The Post Office of India and Its StoryClarke, Geoffrey
History
The Post Office of India and Its Story
Clarke, Geoffrey
Postal service -- India
The object of the expedition, which was under the command of
Brigadier-General Sir William Lockhart, K.C.B., was to overawe the
recalcitrant Samil clans of the Urakzai tribe in the Miranzai Valley.
The force was ordered to the front in January, 1891, and advanced in
three columns, the first column having its base at Shahu Khel, the
second at Tog and the third at Hangu. Mr. A. Bean, Superintendent of
post offices, Peshawar Division, was placed in charge of field postal
arrangements connected with the force in addition to his own duties.
_The Wuntho Expedition._
On the 15th February, 1891, the station of Kawlin was suddenly attacked
by a party of rebels from the Wuntho State, in Upper Burma, and a few
police who formed the garrison of the place had to evacuate it. The
post office had to be abandoned and the sub-postmaster had to come
away along with the other officials. A combined force of police and
military, consisting of about 2500 men, was at once organized and
advanced on Wuntho from Shwebo, Katha and Tigyaing to put down the
rebellion and bring the country under permanent occupation. The troops
employed were not designated a Field Force, and the postal arrangements
were therefore carried out on ordinary scale and not according to the
rules of the Field Service Manual.
_The Isazai Field Force._
In September, 1892, the Government of India decided to send out an
expedition under Major-General Sir William Lockhart to punish certain
villages of the trans-Indus Isazai clans who had harboured Hashim Ali
Khan of Seri in contravention of their agreement entered into at Seri
in May, 1891. A force of about 4000 men of all arms concentrated at
Derband and was styled the "Isazai Field Force." On the 17th September,
1892, Mr. C. J. Dease, Superintendent of post offices, was deputed to
make the special arrangements for the force with the assistance of an
inspector.
_Kurram Field Force._
In the beginning of October, 1892, the Government of India decided
to depute a Political officer at the head of a force in the Lower
Kurram Valley. The object was to expel the Chikkai tribes from the
valley and to effect a thorough settlement of the country. The force
which accompanied the Political officer, Mr. W. R. H. Merk, C.S.I.,
consisted of about 2500 men, including followers. Mr. P. Sheridan,
Postmaster-General, Punjab, arranged for field post offices, and the
Superintendent of post offices, Peshawar Division, was placed in
charge. By the end of October the presence of troops in Kurram was no
longer necessary, and the field offices were closed with the exception
of the head-quarters office, which was retained for the use of the
garrison.
_The Wano Expedition._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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