Page:The Post Office of India and its story.djvu/205

 CHAPTER XVIII

THE INDIAN FIELD POST OFFICE DURING THE GREAT WAR

IN 1914, when war broke out, a large postal con- tingent accompanied the troops sent to France. It was under the control of Mr. Pilkington, Assistant Director-General of the Post Office, who had the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and it comprised one Base Office and 22 field offices, with a staff of 13 supervising officers, 22 field postmasters, 84 clerks and 78 menials. During the early years of the war the work performed by this staff was very heavy. Frequently over 23,000 letters and 2000 parcels would arrive for the Indian contingent in one day, while newspapers published in England were regularly received for delivery to the troops. At the end of 1916 the Indian field postal staff in France was considerably reduced, as large numbers accompanied the Indian troops transferred to Egypt and Mesopotamia, and at the end of the war only one or two field offices remained to serve some Labour Corps units which had been left behind.

At the end of 19 16 Mesopotamia was the most im- portant theatre of war so far as the Indian Post Office was concerned. A small field postal contingent was sent in 1 914 and was steadily increased as the operations ex- tended. Mr. A. B. Thompson, Deputy Postmaster- General, was the first Director of Postal Services. He was succeeded in 191 7 by Mr. A. J. Hughes, who had 171