Eighty years ago: diary of Indian Army officer cadet March to December 1941

Little to report. On the pistol range firing; not a very accurate weapon. Went to soccer match, college vs. staff in the evening; surprised at high standard. I’d back them to lick Monmouth; some third division standard. No letters yet, I hope I hear soon, getting worried. Well, it’s getting near pay day. Another point is the excellent instructors here, the Non-Commissioned Officers, particularly, are fine fellows.

Day pretty well as usual. Had second suit of Mess kit today. At about 5:30 p.m. we had a tropical thunderstorm and did it rain; one solid sheet, you could scarcely see a couple of yards. When I got to my room wet through my Bearer and a chota larka [bantling – young child] were on the floor bailing out water that had poured through the roof. The place is in a mess now.

  Well, I hope Ruth had a good day. I couldn’t be of much use. Another week and the first day goes fairly well. I was hoping to get a cable or some letters from home, but no luck. One thinks a good deal of the vanities of life when out here alone. We live in absolute luxury; admittedly work is hard, but I, personally, would give it all for a quiet day among friends in England. Around one are cadets. Apart from them, the natives are almost the only people we see. Makes one rather lonely, but teaches one to appreciate life more than ever before.

Awoke early and remembered it was my birthday. Arose about 7:45 a.m. and went to breakfast, afterwards to service at St Mark’s Church. Sunday is a grand day, rest and quiet. Writing letters now. A number of cadets have noted, as have I, that we are giving these people a raw deal. Their standard of living is scandalous, often they are treated more as animals than men. I was very impressed with Gandhi’s criticism of Avery’s [Secretary of State for India and Burma, Leo Avery] speech. Well, a strange birthday, not a letter, greeting or present. Extract from Dad's memoirs on his experiences during WWII "When war broke out in August 1939 I returned to school to find everyone preoccupied with OTC and I and several of my contemporaries, encouraged by staff, volunteered for army service and within days went to Cardiff University to be attested, given the King’s shilling, and told to go home and await call-up. Post Enlistment My father, after his experiences in the Royal Artillery (...

Started as usual. Could not do much PT because of my leg. Finished early because of extra-late night, but had to parade for fitting of second uniform. Went to the GPO in the afternoon, but too late to send Ruth’s shoes. Went to the cinema in the evening with two friends, Dean Swain, etc., saw James Stewart and Rosalind Russell in ‘No Time for Comedy’, quite enjoyable. Returned to the Mess and had a little supper and one bottle of Bangalore Ale. Retired to rest thankful for tomorrow.

Arose as usual. Health better, but stomach far from satisfactory. Not very eventful day, FE, MR with compass, FC, etc. No letters. Night Operations at 7:00 p.m. Went out to Agram Plain and were given three compass bearings and so many paces. Had to reach our objective. Proved no easy matter in the dark; people stumbled, and the counters disagreed as to the number of paces. We got back at 9:00 p.m. after a hard march.

Arose 5:30 a.m. and prepared for Sick Parade. Made my way to the MI (medical inspection) room and had my knee dressed. Very difficult to get around with the bandage on. Left for Iblur [village in Bangalore] range at 9:15 a.m. and spent the day there. Fired light machine gun, Vickers machine gun Type B and rifle. Scored 63 and came third in the Platoon. Enjoyed lunch in a small café, sandwiches, sausages, bananas and lemonade. Very hot. Rifle so hot it burnt my hands. Got back at 4:00 p.m. Very tired, so bed at 9:45 p.m.

Had a difficult time with my knee, which is very sore. Three periods running around the country on cycles by MR. Disappointed to find no letters in today’s mail. Mess suit now finished, fits like a glove, looks pretty good. Shall retire early, feeling tired as usual. My pal is in hospital with a slight fever.

PT begins the day; leadership i.e. taking a squad, is now our chief occupation. Still troubled by stomach which does not seem to like this country – have a very poor appetite. Played 9 Company and although we were very tired after the previous day, won 2-1. Cut my knee again and find it rather sore. Had a heavy rain and sandstorm in the night. Forced to get up and close doors in the night. Very heavy deluge, but dry again and hot as ever next day.

Another week begins with drill; not a pleasant start. I was stuck about 100 yd from a squad and nearly burst my lungs shouting commands. Rest of the day spent on the Plain at FC and lectures. Still get very weary running about in the sun. Played 8 Company at soccer and drew 3-3. They hadn’t been beaten, but we had to win to win the championship. Still a good game.

 Up at 7:30 a.m. After breakfast went to 9:15 a.m. service and returned to write home and to Renée. Posted completed letters at 3:00 p.m. After tea, changed and went to evening service. Very pleasant in the cool of the evening. Returned and spent an hour or so at work, then went to Mess and soon to bed.

Started the day with four periods of FC – individual stalking – quite pleasant, if rather warm. Had a busy day financially. Went to Imperial Bank and after some trouble deposited INR120. Found remittance rather difficult so went to GPO and sent a telegraph money order for £10 which cost me INR144. In the evening I went to the cinema with Tullo and saw ‘Pastor Hall’, a very good film, excellent propaganda and causing some thought. Retired after a pleasant day. Feeling better this week.

Another fitting of uniform; too tight still. Spent most of the day at FC crawling around in burning sand alive with insects of all descriptions. Played against 2 Company and won 1-0. Afterwards had to rush to Night Operations which were quite interesting out on the Plain, except for the mosquitoes. A long day from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. without a real break.

