A 7 Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers cover from Keningau in 1964

 

This is another one of my purchases from the recent Borneo Philatelic Auction. This is the sort of very uncommon material that only comes up in a specialised auction even though it may rarely turned up on eBay. The first thing is a 10c North Borneo stamp used with a Keningau Sabah Malaysia postmark dated 3 JUL 64. The colonial 1961 stamp issue were withdrawn on 30 June 1964 and the SABAH overprints were put on sale the next day, 1 July 1964 together with new Sabah Malaysia dated cancellers. Though withdrawn, the North Borneo stamps were valid until 1 April 1970. 10c was the concessionary rate for Forces Air Mail as the normal rate to GB would have been 75c. 

On the cover is an etiquette for Forces Air Mail and more importantly the hand stamp for 7 Fd. Sqn RAE. This is the 7th Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers which were stationed at Keningau in the Interior Residency during the Malaysia Indonesia Confrontation.They were there between mid 1964 and early 1965 with operations extending into the surrounding jungle and border regions near Indonesian Kalimantan. Their parent unit was normally based at Enoggera, Queensland.

Their primary mission was hearts and minds projects with local infrastructure development, defensive works and supporting Commonwealth security forces deployed along the border. At Keningau, they constructed and upgraded local airfields to facilitate light aircraft and helicopter supply runs for the troops and local communities. They also build roads and tracks to connect with remote settlements. Additionally, they helped construct local water supply systems, bridges, school serving the local native population. This secured local support against cross-border incursions by the Indonesians.

In the field, they helped to prepare or build defences, helipads, tactical bridges and provided route clearance with explosive ordnance disposal assistance where required. After a 6 month tour of duty, they were relieved by 1st Field Squadron RAE who continued engineering operations in Sabah as well as Sarawak in early 1965 until mid 1965. From mid 1965 to November 1965, it was the 24th Construction Squadron, RAE. This squadron under the codename Operation Granite carried out major heavy civil infrastructure tasks including cutting supply roads through rainforest and heavy mud. Lastly, the 21st Construction Squadron continued the work from November 1965 to June 1966, winding down as peace talks progressed.

This short article has been written with the help of  AI which means absolute accuracy cannot be guarantee.

A re routed 1895 postcard from GB to Labuan initially

 

This was one of my lucky buys at the recent Borneo Philatelic Society auction which was part of an AGM and study weekend held near Royal Leamington Spa. I also had the privilege of presenting a couple of topics. Anyway, this postcard was not commercially used as one can see in the back message. 

It is a One Penny postcard at the 1895 Imperial rate to British possessions overseas. It was posted at Newcastle on Tyne. Part of the Newcastle on Tyne Head Post Office 545 duplex cancellation was covered by the Labuan stamp. By shining a strong light from the back of the card, one could see the letters for Newcastle and the date of OC 10 95 which is confirmed by the written message at the back. It was sent to Labuan where a 1894 North Borneo 3c stamp was used for forwarding the card to South Africa. North Borneo stamps were valid in Labuan between 1890 and 1905 when it was administered by the British North Borneo Company.

Three cents was the postcard rate to GB and all UPU countries from 1894 to 1905. There is a Labuan backstamp for DE 31 189(5). The North Borneo pictorial 3c stamp was cancelled by the local 9 bar cancellation which by this time was used less and less as the dated cds was the preferred option as it was kinder to the beautiful designs of those stamp issues and definitely much more desired by collectors.

It was sent to Johannesburg in South Africa where after affixing 2 local One Penny stamps, it was sent back to Newcastle. South Africa used a rather unusual date format for its postal cancellations perhaps some Dutch influence here. The date seen of 16 MRT c' 6 should translate to 16 March 1896. The likelihood was that it did arrived back to Mr J Easton at Newcastle who sent it off in the first place. 

So who was J Easton at 17 Maple Street at Newcastle GB in 1895? Apparently this address was the family home of a prominent local tailor, Robert Easton. J Easton can have been John Easton who was his brother or Joseph Easton who was his son. One of them or all were likely keen philatelists in their day.