TOPIC:

Did soldiers have to put UK stamps on their letters, when writing home to family?

Not something I'd ever thought about before, but it's implied in a letter sent by an officer to a newly-bereaved mother; apparently she had sent postage stamps to her son : -
"I opened your last parcel [to your late son], containing socks, gloves, butter, etc., this morning, and the enclosed letter and stamps which I return."

If anything, I think I would have guessed that mail was sent free of charge to family.

Berenice
I did read that soldiers on "Active Service" at the time of the South African campaign only had to write that on the envelope (together with the address it was intended for) to get free postage. In my time, there were special, greatly reduced rate stamps available to send to soldiers on overseas service.
Regards
IL.

Would that have also applied to the Imperial Yeomanry, Ian?

I have a couple of envelops, One to Canada and One to UK and both say on "Active Service Postage Free".....

Mike

Berenice
Yes, to all on active service. In town this day, I spoke to a dealer who told me he had seen many such envelopes from the South African Campaign; all marked "On Active Service" or a variation such as Mike posted. On active service, every little bit helps.
Regards
IL.

Berenice
Perhaps her son had not been writing home, so his mother included stamps in the belief that this would encourage him to put pen to paper and/or stamps were required on military mail and her son could not afford them.
Regards
Brett