Much the same. Started on Field engineering (FE), digging etc. as drill; spades soon became too hot to hold. It will be warm work during the day. Played soccer against 7 Company and we drew. In running for championship. Very hot. I was wet through and took all night to cool down. Can’t say I have much fat left now, but feel much better now I use a blanket. Still one doesn’t have much appetite in this country, it’s too hot; just drink and drink and still thirsty.

Much better today. Have decided to sleep under a blanket now even if it is hot; a cold in the stomach is no joke. Due to play soccer for the Company, but the game postponed, so had a kick around. English mail in, but none for me. Had a fitting of the Khaki Drill kit and issue of map case and haversack. Put mosquito cream on hands which are now a mass of perforations.

  A day on the Plain; very tiring especially as I had a bad pain in the stomach. I was tempted to go sick, but carried on. Luckily, we went out on cycles. Today I had photograph from Renée, an enlargement of one I liked. Also had mine taken; don’t know the result. Had a very severe pain in the evening, took peppermint, bis magn [possibly a patent medicine containing bismuth subsalicylate] [1] . Went to the Mess, foolishly, and had a job getting back. Took three aspirin and went straight to bed with a blanket. [1] Possibly the ingredients of a 1940s patent medicine for stomach problems.

  A new week, but health has been very poor; stomach is causing some trouble. My first maths grading. I was B with 46.6; hope to do better or at least hold it. Had our cycles issued. BSA [Birmingham Small Arms Company – brand of bicycle], brand new, with pump, oil lamp and lock. Pretty good and very useful. They get rough treatment out here, though.

Arose at 7:30 a.m., lazily dressed and went up to breakfast. Spent the morning writing to Mrs Slinger and the bank. My Bearer just came in and put a wreath of flowers around my neck. Apparently, it is an Easter custom. Went to 6:00 p.m. service at the Methodist Church, East Parade [Bangalore]. It has a school attached and all the girls, in white with blue hat bands, were the choir.

  Woke as usual and tests in MR, Urdu, Morse. Work is now over, and we have another brief rest. Time is passing fairly quickly and soon I shall be getting old. Took it easy until 5:00 p.m. when I played soccer for the Company; we lost 4-0; one toe hurts. Afterwards, I was too tired to go out, so had a bath, changed and went to the Mess. Tried to post Ruth’s sandals, but they, the GPO, said they must be in a box or cloth wrappings. Retired early.

  Arose at 7:30 a.m., strolled up to breakfast at 8:45 a.m. One hot cross bun. Now writing letters home to Renée, H.J. Gallagher (who later lost a leg as an Air Force pilot) and Did. Took it easy all day. Had very little lunch and hired a cycle in the afternoon to look around the place. Went to GPO and posted a few letters. Found a Methodist Church fairly near the lines. It didn’t seem like Good Friday, somehow. Easter is generally a nice holiday in England, everything is so fresh and green. Did a spot of work in the evening and retired early. Received a letter from home and one from Renée dated 20 February. These letters are very cheering.

  Up at 6:30 a.m., feeling better, but not too fit. Drill first; very strenuous. Then Morse, Law, Urdu and WT. Went to voluntary Morse at 3:15 p.m. Had very little lunch; have no desire for food, which is strange. Spot of trouble with dhobi [laundryman] who has lost two pairs of socks. Heard a few times from London. Had Company inspection this morning; seems to be a waste of time when we hear of retreat in Yugoslavia and Greece. I can see a monkey from my window as I write. Have to get ready for voluntary Urdu soon. Went to the Mess, ate small dinner and, once again, the best part of the day, bed. (Aged 19 years).

Still feeling rotten, but got through PT, drill and WT. Had no lunch, but spent free time lying down. Another day and Good Friday to rest. Had letter from home dated 10 February 1941. Two months old, but a tonic. It cheered me a good deal to hear all about it. Had a little supper and retired to my net to write this and read Urdu. Wrote to Imperial Bank. Retired early; cannot stay up late now.

Got up early as usual, still feeling rotten. PT was another effort, but luckily consisted of a lecture on leadership. Another three periods of FC tramping along; feet feel like hundredweights [112 lb or 51 kg]. Jolly glad to finish. Had a little soup, nothing else. Trouble is one needs to eat out here, Night Operations to begin and we paraded at 7:00 p.m. to march out to the Plain; would have enjoyed it if well and not tired out. Played soccer yesterday and cut my knee; ground like iron. Mosquitoes still feeding.

  A new week begins, but I dread it. I feel rotten around the stomach. had a little Force [brand of cereal] for breakfast; don’t feel like eating at all. Every period is an effort. Three periods of FC on ‘Agony’ Plain nearly finished me; mouth absolutely dry and parched. Had a little soup for lunch; practically living on water – about 12 pints a day at least. Doesn’t do any good coming back wet through and drinking a quart of cold water, but one cannot help it.

Stayed in bed until 7:45 a.m. enjoying the rest. I felt better, but not like eating. Had tea and fries for breakfast. Wrote home and to Renée. Went to voluntary Morse. Very tired and feeling devoid of energy. Had a rest in the afternoon hoping to feel better by Monday. Went to church in the evening with Johnson, quite a nice service. Returned, went to Mess, had a little soup and went to bed fagged out.

Started the day feeling pretty rotten, I was stiff from PT and FC and ached all over. After Urdu, Morse and drill we went out to ‘Agony’ Plain on FC, having to make a map of our route which we gave to a person who went out another way and who had to get back by our map. I had another attack of Bangalore Belly [diarrhoea] in the afternoon. I lay on the bed until 5:00 p.m., had nothing to eat and went to the cinema to see ‘Trail of the Vigilantes’. Had a pint of beer, which made me feel better and went to bed completely tired out. Thankful for tomorrow.