An Earthquake hits STAMPEX: Quetta 1935

Building an Exhibit from a Tragedy

Contributed by Neil Donen

Neil with his ‘salt of the earth’ philatelic wife Nancy

Number 3.2

October 2018

A Rare Opportunity - not to be Missed

Sometimes we are presented with an opportunity which just we cannot pass up. It is a foolish man who will turn this down. So when Neil Donen agreed that we could share his Exhibit on the Quetta Earthquake, displayed at the Autumn 2018 STAMPEX with us, it was one of those moments. I was more than delighted to welcome an authoritative and insightful addition to our third set of Occasional Papers

Neil’s display fitted the agenda set for our Occasional Publications perfectly:

• It tells a story which is compellingly interesting; • It introduces what is for many, a new angle on Indian Philately; • It puts humanity at the centre where we can find examples of bravery, resourcefulness, empathy, organizational capacity, kindness and essential optimism; • It is a self-contained fragment from history; • It is a study which can be limited to just 14 days or be extended into the days and years preceding the earthquake and into the aftermath of its consequences; • It poses many unanswered questions which will require further research and thought to reach a conclusion.

Many members of the ISC will already have read some of the research work already undertaken by Neil Donen in India Post 52/2 (2018) No. 207. He makes a compelling case for research in these misty areas to be undertaken on a collaborative basis. Neil is seeking illumination from wherever it comes - and especially if our ideas about what happened on the ground need to be further refined. It is a fact that we are always seeking new Quetta material to add to the corpus of known mail items and associated memorabilia, so that we can complete the picture of how such an event was handled over 80 years ago.

A cautionary word before you jump in, the exhibit wording has been slightly modified to fit in the publication, but it nevertheless presents an accurate picture of the exhibit.

The Message for us all is – let’s get more involved in philatelic research ! ! ail and s to m relie nse f fu po nd es The 1935 e l r ff ta Quetta Earthquake or s ts Po

• 31 : Magnitude Moment MW7.7 earthquake in Quetta (Baluchistan). • 30,000 - 45,000 persons estimated to have died. • Large Empire garrison (12,000 personnel). Rapid search, rescue and relief work. • Most Post Offi ce personnel killed (56 of 60). Mail handled by Railway Mail Services (RMS).

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE Th e aim of this two frame exhibit is to show - the responses of the postal system to mail out of and into Quetta in the seven month period aft er the earthquake i.e. June to December 1935, and it’s services to assist earthquake relief funding eff orts.

CHALLENGES • Acquisition: Less than 170 known Quetta covers with very few items in some subgroups. • Variable quality of accessible correspondence related material in Quetta aft er earthquake.

Items of additional interest have a next to them

PLAN OF EXHIBIT 1. Background (2-3) 2. Outgoing Mail - a. Postmarks RMS cancels (4-5) b. Postmarks Concession period (6-11) c. Concession withdrawal (12-13) d. Errors and Postage Due/Taxed (14-16) e. Mail by Rail, Sea and Air (17-21) f. Additional covers of interest (22-23) 3. Correspondence (24-25) 4. Incoming mail (26-27) 5. Funds for relief eff orts (28-30) 6. Return to ‘normal’ (31-32) Background Quetta: Pre-earthquake postmarks

Postmarks in use • Combined Date/Hour stamp with and without obliterator arc • Double-circle Date stamp without obliterator arc • Rectangular Box slogan with date - Type A29(a) - Only at Main (General) G.P.O.

Right: Quetta Main G.P.O. (Combined Date/Hour stamp with obliterator arc)

Left : Quetta Aerodrome (Double-circle date cancel without obliterator arc)

Right: Quetta Main G.P.O. Type A29(a) date slogan*

* See Smith & Padgham "Classifi cation of Indian Postal markings." India Post. 1979;13(2);pp 95-103

‘Support the Jubilee Fund’

Quetta was the capital of the Baluchistan Agency. It is located in an earthquake prone zone along the Chaman Fault near the Afghan border. In 1935 the population was estimated at 60,000 persons including 12,000 troops responsible for defending the North-West Frontier. Background Eff ects of the Earthquake

Th e Magnitude Moment MW7.7 earthquake occured at 3:03am on 31 May 1935. It produced widespread damage to Quetta and the surrounding areas. An estimated 30,000-45,000 people died.

