Military’s Christmas Post Deadline Looms

Thousands of letters and parcels go through the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) Headquarters in London every day, each addressed to military personnel in more than 650 locations around the world.

But as the festive season draws closer, the pressure is on to make sure the mail arrives on time.

“I’ve been in the Army nearly 36 years,” Lieutenant Colonel Ian Booth, head of the BFPO’s technical support team, told Forces News.

“I’ve been on operations and I know for a fact that getting mail overseas, certainly in the festive season, is so important to moral.”

"Every individual who works in BFPO London strives to make sure that we do get that mail to that service person overseas – to cheer them up a little bit.”

Staff Sergeant Graham Craig said it really lifts the spirits of the family and service personnel when they receive a Christmas card:

"It makes a world of good to them as a family as well.”

A full list of final posting dates for British troops can be found on the Ministry of Defence’s website here.