53 54 55
56 57
54A. 57A.
Chapter II.
Indian Army Postal Service — [China Expeditionary Force] — [British Railway Administration in China] — [Somaliland] — [The Forbidden City of Lhassa] — [Indian Expeditionary Force in France.]
The Army Postal Service forms a highly organised branch of the Indian Army organisation. It dates from 1878-1880, when, during the Afghan War, a mail cart route was set up between Peshawar and Jellalabad, and a horse post was conducted thence to Kabul, in all about 176 miles. Jhelum and Peshawar were also connected by rail, a military transport train being run by the Post Office between these points. Even earlier than this date there were postal arrangements for Indian Expeditionary Forces, including that operating in Abyssinia (1867-68), the type of postmark being lettered F.F. (Field Force), as in Fig. 58.