The Function:
The Building:
It is quite clear that the 1st Base Post Office/APO 640 was a phenomenal feat of operational administration ("the Mail Distribution Scheme") delivered over 18 or so months from July 1942. In the reports for the final months up to September 1944, the emphasis is increasingly on social events and the establishment of the APOs in France.
Many Buildings:
1st Base Post Office/APO 640 is described in the 'History' as "an installation" comprising "75 buildings, widely scattered", and this installation was networked (literally) with places like Fradley (outside Lichfield), Birmingham (New Street Station), and beyond.
The Memory:
The 'memory' is to do with this administrative feat rather than the buildings which rarely managed to accommodate it. It is also to do with how Sutton Coldfield was networked into the bigger Midlands region and the wider European Theatre of Operations for about 24 months.
SUMMARY NOTES
The 'History of First Base Post Office' was written by Major Benjamin F. Hartl, Unit Historian, in October 1944, and is written on a month-by-month basis. It starts with the activation of the 1st Base Post Office at Fort Hamilton, New York, on 01.05.1942, and concludes with the shift of emphasis to APOs in France by late summer/early autumn 1944.
A. OPERATION/FUNCTION
page 4 [bpo0003.jpg]
10. The transportation of mails in the United Kingdom was the responsibility of the British General Post Office (GPO). Their system for handling their mails is briefly as follows:
All first class mail is handled by post office staff at all railroad stations and junction points; that is, the staff is required to load this mail in baggage compartments of railroad vans and unload at destination and transfer of mails at junction points. Parcel post is turned over to railroad employees for loading, transfer and unloading.
page 5 [bpo0004.jpg]
14. 640th Army Postal Unit was activated 1 August 1942 and formed an integral part of the 1st Base Post Office. The Base Post Office used this APO number as part of this unit's address in order for the New York Post Office to readily identify mail thereafter as belonging to this theater.
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Operations in the railroad shed grew quite congested during the month of August [1942] and it became necessary to load and unload sacks from railway vans and work some of the direct sacks outside of the building along the railway tracks.
page 12 [bpo0011.jpg]
31. [January 1943] Mail was being received day and night at various intervals and corresponding dispatches were likewise made to the 37 APO's served at this time.
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37. The volume of transfer mail had increased to such an extent at the New Street Station in Birmingham that the British GPO employees could not handle it...
page 14 [bpo0013.jpg]
39. Initial dispatch to APO 651 was made on 27 March [1943] making a total of 39 APO's served.
page 15 [bpo0014]
42. The inauguration of an additional dispatch to APO 648 was started this month [April 1943] for the transmission of ordinary mail to the U. S. by air transportation...
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76. A total of 78 APO's were being served through the Base Post Office at the end of the year [1943].
77. The New Street Station detachment had increased to 20 men and a regular service was established for the transportation of mail between the Base Post Office and Birmingham.
page 27 [bpo0026.jpg]
80. Thirty-two new APO's established during this month [January 1944].
page 32 [bpo0031.jpg]
99. Det. "A", 1st Base Post Office was organized to operate the V-Mail Station located in London.
page 7 [bpo0039.jpg]
(4) 600 new units were added to the Mail Distribution Scheme making a total of 7,700 units served by this installation. 160 Army Post Offices were functioning in the theater at this time.
page 13 [bpo0045.jpg]
(5) 700 new units were added to the Mail Distribution Scheme, making a total of 8500 units served in the ETO. 157 Army Post Offices were operating in the U. K. at the close of the months [May 1944].
page 19 [bpo00517.jpg]
i.(2) A new section called the "french Section" was organized. This section handled the mail intended for dispatch to Normandy.
page 20 [bpo0052.jpg]
(3) The mail distribution scheme at the close of June [1944] consisted of 90 pages, carrying a total of 8800 units, 1447 of which were in France.
page 27 [bpo0059.jpg]
(5) The New York Port of Embarkation Army Post Office began the make up of Normandy mails in direct pouches to unit and serving APOs. This eliminated extra handling at this point and expedited the flow of mail across the channel. [August 1944]
page 42 [bpo0074.jpg]
(3) The air mail service from Fradley Airdrome to the continent was not perfect due to a lack of flying equipment. At one time it was found necessary to move 30,000 pounds of first class mail by train to Southampton, thence by surface vessel to France.