Map of Quetta showing areas aff ected following the eathquake. Post Offi ce buildingss are highlighted by red arrows; Telegraph and Wireless Communications identifi ed by black arrows. Staff College was the only post offi ce not damaged in the earthquake.

Note the destruction of the civil area of the city (lower part of map).

Post-earthquake postal services were run by RMS staff operating in the the grounds of Telegraph Offi ce.

Original map included with Major-General Karslake’s (Offi cer Commanding Western Headquarters) report on the earthquake.and organisational responses. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 The Railway Mail Service (RMS) cancels

Th ere was severe damage to most of the post offi ces and the death of almost all of the post offi ce personnel in Quetta. Postal services were taken over by Railway Mail Service (RMS) employees living in Quetta, who had suff ered minimal staff losses. Th ey used their own “Quetta R.M.S.” cancellers between 6 and 15 June. Th e original intended use of the RMS canceller was at the Railway Station Post Offi ce. Th e RMS postmarks are a key marker for sequencing outgoing mail

Quetta RMS Type Crc postmark commonest RMS postmark seen.

Used from 6 June 1935.

All postmarks seen show time of 11:15pm and ‘Set-2’.

“Set - 2” indicates shift i.e. 3:30pm to 11:30pm.

Quetta RMS Type Crc postmark/cancel:* Combined Date/Hour Stamp and Obliterator canceller (has movable date and hour slugs for dispatch dates and time). Introduced in 1910 for Railway Mail Offi ces which were handling more than 150 posted items daily. * Donen, N & Gillham, B. “Mail from Quetta aft er the 1935 earthquake.” India Post 2018;52:pp 58-64. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 The Railway Mail Service (RMS) cancels

Quetta RMS Type Crd postmark. Associated primarily with the Red Handstamp cancels (Quetta Group 2).

Crd postmark usage only noted between 4 and 7 June.

Time range for dispatch dictated by Set number. Post earthquake, both ‘Set-1’ and ‘Set-2’ cancellers have been seen. Facsimile example

Quetta RMS Type Crd cancel:* Double-circle Date Stamp cancel (has movable date slug for dispatch dates). Issued in 1914 to all Railway Mail Offi ces without any daily posted items volume restrictions. * Donen, N & Gillham, B. “Mail from Quetta aft er the 1935 earthquake.” India Post 2018;52:pp 58-64.

Quality of strikes was very variable (fair to poor). Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Concession Period (Free Postage)

Quetta Covers classifi ed into four Groups 1. No handstamp 2. Two-line Red handstamp 3. One-line Black handstamp 4. Th ree-line Red withdrawal handstamp

On 4 June 1935, India Post sent out a memo to all post offi ces as well as telegraphs to Empire authorities requesting them not to tax letters from the earthquake area. Mail was to be sent post free.

Group 1 Covers - No Handstamp Many of the surviving covers sent aft er the earthquake do not have any frankings. Key indicators highly suggestive of these covers are: a. Manuscript writing: “quetta earthquake/no stamps available” and b. Th e presence of small triangular “Inspector’s Marks” on covers sent to Great Britain.

Th e date of this cover to England is unknown i.e. there are no postmarks. Research based on other covers suggests this was probably sent by airmail from Karachi.

Note comment re lack of stamps.

Undated cover probably sent airmail to England. Note the triangular “Inspector’s Mark.”

Mrs. Davies was the wife of Major- General H.R. Davies. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Concession Period (Free Postage) Group 1 Covers - No Handstamp Covers with either RMS, Transit or Receiving cancels or, combinations thereof, allow one to identify the probable routing of the cover and its contents.

Part of back cover

Cover (postmarked 8 June) and contents carried by train to Karachi. To London via Flight IW345 (Departed 12 June). Arrived London 17 June. Delivered Godmanstone 18 June (Receiving postmark).

Back cover.

Mailed from Bank of Quetta, Quetta to Bank of India in Bombay. Bombay receiving cancel dated 8 June. Train travel time between the two cities was Postmark dates on covers approximately 36 hours. Cover and contents probably mailed on 6 June. with no handstamps range from 4 June to 14 June. Approximately 30% of covers seen mailed from Quetta in the immediate post-earthquake period were to destinations within India. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Concession Period (Free Postage) Group 2 Covers - Red Handstamp

Th e Two-line Red Handstamp "Quetta Earth Quake. / Postage Free." (98 x 64 mm) is thought to have been used between 6 and 10 June and only at Staff College.

