848 Squadron 1960
A few queries regarding this rather dull Nairobi picture postcard sent forces' concessionary mail.
Firstly, the indistict FPO. I have consulted Proud and can't find an appropriate number starting with 2. What number?
Secondly, google tells me 848 Squadron was shore-based in Singapore on 25 August 1960. Was Bulwark also in Singapore? I know it was involved in quite a few operations after leaving UK.
Finally, the Nairobi postcard. Did the airman buy the card in Kenya while on leave or operations and then take it to the Far East before use rather than posting it in East Africa?
Any help appreciated.
Michael
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Hi, Michael, well, quite a few questions there:
- The writer identifies himself as a naval airman with 848 Squadron, FAA, so he’s clearly NOT with 42 Commando.
- Ray Sturtivant, in his book The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm (an excellent tome, which lists, among other things, the bases of all the FAA squadrons) puts 848 Squadron on board HMS Bulwark between the 15th July and 15th September 1960. His listing for 848 Squadron shows that when not aboard Bulwark during her Far East commission, it was based at Sembawang, Singapore. The obvious conclusion is that HMS Bulwark visited Kenya (presumably Mombasa) during the summer of 1960, with 848 Squadron on board. (Google is not always correct (!)) Hopefully that explains the Kenya connection.
- Having established that connection, then the FPO becomes much clearer: 256, which Proud locates in Nairobi from April 1953 to September 1961.
- The only question remaining is how/why this item was posted in Nairobi, when the sender was (nominally) in – of off – Mombasa, 300 miles away. Too many possibilities, so there’s no point in speculating.
I hope that helps?
chrs
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