The Post Office is pleased to commemorate the centenary of World War I (WWI) in support of the Royal British Legion by presenting its latest stamp issue which surveys a wide geographical range of battle scenes. This set is the second part of the four year series stretching from 2014 to 2017 to mark the period of WWI.

The six stamp images are shown in sepia and black and white with the Royal British Legion red poppy displayed as the symbol of remembrance. The pictures used in each depict and reflect six battle fronts – Palestine: Turkish guns at Harcira in 1917, The Home Front: women shown painting a tank, The Western Front: the main street of Nesle, the Somme 1917, The Eastern Front: Austrians marching through Eastern Europe, Gallipoli: the British at work in 1916 and Italy: Austrians pictured in a glacier, Tyrol 1916.

In the accompanying text prepared by local veteran Colonel Charles Wilson, he talks about how the dispersion of WW1 made it ‘world’ with the outcome changing the world forever. He also provides an account of battles raging around the oceans and conflicts from wars of movement in the deserts, to nullifying trench stalemate on The Western Front.

The war began when the Germans made the first decisive move by striking out across the Low Countries in a massive sweep aiming west and south to the French heartland, the French fiercely resisted, and the war then began spreading with a domino effect across counties in Europe including France, Turkey, Russia and The Home Front. Hundreds and thousands of men fought, and as Britain's men headed abroad to fight, the role of women in society was changed forever, women took their place en masse in factories, shops and offices across the country.

Maxine Cannon, General Manager of Isle of Man Stamps and Coins said: "We were delighted that Colonel Charles Wilson agreed to produce the accompanying text to this issue. His words give a detailed account of the scale of the war and build a picture of the battle fields across the world during WW1."
 
"The Post Office is once again pleased to support The Royal British Legion in its on-going campaign to look after service men and women, past and present."

To view the WWI Battle Fields stamp issue and to pre-order click here.

For more information on service charity The Royal British Legion and its leading Poppy Campaign click here.
 
Photo - the Battle Front stamps.