(4) The Annex buildings were completed during the month [September 1944]...
10. The transportation of mails in the United Kingdom was the responsibility of the British General Post Office (GPO). Their system for handling their mails is briefly as follows:
All first class mail is handled by post office staff at all railroad stations and junction points; that is, the staff is required to load this mail in baggage compartments of railroad vans and unload at destination and transfer of mails at junction points. Parcel post is turned over to railroad employees for loading, transfer and unloading.
page 5 [bpo0004.jpg]
14. 640th Army Postal Unit was activated 1 August 1942 and formed an integral part of the 1st Base Post Office. The Base Post Office used this APO number as part of this unit's address in order for the New York Post Office to readily identify mail thereafter as belonging to this theater.
page 6 [bpo0005.jpg]
Operations in the railroad shed grew quite congested during the month of August [1942] and it became necessary to load and unload sacks from railway vans and work some of the direct sacks outside of the building along the railway tracks.
page 12 [bpo0011.jpg]
31. [January 1943] Mail was being received day and night at various intervals and corresponding dispatches were likewise made to the 37 APO's served at this time.
page 13 [bpo0012.jpg]
37. The volume of transfer mail had increased to such an extent at the New Street Station in Birmingham that the British GPO employees could not handle it...
page 14 [bpo0013.jpg]
39. Initial dispatch to APO 651 was made on 27 March [1943] making a total of 39 APO's served.
page 15 [bpo0014]
42. The inauguration of an additional dispatch to APO 648 was started this month [April 1943] for the transmission of ordinary mail to the U. S. by air transportation...
page 26 [bpo0025.jpg]
76. A total of 78 APO's were being served through the Base Post Office at the end of the year [1943].
77. The New Street Station detachment had increased to 20 men and a regular service was established for the transportation of mail between the Base Post Office and Birmingham.
page 27 [bpo0026.jpg]
80. Thirty-two new APO's established during this month [January 1944].
page 32 [bpo0031.jpg]
99. Det. "A", 1st Base Post Office was organized to operate the V-Mail Station located in London.
page 7 [bpo0039.jpg]
(4) 600 new units were added to the Mail Distribution Scheme making a total of 7,700 units served by this installation. 160 Army Post Offices were functioning in the theater at this time.
page 13 [bpo0045.jpg]
(5) 700 new units were added to the Mail Distribution Scheme, making a total of 8500 units served in the ETO. 157 Army Post Offices were operating in the U. K. at the close of the months [May 1944].
page 19 [bpo00517.jpg]
i.(2) A new section called the "french Section" was organized. This section handled the mail intended for dispatch to Normandy.
page 20 [bpo0052.jpg]
(3) The mail distribution scheme at the close of June [1944] consisted of 90 pages, carrying a total of 8800 units, 1447 of which were in France.
page 27 [bpo0059.jpg]
(5) The New York Port of Embarkation Army Post Office began the make up of Normandy mails in direct pouches to unit and serving APOs. This eliminated extra handling at this point and expedited the flow of mail across the channel. [August 1944]
page 42 [bpo0074.jpg]
(3) The air mail service from Fradley Airdrome to the continent was not perfect due to a lack of flying equipment. At one time it was found necessary to move 30,000 pounds of first class mail by train to Southampton, thence by surface vessel to France.
(4) The Annex buildings were completed during the month [September 1944]...
page 43 [bpo0075.jpg]
(7) At the close of September [1944] 87 Army Postal Units were in operation in the United kingdom and 144 in France. The Continental Scheme showed 6,500 units and the United Kingdom Scheme showed 4,500.
