Postage

[John Arton]

There have been a number of posts regarding the cost of postage for Christmas cards recently but can anyone remember being charged postage on those letters we all used to write home to or too various girls and other friends around the world, whilst on board our ships?
I cannot recall ever been charged for postage on letters or even parcels that I sent home from the ship {an extra couple of cartons of cigarettes, heavily wrapped up and taped in an old chart then covered in brown paper, maybe?}
Letters and small parcels were either put into the Companies Mail bag and then franked and forwarded on from Head Office or simply handed to the ships agent for posting. I guess they used to recover the cost in their disbursements under "postage" when submitting their final account to owners.
Anyone had costs deducted on board for postage?
rgds
JA

[Jim Brady]

I always paid postage.Just looked at pay-off slip from King Henry trip 4mths 19days.postage £1.12.3d.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Keith Tindell]

Just about cover 2 second class stamps now Jim. I cannot recall paying for postage, except when in a British port, cannot recall if we had a collection on board in anyway. Mind you it was 55 years ago, cant remember yesterday half the time, KT

[Jim Brady]

I wrote about three pages a day what I wrote about I don't know and I numbered the envelopes so my wife could open them in order.If you remember it was 15 pages plus the envelope that was the price of the stamp,according to the writing paper we bought. What was it Basildon Bond.I usually had about three letters to send at each port.The mail was given to the chf/stwd or the first stop ashore was the mission to post your mail and then having done that do the town.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

I very rarely got any mail. The wife would write one in a five month trip. maybe one page or a half.
It was a standing joke everytime mail arrived on board I was the only one who got none. I eventually divorced her.
When I was single all I ever got was `Dear Johns` they went onto the Notice Board in the mess.
Cheers
Brian.

[Keith Tindell]

I had the old dear Johns Brian, again on board used for a laugh, until i met the one i am still with today, 50 years next September, (if she behaves herself), regards KT

[John Gill]

I used to get 'Dear Johns' in almost every port.

[Doc Vernon]

I do remembering writing a heck of a load of Letters as said to various Girls those days but for the life of me cannot recall if I ever was charged for the service!
I do however recall that most of the time I posted the letters myself as we go to the various Ports will have to dig out some of my pay sips an see ???
Cheers

[Keith at Tregenna]

2015: I am going to campaign for the farmers, Post Office Stamps: Working title: I have a cow with a brown R's: Lick that ? K

[happy daze john in oz]

Wrote many letters but do not recall postage charges, or where I posted them for thta matter.


But the other day I heard something which may be of use to many of you as a great way to reduce the cost of buying cards and postage.

Keep the cards you get, then next year just add you name to the one on the card. For example, if you had a card from Uncle Fred just add you name after, so it is now from Uncle Fred and you.

Then the postage.
Write a non existant address on the front with no stamp. On the back write, 'if not delivered return to', the return to is the address of the person you are sending to.

Well worth a try I think.