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The expanded form, ''On His/Her Britannic Majesty's Service'' has been used for international correspondence, for example for mail to British diplomatic posts in other countries.
The expanded form, ''On His/Her Britannic Majesty's Service'' has been used for international correspondence, for example for mail to British diplomatic posts in other countries.


In [[Canada]], the initialism '''O.H.M.S.''' may be written on an envelope instead of using [[postage stamp]]s for any letters being sent to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] or to any member of the [[Parliament of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-10/page-5.html#h-21|title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, Canada Post Corporation Act, s.35(2)|last=Branch|first=Legislative Services|website=laws-lois.justice.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref> Letters sent from [[lieutenant governor (Canada)|lieutenant-governor]]s may also bear the O.H.M.S. mark. The French translation ''Service de sa Majesté'' (''SDSM'') is also used.
In [[Canada]], the initialism '''O.H.M.S.''' may be written on an envelope instead of using [[postage stamp]]s for any letters being sent to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] or to any member of the [[Parliament of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-10/page-5.html#h-21|title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, Canada Post Corporation Act, s.35(2) |author=Legislative Services Branch |website=laws-lois.justice.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref> Letters sent from [[lieutenant governor (Canada)|lieutenant-governor]]s may also bear the O.H.M.S. mark. The French translation ''Service de sa Majesté'' (''SDSM'') is also used.


In [[Australia]] before [[Federation of Australia|Federation]], letters in envelopes franked with the O.H.M.S. mark were exempt from postal fees.<ref name="The Age – 12 December 1867 – Notice to advertisers – VII. Exemption from Postage Rates">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=18671212&id=RdRhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6pADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3922,6158201&hl=en|title=Notice to advertisers – VII. Exemption from Postage Rates|date=12 December 1867|work=[[The Age]]|accessdate=18 April 2018}}</ref>
In [[Australia]] before [[Federation of Australia|Federation]], letters in envelopes franked with the O.H.M.S. mark were exempt from postal fees.<ref name="The Age – 12 December 1867 – Notice to advertisers – VII. Exemption from Postage Rates">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=18671212&id=RdRhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6pADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3922,6158201&hl=en|title=Notice to advertisers – VII. Exemption from Postage Rates|date=12 December 1867|work=[[The Age]]|accessdate=18 April 2018}}</ref>

Revision as of 16:46, 19 October 2022

Australian official mail, franked "On His Majesty's Service", crash cover salvaged from the 1935 Imperial Airways "City of Khartoum" aircraft crash at Alexandria during an England to Australia flight.
"On Her Majesty's Service" envelope with OHMS economy "Official Paid" label from 1978

On His Majesty's Service or On Her Majesty's Service (depending on the gender of the reigning monarch), is an official franking commonly seen on correspondence from government departments in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other countries that share the same monarch as their head of state (now known as Commonwealth realms).

The expanded form, On His/Her Britannic Majesty's Service has been used for international correspondence, for example for mail to British diplomatic posts in other countries.

In Canada, the initialism O.H.M.S. may be written on an envelope instead of using postage stamps for any letters being sent to the House of Commons of Canada or to any member of the Parliament of Canada.[1] Letters sent from lieutenant-governors may also bear the O.H.M.S. mark. The French translation Service de sa Majesté (SDSM) is also used.

In Australia before Federation, letters in envelopes franked with the O.H.M.S. mark were exempt from postal fees.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Legislative Services Branch. "Consolidated federal laws of canada, Canada Post Corporation Act, s.35(2)". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  2. ^ "Notice to advertisers – VII. Exemption from Postage Rates". The Age. 12 December 1867. Retrieved 18 April 2018.