B. BUILDINGS & WIDER 'TRAIL'
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19. On 6th October 1942 the entire operations of the Base Post Office were moved 50 yards to a building being completed especially for our purposes. ... The new building containing 52,000 square feet of floor space... A double railroad sidetrack parallels the 380 foot post office platform.
page 10 [bpo009.jpg]
27. Central heating and the lighting installation was in operation on 3 December 1942...
page 12 [bpo0011.jpg]
32. Enlisted personnel were housed in school buildings, construction of which were not quite completed by the first year. These barracks are located one mile from the Base Post Office.
page 13 [bpo0012.jpg]
35. ... The security fencing around the Base Post Office and barracks was completed during this month [February 1943].
page 19 [bpo0018.jpg]
54. The Wentworth House located 2 miles from the BPO was taken over for officers quarters on 11 August [1943]. ... The barracks and Base Post Office, although not quite completed, were taken over from the British on 23 August and 27 August respectively.
page 22 [bpo0021.jpg]
65. ...authority was granted to use 250 men messing centers which were being constructed in the vicinity for other troops. These centers included kitchen, a small mess hut seating 150 at one sitting, and latrine facilities. The 250 men were to be billeted in the area not exceeding one mile distance from the messing center.
66. On November 3rd [1943] the Four Oaks Messing Center was opened and the billeting of men in this vicinity was started. This center is located approximately two miles from the Base Post Office.
page 24 [bpo0023.jpg]
68. The Glenfield House...was finally completed and occupied on 17 November [1943].
page 25 [bpo0024.jpg]
74. Penns Lane Camp, accommodating 250 men was occupied on 4 December [1943]...located approximately four miles from the Base Post Office...
page 26 [bpo0025.jpg]
75. A fourth messing center was opened on 22 December [1943] in another section of the city called maney Hall District.
page 32 [bpo0031.jpg]
Wylde Green messing center for 250 men was established and began operations on 2 March 1944.
page 3 [bpo0035.jpg]
c. Battalion Headquarters, formerly located at the Holland Road Camp was moved to Green Gables, a requisitioned mansion, located one mile from the Base Post Office [April 1944].
page 12 [bpo0044.jpg]
(1) Ninety six feet of the new addition of Romney hutting was occupied during the month [May 1944]. Some congestion in the main building was thus relieved by working newspapers and periodicals in the additional space provided.
page 14 [bpo0046.jpg]
f. On 4 June [1944] a detachment from 347th Engineer regt.,...reported at this station to construct a central 500 man kitchen, winterized mess tents, a women's rest room and a branch dispensary. ... During this month twelve men installed the kitchen drains and sewers... The hut proper was completed.
page 15 [bpo0047.jpg]
g. The Post Utility Officer, First Lieutenant Robert W. Barkhols, AGD, 0-1179013, demonstrated outstanding ability in undertaking and completing the many projects necessary in an installation of this kind, comprised of 75 buildings, widely scattered. Although the men assigned to the section were not skilled craftsmen generally, the work performed was efficient and of professional standard.
page 18 [bpo0050.jpg]
h.(5) The Casualty Section moved into a part of the new annex building...
page 23 [bpo0055.jpg]
h. The Motor Transportation Section...has done outstanding work in providing transport for this installation. Practically all repairs are made at the garage and only body repair work requiring welding must be taken to an Ordnance repair depot.
page 28 [bpo0060.jpg]
c. The Post Utility Section completed the Central Mess which began operation late in the month [August 1944]
d. Two American type huts were procured and erected on a site adjoining the main Post Office building. Battalion Headquarters moved into these huts from Green Gables...
page 31 [bpo0063.jpg]
i.(1) The addition to the post office consisting of 35,000 square feet of Romney hutting was occupied during the month...[September 1944]
(7) At the close of September [1944] 87 Army Postal Units were in operation in the United kingdom and 144 in France. The Continental Scheme showed 6,500 units and the United Kingdom Scheme showed 4,500.
