Description
Franked WWI army mail via British 'Force in Egypt': 8 March 1916 postmarked cover sent from soldier in the 42nd East Lancashire Division to CAIRO, franked 5 mils per the period inland letter rate using an Egyptian stamp & tied by 2x strikes of the D.42 double ring postmark (3 Section at Suez Canal) + triangular censor mark #3359 (1/9th Manchester Battalion Regiment) & officer signature endorsed; backstamped Army Post Office transit (SZ number unclear but likely SZ10 at CAIRO) & front-stamped same day arrival at CAIRO C civilian post office; slit open at top with tear, complete. This is a late period Force in Egypt cover: from 20 March all British forces in Egypt ('Force in Egypt' & 'Middle East Force') became the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) and were entitled to free postage on mail via the Army postal service; prior to this as in this case, only mail sent via the Egyptian civilian post office was free for soldiers - here as sent ironically via the Army postal service, the cover's postage had to be paid.
