Empire Air Mail Scheme: Connecting the British Empire

The Empire Air Mail Scheme was a groundbreaking initiative that connected the British Empire like never before. It was launched in 1934 to provide a regular and reliable air mail service between London and key cities in the empire.

The scheme was a huge success, with over 100,000 letters and packets being carried every week. This was a significant increase from the pre-war days when only a few hundred letters were carried by air.

The scheme also helped to boost trade and commerce between the different parts of the empire. By providing a fast and efficient way to send mail, businesses were able to communicate more easily and quickly with their customers and suppliers.

The Empire Air Mail Scheme was introduced in 1934 to provide a more efficient and reliable way of sending mail between the UK and its colonies.

The scheme was initially met with skepticism by many, who questioned its feasibility given the vast distances involved.

The first airmail service under the scheme was launched on April 1, 1934, from London to Karachi, Pakistan, with a stopover in Cairo.

The Empire Air Mail Scheme was a complex network of routes and rates that made international mail delivery possible. The scheme was part of the Empire Airmail Scheme, which was established to facilitate mail delivery between different parts of the British Empire.

Mails to non-Empire destinations, such as the Netherlands, cost a great deal more than those within the Empire. For example, a cover addressed to the Netherlands in 1938 was franked with 1/11 instead of the required 2/-, resulting in a T 20 centimes handstamp indicating the postage due.

The rate to Holland had been 1s 9d in 1935, but this cover was underfranked by 1d. Mail to Germany, on the other hand, was often offloaded in Athens and then flown by DLH to Germany, but this cover was flown on to Brindisi and then went to Frankfurt by rail via Strasbourg.

The route from New Zealand to the USA was sea to Sydney, Sydney to UK by air, and UK to USA by sea. This cover, postmarked in Napier, New Zealand on 2 June 1939, would have been sent trans Tasman from Auckland on the Awatea on 6 June and then flown on the flight from Sydney on 10 June.

Mail that had been flown on the previous flight from Sydney on 8 June was on the Centurion that sank on the Hooghly River, Calcutta on 12 June, resulting in salvaged mail with special handstamps.

Broaden your view: First Class Mail Delivery Time

The first airmail for New Zealand at the new rate left Southampton on July 28, but it was a bit of a logistical challenge. Two flying boats, Calypso and Cameronian, were required to carry the mail due to its size.

The mail on the Cameronian was transferred to the Capella in Alexandria on July 29, and the Capella then flew to Sydney, arriving a day late on August 6. The mail for New Zealand was sent from Sydney to Auckland on the cargo ship Kairanga on August 6-13.

The mail missed the connecting trans-Tasman steamer Awatea, which left on August 5. As a result, mail was not delivered in Auckland until Monday, August 15, while mail for Wellington was sent on the overnight express train on August 14-15 and was also delivered on August 15.

Mail was not delivered in Dunedin until August 16. This cover is postmarked in Wellington on August 15, which fits with the arrival date in Auckland late on August 13.

Mail sent to non-Empire destinations cost a great deal more, with the rate to Holland being 1s 9d in 1935.

The Empire Air Mail Scheme didn't cover mail sent to non-Empire destinations, making it more expensive to send mail overseas.

Mail to destinations like the Netherlands required extra postage, with a T 20 centimes handstamp indicating how much to pay in postage due, as seen on a cover franked with 1/11 instead of the required 2/-.

A unique perspective: First Class Mail Postage

The Crash of the Calpurnia, 1938, was a significant event in mail services history. On November 27, 1938, the Empire flying boat Calpurnia crashed on landing in Lake Ramadi, killing four flight crew members.

The crash occurred during a sandstorm, and a large part of the mail was retrieved from the water. This included 60 of the 69 mailbags for New Zealand.

The mail was sent to Sydney, where it was further dried, and then on to Auckland, where it was dried again. The first mail from the flight arrived in Auckland on December 19.

A unique aspect of this crash was the efforts made to deliver the mail and decipher the washed-out handwriting. Several different cachets were applied in New Zealand, including one at Wellington, which is featured on the example cover.

The cover was posted in Ireland and had a 21 November postmark, indicating it would have been carried to Southampton to join the Imperial Airways flight.

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Later Overseas Mail was a costly affair, with rates increasing over time.

Mails to non-Empire destinations, like the Netherlands, were not part of the EAMS and so cost a great deal more. The rate to Holland had been 1s 9d in 1935, but this cover was franked with 1/11 instead of the required 2/-.

Some mail to Germany was offloaded in Athens and then flown by DLH to Germany. However, this cover was flown on to Brindisi, arriving there on 26 March, and then went to Frankfurt by rail via Strasbourg.

Explore further: Mail from Us to Germany

The route to the USA was sea to Sydney, then Sydney to UK by air and UK to USA by sea. From October 1935 until March 1938, the rate was 1s 6d, but was then increased to 1s 9d.

Mail that had been flown on the previous flight from Sydney on 8 June was on the Centurion that sank on the Hooghly River, Calcutta on 12 June. The salvaged mail has special handstamps.

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The Empire Air Mail Scheme was a game-changer during WWII. It played a crucial role in the war effort, particularly in the Pacific Theater.

The scheme allowed for the rapid transportation of mail between the UK and Australia, which boosted morale and provided a vital link between the two nations. This was especially important for troops serving overseas.

The introduction of the scheme in 1934 was a significant step towards modernizing the postal service. However, it wasn't until WWII that its true impact was felt.

The scheme's impact was most pronounced during the war, when it enabled the swift exchange of mail and packages between the UK and Australia. This helped to maintain morale and provided a vital connection between loved ones.

The Empire Air Mail Scheme was a testament to the ingenuity and determination of those involved in its operation.