse dated 12th October. Roughly opened at left.

1976 13th October, cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, machine cancelled MARANDELLAS, postage paid at 4c. Red 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O. 3' cachet on reverse dated 15th October. Original letter enclosed.

1976 15th October, cover with green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, machine cancelled GREENDALE, postage paid at 4c. Violet M.P.O. 2 cachet on reverse dated 19th October.

1976 20th October, cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, which is endorsed 'Mary Mount' at top, this being a school in the Umtali area. The cover then struck with red circular 'RHODESIA ARMY / OFFICIAL FREE' cachet. Machine cancelled BULAWAYO, postage paid at 4c. Red 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.3' cachet on reverse dated 22nd October plus additional red circular 'RHODESIA ARMY / OFFICIAL FREE' strike'

Note: In May 1976 the MPO 3 was moved to Umtali. Prior to this, it was noticed that most mail was for service members operating in that area, thus unnecessarily delaying delivery because of its transit through Salisbury. The above cover, being endorsed Mary Mount, would confirm this. Presumably the sender of this cover was unaware of the new arrangements or simply did not have the correct label. Being struck with the 'OFFICIAL FREE' cachet, this would cover the onward transmission from Salisbury to Umtali.

1976 20th October, stampless cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, this endorsed 'Impala Arms' at top (located in Umtali). The cover then struck with red circular 'RHODESIA ARMY / OFFICIAL FREE' cachet, machine cancelled BORROWDALE. Red 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.3' cachet on reverse dated 22nd October plus additional red circular 'RHODESIA ARMY / OFFICIAL FREE' strike'

Note: Presumably the same comments apply to this cover as the previous item. Why it was posted stampless and allowed, remains unclear.

1976 28th October, stampless cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, SALISBURY rubber stamped over with red bar and UMTALI below. The cover then struck with violet circular T_ cachet endorsed '8', then applied with 2c and 6c postage dues, cancelled UMTALI 28 OCT. Machine cancelled UMTALI. Further endorsed at base 'GENEVA CONFERENCE OPENS'. Red 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.3' cachet on reverse dated 28th October. Most unusual example of taxed mail.

1976 1st November, cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, machine cancelled BULAWAYO, postage paid at 4c. Red 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.3' cachet on reverse dated 3rd November.

1976 1st November, stampless cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, struck with circular violet 'T_' cachet endorsed '8c', then applied with 1c, 2c and 5c dues cancelled UMTALI on the same day. Machine cancelled UMTALI. Red 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.3' cachet on reverse dated 3rd November.

1976 8th November, cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, SALISBURY rubber stamped over with red bar and UMTALI below. The label then scored through 'Stood down' and 'RTS' alongside with UMTALI cds dated 23rd November and BULAWAYO cds dated 17th November. Machine cancelled BULAWAYO, postage paid at 4c. Two red 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.3' cachets on reverse dated 10th and 17th November.

1976 14th November, cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, indistinctly cancelled, postage paid at 4c. Red 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.3' cachet on reverse dated 16th December.

1977 15th July, stampless cover endorsed 'FORCES MAIL' at top, with white M.P.O. 4 FORT VICTORIA label, this then endorsed 4 to indicate the forward / field sub post office. Cancelled RAYLTON. Violet 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.4' cachet on reverse dated 16th July. Envelope partially torn away at right, the FORT VICTORIA label is very scarce used.

1977 15th July, very similar cover to above, although endorsed '2' alongside '4', this then deleted. Violet 'RHODESIAN ARMY / M.P.O.3' cachet on reverse dated 16th July. Envelope partially torn away at right.

1978 24th January, cover with salmon M.P.O. 3 SALISBURY label, endorsed 'FORCES MAIL' at top, cancelled RAYLTON, postage paid at 4c (?). Blue 'RHODESIAN INTELLIGENCE CORPS (MATABELELAND)' cachet on reverse dated 26th January.

1978 24th January, cover with green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, endorsed 'FORCES MAIL' at top, cancelled RAYLTON, postage paid at 4c (?). Blue 'RHODESIAN INTELLIGENCE CORPS (MATABELELAND)' cachet on reverse dated 26th January.

1978 26th January, cover with green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label, endorsed 'FORCES MAIL' at top, cancelled FAMONA BULAWAYO, postage paid at 4c (?). Blue 'RHODESIAN INTELLIGENCE CORPS (MATABELELAND)' cachet on reverse dated 26th January.

1978 7th February, cover with green M.P.O. 2 SALISBURY label, struck at top left with sc blue 'R. T. O. / BULAWAYO' dated '7.2.78 (RAIL TRANSPORTATION OFFICE) strike. Cancelled RAYLTON, postage paid at 4c. Blue 'COMBINED SERVICES / RAIL TRANSPORTATION OFFICE' cachet on reverse dated 7th February.

1978 7th February, cover with green M.P.O. 1 SALISBURY label, struck at top left with sc blue 'R. T. O. / BULAWAYO' dated '7.2.78 (RAIL TRANSPORTATION OFFICE) strike, cancelled RAYLTON, postage paid at 4c. Blue 'COMBINED SERVICES / RAIL TRANSPORTATION OFFICE' cachet on reverse dated 7th February.

Note: Towards the end of the war, the rail network was brought into use by the Military for their various transportation requirements. A special unit was designated to run this service. Both the above two covers are associated with this service.

Printed black on cream postal bag label, 'RHODESIA MAILS' at top, endorsed 'MPO 24 / MTOKO' as the delivery destination, and struck at left 'SALISBURY' in violet. Attached to this with string a metal PTC circular securing clasp. The label further printed at base 'THIS LABEL MUST BE RETURNED TO OFFICE OF ORIGIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE'. Extremely scarce.

1978 18th February, long cover cancelled CHIREDZI addressed to Causeway. Struck with blue rectangular 'RHODESIAN ARMY / 18 FEB 1978 / M. P. O. 41' cachet (Cheredzi serving as a sub PO to MPO 4 of Fort Victoria). The address scored through and endorsed 'Internal Audit'.

1979 1st June, group of six long envelopes each struck with different violet rectangular cachet 'RHODESIAN ARMY / 1 JUN 1979' and each from a different MPO sub PO, being M.P.O. 22, M.P.O. 23, M.P.O. 31, M.P.O. 32, M.P.O. 33, and M.P.O. 42. In addition each struck with violet circular 'RHODESIA ARMY / crest / OFFICIAL FREE' cachet above MPO strike. All unaddressed. Unusual group

1980 21st March, large envelope cancelled FORT VICTORIA, addressed to Causeway. Struck with violet rectangular cachet 'RHODESIAN ARMY / 21 MAR 1980 / M. P. O. 4'.

1980 9th April, long envelope cancelled FORT VICTORIA, addressed to Causeway. Struck with violet rectangular cachet 'RHODESIAN ARMY / 9 APR 1980 / M. P. O. 4'.

1980 9th April, long envelope without dispatch cds, addressed to Causeway. Struck with violet rectangular cachet 'RHODESIAN ARMY / 9 APR 1980 / M. P. O. 2'.