REUNIONS – THEN AND NOW

REUNIONS – THEN AND NOW

By

Maj Gen VK Singh

The custom of holding reunions goes back several centuries. Reunions are held by educational institutions, religious sects, social organisations etc., but nowhere is it as popular as in the military. Like other regiments of the Indian Army the Corps of Signals also follows this tradition.  Reunions enable comrades-in-arms to renew past associations and revive old memories.  It is also an occasion to recall the sacrifices and pay homage to those who laid down their lives to that the present generation could live in peace.  The ‘Spirit of the Reunion’ has been aptly described by an old signaller in the following words:-

But the essence of a Re-Union of this nature is the spirit of comradeship which inspires the whole gathering. Two distinct generations, as it were, meet on a common plane. The old soldiers bring with them a treasure of experience and tradition; the younger generation who have stepped into their shoes are anxious to maintain a high standard of discipline and heroism set up by the older generation.

 The first reunion of the Indian Signal Corps was organized by Northern Command at Rawalpindi in March 1931.  The next reunion was held in 1932 at Jubbulpore (now called Jabalpur), which has since then been the venue of all subsequent reunions.  In 1936, a grand reunion was held to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Corps, which was attended by the ‘Father of the Corps, Major General S.H. Powell, who came from England.  Detailed accounts of these and all post-Independence reunions have been given in the Signalman, and these will not be repeated. However, in view of the Corps Centenary which is to be celebrated in 2011 being close at hand, it is worthwhile to study how our forbears celebrated the reunion two or three generations earlier. For the purpose of this study, the first reunion held after Independence has been selected. This has been made possible from records obtained from the Corps Museum for the production of the third volume of the Corps history, which is due to be published shortly. The file containing these records was compiled by Brigadier Terence Barreto, the Corps Historian par excellence, who was largely responsible for organizing the reunion. Thanks to his meticulous record-keeping, more information about the planning and preparations of the 1950 reunion exist than of those held afterwards.

The first post-war reunion was held in 1950 at Jubbulpore. The previous reunion having been held 14 years earlier, information about the administrative arrangements made at that time was scanty. In early 1949 approval of Army HQ was obtained for holding the first post-war reunion of the Corps in February 1950. Though instructions for the reunion were issued by Signals Directorate, detailed planning for the event was done by the STC. In mid 1949, the Commandant, Colonel Apar Singh, was promoted brigadier and posted as CSO Southern Command. The responsibility for organizing the reunion devolved on the Deputy Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel T. Barreto, who was promoted colonel and appointed Commandant.  The reunion was originally planned to be held in February but was subsequently postponed to March 1950. About two weeks before the reunion, Apar Singh returned to his old appointment as Commandant, in the rank of colonel. In the event, Barreto had to drop his rank and revert to his appointment of Deputy Commandant, in the rank of lieutenant colonel.

General K.M. Cariappa, O.B.E, the C-in-C and Colonel Commandant of the Corps, agreed to attend the reunion and all preparations were made accordingly. The reunion had many unique features, which deserve mention. There were no less than four conferences, on different dates – the Subedar Majors’ Conference, the Unit Commanders’ Conference, the CSOs/Commandants’ Conference and the Signals Committee Meeting. The Inter Command (Signals) Championships were held in hockey, football, basket ball, volley ball, and rifle and pistol shooting. Other events that took place during the week, from 6 to 11 March were concerts (Pollard Arena and Herdon Arena); equipment demonstration (Hugh Rose Barracks); baby show (Child Welfare Centre); pagal gymkhana (Parade Ground); athletic meet (Copeland Ground); cinema show (Delite Cinema); dance (Nerbudda Club); bara khana (unit lines); JCOs’ guest night (JCOs Mess) and the Corps Dinner (Officers Mess). In addition, there were visits to various institutions, group photographs and informal interactions between the guests attending the reunion.