Cover postmarked 7 June with RMS Type Crd cancel to Bristol, England.

Routing: By train from Quetta to Bombay. Carried on P&O mailship SS Ranpura, departing Bombay 15 June. Travelled overland from Marseilles to a Channel port and then by sea to England arriving on 30 June. Subsequent travel by train to Bristol.

Note 62% of letters posted from Quetta were mailed to the . Back cover.

To date a total of 10 Group 2 handstamps have been recorded. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Concession Period (Free Postage) Group 2 Covers - Red Handstamp

Part of back cover

Late usage of Red handstamp with RMS Type Crc cancel.

Mailed Quetta 10 June to Avoch (near Inverness). Redirected with indistinct date on Avoch transit cancel.

Publisher: N.D. Batra. Quetta

In 1935 Staff College was the second largest military training college in the British Empire. At the time of the earthquake, its chief instructor was Colonel (later Field Marshall) Bernard Law Montgomery.

Th e College, situated on hard bed rock, suff ered minimal damage. However, most of the postal staff , who lived in the civil area, were killed. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Concession Period (Free Postage) Group 3 Covers - Black Handstamp Single line Black handstamp "Quetta Earth Quake Postage Free" (93 x 4 mm). Found on 60% of covers mailed from Quetta. Used between 8th and 18th June.

Postmarked Quetta 12 June. Carried by rail to Bombay. Departure date from Bombay (either 15th or 22nd June) not known.

Back cover. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Concession Period (Free Postage)

Group 3 Covers - Black Handstamp

Quetta Crc postmark on back cover.

Mailed from Quetta (Crc postmark dated 14 June - see above). Airmail by fl ight IW348 arriving London 21 June. Redirected to Sheffi eld. Canterbury transit cancel on front dated 22 June.

Part of back cover

With repeated use it became common to see the last ‘E’ of ‘FREE’ either very faint or missing. Note also the distorted shape of the wording compatible with a rubber handstamp.

Mailed from the Imperial Bank, Quetta (note imprint on back cover) on 13 June. Mail carried by train to Bangalore via Bombay, a 2,000 mile journey taking 5 days. Th e receiving cancel in Bangalore is dated 19 June. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Concession Withdrawal Group 4 Covers - Three-line Red Handstamp

Th e three-line red handstamp "Quetta Earth Quake / Free Postage Concession / Withdrawn" (120 x 30 mm) is only seen on covers postmarked 15 June. Only four such covers recorded to date. No documentation advising of the withdrawal date has been identifi ed.

Th is cover is postmarked 11:15 PM, 15 June 1935 with the Quetta RMS Crc date cancel (back cover -above). Travelled by train to Bombay arriving 18 June. Cancelled by Bombay Airmail Division three days later (21 June). Th e handstamp on the front indicates there was insuffi cient postage for airmail transmission. Th e letter was almost certainly sent by sea and received by Dr. Wood at Hythe on 8 July.

Th is is a taxed cover: Th e cover and contents were taxed, presumably in Bombay. Note the ‘T’ and 50 centimes in the hexagonal handstamp box on front cover (double defi ciency i.e. 2 x 2½a). Th e recipient was only charged the actual unpaid postal rate (as noted by the Inland Section 2d instructional cancel and the 2d Postage Due stamp) rather than the usual double defi cit penalty because, presumably, no stamps were available to the sender. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Concession Withdrawal Postage paid fi rst day post concession

Following withdrawal of the postage free concession on 15 June, regular postal rates from Quetta were re-instated.

Front cover.

Cover mailed from Quetta (Crc cancel) dated 15 June 1935 paying the correct 7½ anna airmail rate from India to Great Britain.

It was fl own on fl ight IW348 (Departed Karachi 17 June, arrived London 21 June). It was then redirected within London (London transit and receiving cancels on back). Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Errors and Postage Due/Taxed

Clerical error - Incorrect date applied

Postmark on back cover - dated 6 May 1935.

Th is Group 1 type cover was mailed to a well known philatelist. Th e Quetta Crc postmark on the back (see facsimile above) is dated 6 May 1935. However, the enclosed handwritten note (opposite) is dated 5 June and the company receiving mark (bottom left ) is dated 15 June 1935.

