page_title: History of the British Army postal service
section_title: "Armee Britannique" – post mark (1743)
hierarchical_section_title: History of the British Army postal service / "Armee Britannique" – post mark (1743)
caption_attribution_description: English: Example of the cancellation mark 'AB' (Armee Britannique) used on soldiers letters
context_page_description: The postal service of the British Army is today provided by the British Forces Post Office but its origins may be traced back to Saxon times.
context_section_description: In 1743 the first distinctive post mark appeared on letters sent by British troops campaigning in Europe. The Thurn & Taxis Post, who processed the mail on behalf of the British army, endorsed it with a small circular stamp inscribed "AB" – Armee Britannique.
  Mr Sutton was appointed Postmaster to the Army in 1747, but no more is known of him.
caption: Example of the post mark "AB" (Armee Britannique) used on soldiers' letters in 1743
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