[Gutenberg 45092] • The Post Office of India and Its Story

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX H THE WORK OF THE FIELD POST OFFICE BETWEEN 1867 AND 1912 The Abyssinian Expedition. A the end of September, 1867, the Postmaster-General, Bombay, reported that a reconnoitring party under Colonel Merewether, Political Agent, had left for Abyssinia and a Field Force was shortly to follow. A post office under Mr. J. Gardiner as Inspecting Postmaster sailed for Abyssinia on the 25th November along with the second detachment of the Expeditionary Force. A portion of the staff was left at Massowah, where the troops disembarked, and the rest was ordered to advance with the Army. Having fallen ill through overwork, Mr. Gardiner was replaced by Mr. E. de C. Williams on the 1st March, 1868. Ordinary postage stamps were used, the denominations of the stamps supplied for the Field Force being i anna, 1 anna, 2 annas, 4 annas, 6 annas 8 pies, and 8 annas 8 pies. The postage payable on articles for members of the Expeditionary Force was as follows: Letters--4 annas for every i 02., 8 annas for I oz. and 8 annas for every additional oz. in excess of the first oz. Newspapers--8 pies for 4 ozs., I anna 4 pies for 8 ozs. Books--2 annas for 4 ozs., 4 annas for 8 ozs. and 4 annas for every additional 8 ozs. Prepayment in the latter two cases being compulsory. It does not appear that parcels or money orders were exchanged or Savings Bank transactions allowed. The postal officials began to return from Abyssinia by the end of June, 1868, the last batch arriving at Bombay on the 4th July. The Afghanistan Expedition. The war broke out in November, 1878, and Mr. J. H. Cornwall was appointed to take charge of postal arrangements with the column under the command of General Stewart, Mr. W. T. van Someren with the column under the command of Major-General...