The Army Postal Service is an extension of the Department of Posts which functions as military organisation under the control of the Quartermaster General Army Head quarters. It extends the facilities of the Indian Post Office to the Armed Forces whenever and wherever required.
It was a happy coincidence that the first Army Post Office was organised at Bushire, South Persia in 1856 at about the same time as the establishment of the All-India P & T Department and the introduction of the first adhesive postage Stamp in India. From 1856 to 1947, Field Post Offices have served with all the military contingents sent out from India and in many of the frontier campaigns. Wherever they go the Field Post Offices (FPOs) carry a bit of the Indian Post Office with them in the shape of Indian Postage Stamps.
In the earlier days, the FPOs cancelled the Postage Stamps with obliterators and postmarked the covers with their designations such as "Field Force, Persia" (1856), "Field Force Post Office, Abyssinia" (1865), "Field Force Post Office, Cabul" (1878-81), "Field Force P O Egypt, No.1" (1882), "Upper Burma Field P O", (1885) and so on. After the Third Burmese War, the FPOs shed their Field Force and Place names and assumed the simple numbering system which is now in vogue.
The first overprint of Indian Postage Stamps was done in 1900 for the Indian Contingent of the "China Expeditionary Force". It bore the legend "C E F," and was used at twenty FPOs from 1990. The Second overprint for the FPOs was done in the First World War and it carried the inscription "I.E.F," to identify the Indian Expeditionary Forces serving overseas.
In 1879, the first special cover was issued in 9 pies denomination for the use of British Soldiers and sailors writing to England. In 1895 this cover was overprinted with a crown and "One Anna" owing to an increase in the postal rates. In 1900 embossed envelopes and post cards were overprinted "C.E.F," for the use of the China Expeditionary Force. Covers and Post Cards over printed "I.E.F," were issued in 1915 to the troops fighting in the First World War.
INDIANS SCNERIO
Since Independence, the Indian Army has taken a leading part in the UN Peace Missions. The First overprint for the FPOs of the International Control Commissions in the INDO-CHINA states of VIETNAM, LAOS, and CAMBODIA was released with a first day cover on 1 December 1954. The second overprint became necessary when the "Indian Map" series of stamps were introduced on the change over to decimal coinage. It was released on 01 April 1957. A special overprint was also authorised for FPOs, which accompanied the Indian Contingent to the UN Peace Mission in CONGO in 1960.
It is the sole prerogative of the Department of Posts to issue postage stamps. However, when the Army Postal Service was unable to persuade the Department of Posts to issue postage stamps for which increasing demands were being received from the Services, it met the situation by introducing a new series of Special Covers to commemorate Service occasions. The aim of APS in issuing special covers, cancellation and brochures is to project the history, organisation and deeds of three Services. During the last twenty – five years the Army Postal Service Special Covers have become an accepted part of such celebrations as Regimental Days, Reunions, Jubilees and Colour Presentations.
( K K Srivastava)
Maj Gen
Addl Director General APS
Courtesy : APS Souvenir, Indepex Asiana – 2000.