Description
75ᵗʰAnniversary of The Battle of The River Plate
The Battle of the River Plate took place on the 13ᵗʰof December 1939, bringing the first victory of the Second World War and lifting the country’s morale. For the Royal Navy this battle was an expression of the centuries old tradition of achieving mastery of the seas through offensive spirit in battle and a willingness to take risks.
The British Forces Philatelic Bureau, supported by the HMS Ajax and River Plate Veterans Association, has produced a special commemorative cover to mark this 75th anniversary of The Battle of the River Plate. It will be released for sale on the 13ᵗʰDecember 2014. The cover features images taken from the memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, unveiled earlier this year. It includes silhouettes and badges of the ships as well as the broad pennant of Commodore Harwood. The stamp on the cover will be cancelled using a unique BFPS numbered handstamp depicting the Royal Navy crown, which is atop of all ships’badges. The cover comes complete with a splendid A4 double-sided insert in full colour giving more information about the battle. The cover and insert are presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir of a truly historic event.
Malcolm Collis, Archivist for The HMS Ajax & River Plate Veteran’s Association, said, “Every anniversary of the Battle is important, but this year being the 75th has added significance. BFPS has produced a superb collectible cover for this important event and the Association was delighted to have been involved in its design and production.”
The souvenir covers may be purchased from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop) and cost £6 for the standard cover and £15 for the double signed cover (including UK/BFPO p&p). They are available to order now on a strictly first-come-first-served basis. The covers are also available by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS The Old Post Office Links Place Elie Fife KY9 1AX.
BFPS is officially licensed by the MOD and is a not-for-profit company run by volunteer Veterans