B. BUILDINGS & WIDER 'TRAIL'
page 5 [bpo0004.jpg]
19. On 6th October 1942 the entire operations of the Base Post Office were moved 50 yards to a building being completed especially for our purposes. ... The new building containing 52,000 square feet of floor space... A double railroad sidetrack parallels the 380 foot post office platform.
page 10 [bpo009.jpg]
27. Central heating and the lighting installation was in operation on 3 December 1942...
page 12 [bpo0011.jpg]
32. Enlisted personnel were housed in school buildings, construction of which were not quite completed by the first year. These barracks are located one mile from the Base Post Office.
page 13 [bpo0012.jpg]
35. ... The security fencing around the Base Post Office and barracks was completed during this month [February 1943].
page 19 [bpo0018.jpg]
54. The Wentworth House located 2 miles from the BPO was taken over for officers quarters on 11 August [1943]. ... The barracks and Base Post Office, although not quite completed, were taken over from the British on 23 August and 27 August respectively.
page 22 [bpo0021.jpg]
65. ...authority was granted to use 250 men messing centers which were being constructed in the vicinity for other troops. These centers included kitchen, a small mess hut seating 150 at one sitting, and latrine facilities. The 250 men were to be billeted in the area not exceeding one mile distance from the messing center.
66. On November 3rd [1943] the Four Oaks Messing Center was opened and the billeting of men in this vicinity was started. This center is located approximately two miles from the Base Post Office.
page 24 [bpo0023.jpg]
68. The Glenfield House...was finally completed and occupied on 17 November [1943].
page 25 [bpo0024.jpg]
74. Penns Lane Camp, accommodating 250 men was occupied on 4 December [1943]...located approximately four miles from the Base Post Office...
page 26 [bpo0025.jpg]
75. A fourth messing center was opened on 22 December [1943] in another section of the city called maney Hall District.
page 32 [bpo0031.jpg]
Wylde Green messing center for 250 men was established and began operations on 2 March 1944.
page 3 [bpo0035.jpg]
c. Battalion Headquarters, formerly located at the Holland Road Camp was moved to Green Gables, a requisitioned mansion, located one mile from the Base Post Office [April 1944].
page 12 [bpo0044.jpg]
(1) Ninety six feet of the new addition of Romney hutting was occupied during the month [May 1944]. Some congestion in the main building was thus relieved by working newspapers and periodicals in the additional space provided.
page 14 [bpo0046.jpg]
f. On 4 June [1944] a detachment from 347th Engineer regt.,...reported at this station to construct a central 500 man kitchen, winterized mess tents, a women's rest room and a branch dispensary. ... During this month twelve men installed the kitchen drains and sewers... The hut proper was completed.
page 15 [bpo0047.jpg]
g. The Post Utility Officer, First Lieutenant Robert W. Barkhols, AGD, 0-1179013, demonstrated outstanding ability in undertaking and completing the many projects necessary in an installation of this kind, comprised of 75 buildings, widely scattered. Although the men assigned to the section were not skilled craftsmen generally, the work performed was efficient and of professional standard.
page 18 [bpo0050.jpg]
h.(5) The Casualty Section moved into a part of the new annex building...
page 23 [bpo0055.jpg]
h. The Motor Transportation Section...has done outstanding work in providing transport for this installation. Practically all repairs are made at the garage and only body repair work requiring welding must be taken to an Ordnance repair depot.
page 28 [bpo0060.jpg]
c. The Post Utility Section completed the Central Mess which began operation late in the month [August 1944]
d. Two American type huts were procured and erected on a site adjoining the main Post Office building. Battalion Headquarters moved into these huts from Green Gables...
page 31 [bpo0063.jpg]
i.(1) The addition to the post office consisting of 35,000 square feet of Romney hutting was occupied during the month...[September 1944]
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