Monday, 15 September 2014

Poem ~ Post to Indian Troops -Tuesday, 15 September 1914


The Military Secretary, from the India Office,
Stipulates the processes of communication
And requests to all officers' next of kin,
For anyone known to them, within
The Indian Expeditionary Force, for advice
Of any address change since April ’14.
General postal distribution to the units,
Of the Indian army, cannot be given –
But any sent addressed to the India Office,
Marked 'Indian Expeditionary Force,'
Will be forwarded, circumstances allowed.

Instructions state all parcels or letters sent,
Should give regimental number, rank, name,
Squadron, battery, company, battalion,
Regiment (or unit) staff appointment -
Or department of addressee – Furthermore,
Care is required in correspondence for all
Officers, warrant and non-commissioned
Officers and men, if they are detached,
Elsewhere, including other departments.

Postage rates for letters are 1d per ounce,
And 1d for postcards - letters for registration
Can be accepted, except for express delivery,
Or insurance - until further notice is made.
Parcels cannot be sent from India Office,
To the Expeditionary Forces, unless prepaid
At parcel full rates for Egypt. Private telegrams
Cannot be accepted by India Office to transmit;
Being subjected to a great deal of delay.
Any communication is therefore better by post.

Parcel contents need to be written on cover,
To comply with all regulations of customs.
With name and address of sender on letter
And parcels, should they return - undelivered.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. Indian Army - Letters to the Troops. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 15 Sept. p.4. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077896/Daily-Telegraph-September-15-1914.html  [Accessed: 15th September 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 15 August 2014). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered 

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