Th e incorrect date on the Crc postmark is due to clerical error. Th is cover is assumed to be one of the earliest to receive the Crc postmark.

Routing of cover & contents: Train: Quetta to Karachi Air: Flight IW346 Karachi (7 June) to London (14 June).

London receiving mark at Robson Lowe’s Offi ce.

Note the date of 15 June. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Errors and Postage Due/Taxed Clerical error - Misdirected mail

Group 1 type cover dated 5 June 1935 by a Quetta RMS Crd canceller (see below). Mailed by Captain D.C. Waldram, 2nd Indian Divisional Signal Corps, to Saint Peter Point in Guernsey. Sent in error to St Peter-Ording, North Friesland, Schleswig-Holstein. Appears to have been redirected to correct address on 21 June.

Based on the RMS date, this would have been one of the earliest covers sent. It is probable that the RMS clerk, not familiar with handling overseas mail, may have put this item into the wrong mail bag. It is not known which airline service ( vs. KLM) carried this cover from Karachi to Germany.

Back cover. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Errors and Postage Due/Taxed

Postage Due/Taxed

Many of the envelopes mailed to Great Britain have a triangular handstamp present on the front cover with the letters “I.S.” (Inland Section Chief Offi ce – London) within the triangle. Th ese so-called Inspectors’ Marks were used by postal supervisors to indicate that the item had been examined to ascertain whether it conformed to the regulations governing mail carried at less than the normal rate.

Obliterated T/50c (Tax 50 centimes) in hexagon. Note Inspectors’ Mark indicating Postage Due waived.

Addressed to Kent, England. Bombay Foreign Transit cancel of 7 June. Probably departed from Bombay 8 June (SS Mongolia). Arrival in London 23 June.

Earthquake cover with Inspectors’ Marks and Tax notation. Note line through the notation indicating no Postage Due to be paid.

Very early cover (lightweight airmail envelope). Karachi transit cancel of 4 June. Th ought to have been fl own out by RAF planes bringing supplies to Quetta. Flown on IW344, departing Karachi 5 June, arriving London on 10 June. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Mail by Rail, Sea and Air 4 June 1935 - First Day of Outgoing Mail 4 June 1935: Th e India Post Offi ce Department directed all inland post offi ces in India and Burma not to tax any unregistered mail from Quetta, Mastung and Kalat. Telegrams sent to various Empire postal authorities requesting same.

Cancel - back cover

Group 1 type cover dated 4 June (Quetta RMS Crd canceller) mailed to Lahore. Lahore Unpaid and Postage Due handstamp dated 6 June on cover. Probably mailed soon aft er offi cial postage free concession announced.

Carried by train from Quetta to Lahore.

Quetta to London airmail: Karachi air cancel 4 June. Cover probably fl own by air from Quetta to Karachi. Carried on fl ight IW344, departing Karachi 6 June, arriving Croydon airport, London on 10 June. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Mail by Rail, Sea and Air

Mail by Rail

All mail aft er 4 June left Quetta by rail. Initially there were many ‘relief and evacuation’ trains moving between Rorhi Junction and Quetta daily (See map on Title Page). Mail was transferred to trains moving North and South through Rorhi Junction (See table above). Th e railway lines were part of the North Western Railway network.

Basic Mail Railway Timetable Information Distance Travel Time Travel From: To Depart Time Arrive Time (miles) (hrs) Quetta to Karachi 5:30pm 3:40pm 536 22:10 Quetta to Bombay 5:30pm 7:40am 1,303 62:10 Quetta to Lahore 5:30pm 7:15pm 700 25:45 Quetta to Rohri 5:30pm 5:09am 240 11:39 Rohri to Karachi 5:29am 3:40pm 296 10:11 Rohri to Bombay 5:29am 7:40am 1,063 48:11 Rohri to Lahore 5:34am 7:15pm 460 13:41

Between 31 May and 14 June 88 trains left Quetta.

No. Type 59 Regular Time-Table trains 18 Refugee trains (28,000 people) 4 Ambulance trains 7Troop trains Tank engine of North Western Railway Company used to assist trains up the very steep "banks" of Normally eight (8) trains a day departed from Quetta. Only one the Bolan Pass between Sibi and Quetta. train carried outgoing mail through Rohri daily.

