Page 585 - Jarvis & Wright: Jamaica Display to RPSL

Jamaica Defence: Soldiers’ and Sailors’ letters.

Concessionary postage rates were allowed on packet letters from soldiers and sailors from 1795.

Soldier’s letter: cover from a Royal Engineer in Port Royal to Great Britain, 1890.

From Lance Corporal J. George, Royal Engineers at Port Royal, formerly the main naval station.
Countersigned by his Commanding Officer, the Captain commanding the Company.

This Company was the West Indies (Submarine Mining) Company of the Royal Engineers, a unit of local
divers and Royal Engineers whose main purpose was to lay mines for the defence of Kingston Harbour.

Forces’ 1d rate charged rather than
the current 4d rate to Great Britain.

Port Royal:
A67
30 December 90.

Kingston:
30 December 90.

Ventnor 16 January 91.

Sailor’s letter: cover to Great Britain from a seaman of HMS Pelican at Ocho Rios, 1896.
HMS Pelican was launched in 1877, a Royal Navy sloop with both steam-driven propellers and sails.

Countersigned by the
Commanding Officer.

Forces’ 1d rate charged
rather than the current
2½d rate to Great
Britain.

Ocho Rios:
20 July 96.

Kingston:
20 July 96.

Exeter:
5 August 96.

Teignmouth:
6 August 96.