Australia - International.
Censorship.

DuringWorld War 2, the Postmaster-General's Office together with the Department of War implemented a system of censorship across all communications.

Two approaches were used:

Approach 1: For the Telegraphs received from overseas, an implicit system requiring the sender to compose the message using pre-set code numbers - as described elsewhere. This system made it cheaper for the sender, quicker for the operators and almost no involvement of a censor.

Approach 2: the use of a handstamp applied to any telegraphic message received in Australia to show that the message was acceptable and had been passed by the Censor.

An example of the second approach

Censor detail Detail of the censor hand stamp on the Beam Wireless delivery form below.

Height: 8 mm.
Width: 19 mm.

The "20" refers to the Censor number in the Sydney Office at that time.
IAA DB 1B IAA-DB-1Bb.

Owen Sound to Enfield, NSW.
8 March 1942.

Characteristics:

  • has (INCORPORATED IN NEW SOUTH WALES) between AWA and TELEGRAPH OFFICE in the heading;
  • Sydney telephone number changed to
    BO 522;
  • has a line between the 2nd last and last line at the base;
  • vertical text at left is slightly higher.

Has a censor handstamp PASSYD/20 on the lower right side.