Group 3 cover mailed by Captain HGM Evans, Adjutant, Royal Tank Corps, to his wife, who had been evacuated to Karachi. Postmarked Quetta 14 June with Karachi Delivery cancel of 10 am 16 June. According to the train schedule the mail would have arrived in Karachi at 3:40 pm the previous day.

Part of back cover Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Mail by Rail, Sea and Air

Mail by rail to Fort Sandeman

One of two recorded covers to Fort Sandeman. Back cover.

Th is Group 3 type cover with a single line black handstamp was mailed from Quetta (13 June) to Fort Sandeman (Receiving cancel 16 June). Cover addressed to Lt. JA Cameron, of the Royal Engineers. Lt. Cameron was the Assistant Garrison Engineer at Fort Sandeman. Th e fort was named aft er Sir Robert Sandeman, a colonial offi cer who was responsible for the peaceful pacifi cation of the various tribes in Baluchistan.

Fort Sandeman - modern day Zhob - part of the Indian Western Command, was accessible from Quetta by train. Both the fort and the rail line suff ered minimal damage from the earthquake, with only the loss of telegraphic communications with Quetta. Th e 174 mile journey on the narrow 2ft . 6in. gauge track on the Zhob Valley Railway of the North Western Railway network took have taken about 23 hours. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Mail by Rail, Sea and Air

Quetta mail by Sea

Dates for P&O Mail Steam Ship vessels carrying mail from Bombay to London

Departure Bombay Vessel Mail Arrival in London Via Marseilles Direct by Sea 8 June SS Mongolia 23 June 28 June 15 June SS Ranpura 30 June 5 July 22 June SS Comorin 7 July 12 July 29 June SS Rajpula 14 July 19 July Ballard Pier, Bombay. Note: Mail usually off -loaded at Marseilles arriving in London two days before the P&O vessel.

A third of out-of-country mail from Quetta travelled by sea, when leaving from Bombay. Th e vast majority - 90% - was mailed to the United Kingdom. Train travel from Quetta to Bombay took 62 hours. Th e Royal Mail Ships of the Peninsular and Orient Steam Navigation Company (P&O Line) were famously docked at Ballard Pier in Bombay, which also had a railway station for quick movement of mail Unknown Publisher and people.

Mailed from Quetta 6 June.

Routing Train: North Western Railway from Quetta to Hyderabad (Sind & Baluchistan Circle). From Hyderabad to Bombay mail placed on the Bombay, Baroda & Central India (Central Circle) trains.

Sea: Carried on SS Ranpura. Departing Bombay 15 June.

Travelled overland from Marseilles to a channel port, arriving in London on 30 June. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Mail by Rail, Sea and Air

Mail by Air

Just under half (48%) of known Quetta ‘earthquake’ covers were conveyed by airmail. Th e vast majority (90%) went to the United Kingdom. Seven of the 71 recorded covers were addressed to individuals in Australia and New Zealand.

Karachi

Publisher Richard Blake

Imperial Airways Timetable from Karachi - 1935 Karachi Arrival Flight No. Departure Destination Karachi to London IW344 5 June 10 June IW346 8 June 14 June IW345 12 June 17 June IW348 17 June 21 June IW347 19 June 24 June Karachi to Brisbane IE345 6 June 13 June IE346 9 June 20 June IE347 13 June 20 June A Group 3 type cover mailed from Quetta 14 June 1935 by Pvt. C. Platt, IE348 16 June 27 June 7th Light Tank Corps. Flown on Flight IW348 departing Karachi 17 June. It was carried on Imperial Airways planes Hannibal, Satyrus and Scylla. Cadishead receiving cancel 22 June. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Additional Covers of Interest Mail from Mastung

Th e town of Mastung was devastated by the earthquake, suff ering heavy casualties. Two Field Ambulance Sections from the British and Indian armies of the North-West Frontier at Razmak, Waziristan were rapidly deployed to assist in the Mastung area. A relief hospital was also established at Mastung for injured patients from Quetta and surroundings who wished to remain in the Quetta area.

Th is is the only cover recorded to date from Mastung.

Mastung was one of three locations (also Quetta and Kalat) in the earthquake area where a post free concession was introduced.

Th is Group 3 type cover (postmarked 10 June) was sent from the Offi cer Commanding the 7th Field Ambulance detachment at Mastung to the unit’s headquarters in Razmak, North Waziristan.

