Posted Himself To B.E.F. In France

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1940, Page 8

Posted Himself To B.E.F. In France

Mr William Mabane, recently Assistant Postmaster-General, now an official of the Home Security Department, wanted to investigate complaints made about the slow delivery of letters to the troops in France. He addressed his request to the War Office. The War Office addressed Mr Mabane thus: “Human Parcel for 8.E.F., France. Handle With Care.” Mr Mabane went to France. His journey has meant a speed-up in the delivery of letters to husbands and sons around the Maginot Line.

Delivered. “I went with the Director of Army Postal Services," the Human Parcel told me. “First, I was delivered to the place where all parcels and mails for the B.E.F. are collected. “Then I went with a letter addressed to the Commander-in-Chief, 8.E.F., France, and another letter addressed to a Private, 8.E.F., France. The three of us landed in a sorting room Somewhere in France. After the sorting I was “delivered” safely to the t B.E.F., and I saw the letter to the Commander-in-Chief delivered on the same day as the letter to the private.” Mr Mabane, on the way to the sorting office, noted certain details which he thought might be altered, but lie thinks many delays are caused because correspondents address letters and parcels incorrectly.