Th e routing to Razmak is unclear. It may have travelled from Quetta by train through Dera Ismail Khan to Bannu either via Rorhi Junction (Peshawar line) or via Fort Sandeman. From Bannu, mail would have been conveyed by lorry for the 95 mile journey to Razmak. Outgoing Mail - June 1935 Additional Covers of Interest

Mail from a Sindhi living in Quetta

Mail between local Quetta residents immediately aft er the earthquake is very uncommon.

Damaged cover was mailed by a local Sindhi resident living in Quetta to another resident who had relocated to Karachi. Th e two poorly written words in Sindhi both indicate "Karachi." Th e addressee’s surname, Mirchangam, is also Sindi.

Th e back of the cover has a Crd Travelling Post Offi ce K-4 postmark (Sind and Baluchistan Circle Division, Section from Quetta to Rorhi) dated 11 June. Th is suggests the cover was handed directly to the RMS staff on the train rather than being posted in Quetta. Th ere is a Karachi receiving cancel of 12 June.

One of only two recorded covers.

Back cover. Correspondence Destruction and Desolation

‘.... destruction and wholesale desolation’

Th is is a letter from Phyllis Grey, wife of Capt. Clement Grey to Major Dawson in Surrey, England, writing about the damage and destruction in Quetta . Correspondence Letter from Quetta

Th is letter is addressed to Sir David and Lady Rachel Ezra of Calcutta, detailing events at Quetta.

Th ey were well known philanthropists. Lady Ezra also had a strong interest in philately and provided much fi nancial support to Stephen Smith in his quest to promote Rocket Mail as a means of transporting mail, underwriting his various fl ights throughout India in 1934 and 1935. Incoming Mail Mail from Britain

Although mail was brought into Quetta daily, no attempt was made to sort or deliver postal items until 5 June, once the search and rescue eff orts had been completed. Initially only registered mail was sorted but delivery, where possible, with regular mail began soon thereaft er.

Mailed from Dover 3 June. Carried on fl ight IE346. It departed London 4 June and arrived in Karachi on 9 June. Airmail postage 6d . Th e Quetta arrival date was probably on the 10th or 11th of June. Th ere are no postmarks on the back of the cover.

Th e 1st Battalion was stationed at Quetta between 1934 and 1936. At the time of the earthquake the batallion was on a night march. Two members of the regiment received Th e Empire Gallantry Medal (George Cross) for their rescue eff orts following the earthquake.

Th is letter was mailed from Blandford Forum in Dorset on 5 June. It was fl own on a special overseas mail service plane from Croydon on 9 June, connecting with fl ight IE347 at Brindisi which had left Croydon a day earlier. Th e arrival date in Karachi was 13 June and the letter was delivered to Quetta on either 14 or 15 June. Th ere are no postmarks on back cover.

Colonel Tate and his wife Ethel were prolifi c writers, mailing letters to England at least twice a week. Recipients included Mrs Duke of Godmanstone, Ethel’s mother and General and Mrs. Davies in London. Mail to and from these people is seen frequently amongst pre and post Quetta earthqauke covers. Incoming Mail Redirected Mail

Th is letter mailed from Bannu, Waziristan in the North West Frontier, to Quetta. Th e letter was then redirected to Kabul in .

Note the single line Black Handstamp on the front cover.

Major (later Sir) Rupert Hay - the recipent of the letter - served in the Foreign and Political Department of the Indian Government from 1920 to 1953.

In 1935 he was a Counsellor for the British Legation in Kabul. He served as Chief Comissioner for Baluchistan between 1943 and 1946.

Th e letter was mailed from Bannu on 3 June with a Type 29(a) Rectangular Box slogan "Telephone Makes / Life Easier" at the correct rate of 1 anna.

A presumed ‘receiving’ RMS cancel Quetta (Crc type) dated 8 June is noted. A second Quetta RMS cancel of 10 June is seen, presumably following the redirected instructions.

Th e single line Black Handstamp was probably applied on this date. Peshawar G.P.O. transit cancel dated 11 June.

Th e probable routing was from Bannu to Quetta by train via Multan. Th e forwarded letter was carried to Peshawar by train and then overland to Kabul as there was no railway line between the two cities.

Any undeliverable letters were either returned to the sender or sent to the Dead Letter Offi ce in Lahore. Funds for Relief Eff orts Rocket Mail

Following the earthquake a number of relief funds were set up to aid victims of the earthquake. Th ree activities had specifi c philatelic connections.

Rocket Flight No. 60: 150 of 750 special stamps, overprinted “Quetta Earthquake Relief” on covers fl own.

Rocket Flight No. 61: 110 “rocket” stamps fl own bearing the Red Cross in aid of earthquake victoims.

Hoping to demonstrate the value of transportation of mail and parcels by rocket, Stephen Smith, between and June 1935, undertook 69 rocket demonstration fl ights. Proceeds of the entire sales of stamps and covers from fl ights no. 60 and 61 on 6 June 1935 were donated to the Viceroy’s Earthquake Relief Fund. Both fl ights were across the Roopnarain River in West Bengal. Th e covers are signed by Stephen Smith. Funds for Relief Eff orts Silver Jubilee Seals

As part of the planned activities for King ’s Silver Jubilee, the Viceroy of India established a special fund ‘To relieve suff ering and distress in India.” A purple stamp sized label (seal), valued at ½ anna, but of no postage value, was placed on sale at post offi ces between 1 April and 31 May 1935.

Following the establishment of the Quetta Earthquake Relief Fund, sale of the seals was resumed on 4 June through to 31 December. During this period proceeds from the sales of the seals were directed to the Viceroy’s Earthquake Relief Fund.

Cover with Silver Jubilee seal used for supporting earthquake relief fund.

Front cover.

Cover with Silver Jubilee seal during original period of use. Funds for Relief Eff orts Money Orders

On the 7th of June, the Indian Post Offi ce announced that no commission would be charged on money orders which were being used for donating to the Earthquake Relief Fund.

Th e following day a formal Postal Notice was published.

Th e concession appears to have ended on 31 December 1935. No offi cial notifi cation of this has been identifi ed. Return to ‘Normal’ Experimental Post Offi ce cancels

Experimental Post Offi ces (EPO) were temporary Post Offi ces set up by the Indian postal authorities usually for six to 24 months. Th ey were used to either trial the viability of a new post offi ce or as a replacement cancellation. All EPOs were allocated an alphanumerical number beginning with the Indian Circle initial followed by a number. Quetta was allocated EPO replacement canceller K-36 (Th e ‘K’ signifi es the Sind/Karachi Circle). It was instituted sometime aft er 15 June 1935 (Duration of usage is unknown).

EPO K-36

Mailed from Quetta on 29 to England.

Departed Bombay 2 November on SS Chitral

Arrived in London 17 November. Th ere is no receiving cancel.

Paid Empire postage rate 2a 6p.

Dates of usage are recorded between 23 July and 29 October 1935.

An early use of EPO K-36: Mailed from Quetta 30 . to Leeds. Probably fl own on fl ight IW362 departing Karachi on 4th August and arriving Croydon on the 9th August.

No receiving cancel and the correct airmail rate of 7½ annas has been applied.

Clearance of the Civil area of the city began in June 1935 and work was completed by . Initially, returning residents and labourers were housed at the Race Course (see Karslake’s map of the city on page 5). As areas were cleared, a temporary "Tin Town" was established and inhabitants properly housed. Th e period of usage of EPO K-36 is unclear but most likely coincided with the period of establishment of the "Tin Town" (April - ). Th e location of the interim Post Offi ce is unknown. Return to ‘Normal’ Resumption of Pre-earthquake postmarks

During April and local inhabitants were permitted to move from the Race Course in to the temporary "Tin Town" houses. Municipal buildings were only restored completely in 1937, but usage of the regular pre-eathquake postmarks resumed much earlier, probably late May or early June 1936.

Type A29(a) box slogan ("Buy Post Offi ce / Cash Certifi cates") cancel on an airmail cover dated 2 June 1936. Flown on fl ight IW448. Correct postage rate paid (7½a).

Bailliere, Tindall & Cox were medical and science book publishers, suggesting the unknown sender was requesting a book.

Airmail cover cancelled 1st December 1936 from Quetta Cantonment paying the correct airmail 7½a rate to England.

Routing: Train to Karachi. Flight IW501 Left Karachi 5 December Arrived London on the 10th of December.

Hatchards, the booksellers, claimed to be the oldest bookseller in Great Britain (opened 1797).