Invitations for the reunion were sent to 105 pensioners and ex-servicemen, after dividing them into three categories – those who had been discharged before 1931; those discharged between 1931 and 1939 (with decorations) and those discharged after 1939 (with decorations). Finally, 80 pensioners and ex-servicemen attended the reunion. General Cariappa was to arrive on 8 March and return to Delhi on 10 March. He was to be accompanied by Brigadier W.W. Loring, the military attaché in the British High Commission in Delhi, and other members of his staff. Due to a national emergency, the C-in-C’s programme was cancelled a day before his arrival. In his absence, the SO-in-C, Brigadier C.H.I Akehurst, CBE, presided over the functions.

The officers who attended the reunion were Brigadiers A.C. Iyappa,  B.D. Kapur and B.S. Bhagat; Colonels S.N Bhatia, P.N. Luthra and  J.N. Shahani; Lieutenant Colonels K.S. Goolry, S.S Bedi, S.R Khurana, E.G. Pettengell, M.B.K Nair, Karam Singh, S.S Choudhary, A. Mehra, and D.C Barnet; Majors N.J. Sethi, S.K. Batra, K.S. Garewal, V.G. Sowani, Rattan Singh, H.L. Pandit, J.V. Pinto, B.D. Bhardwaj, N.S. Mathur, and P.N.V. Atmaram; Captains Harichand, Ram Chand Singh, Balbir Singh, M.D Rana, B.S Bawa, Gurdial Singh, R.C. McKennzie, Panchannandan, M.S Pavri, Tej Singh Gurung, M.H Manekji and N.C Ray; Lieutenants M.S Sodhi and N. Ray; and Second Lieutenants S.N Bhatia, O, Prasad and Thawar Singh. These were in addition to the officers posted at the STC viz. Colonel Apar Singh, Lieutenant Colonels T. Barreto, R.N. Sen, B.K. Khardenavis, A..K. Kapur and K.D. Bhasin; Majors B.R Sharma, Shamboo Singh, R.S Tiwana, M.S Dhillon, D. Dwarkadas, Sahib Singh, Puran Singh, Brij Lal, B. Sheshamani and H.S Kler; and Captains Harbans Singh, Parshan Singh, N.P Shepherd and B.K. Patole.

Among the prominent JCOs who attended the reunion were Subedar Majors (Honorary Captains) Chajja Singh Sardar Bahadur O.B.I., R. Panchannadan Bahadur O.B.I., Mohd. Shahab Khan Sardar Bahadur O.B.I. and Teja Singh Gurung;  Subedar Majors Narain Singh Bahadur O.B.I., M.B.E., A.D.C., Joginder Singh Bahadur, O.B.I., M.B.E., R. Seshachalam M.B.E. and Shiv Singh Bahadur, O.B.I.; Subedars Ahmed Badsha, G.Moses, M.B.E., Asa Ram Bahadur O.B.I., I.D.S.M. and  D. Narayana Swami Bahadur O.B.I.; and Jemadars Gulaba and  A. George I.D.S.M.

On the face of it, the reunion appears to have been organised on a lavish scale. In fact, it was an example of austerity, meticulous planning and attention to detail. Signals Directorate had decreed that the total expenditure on the Reunion Week was not to exceed to Rs. 10,000/-. One way rail fare of all pensioners was paid by the Government. The return fare was paid from the Indian Signals Reunion Fund. All pensioners were provided free messing and accommodation at Jubbulpore. Retired officers had to pay only for items consumed from the bar. However, serving officers had to pay for messing, accommodation, bearers, dhobi charges and hot water for baths and shaving.

Due to shortage of accommodation, it had been decided that senior officers will be accommodated in the Nerbudda Club. For the rest, officers posted at the STC were encouraged to accommodate as many guests as they could. Circuit House No. 1 was reserved for the C-in-C, his staff, and Brigadier Loring, the British Military Attaché in Delhi. Subsequently, thanks to good liaison with the local civil authority Circuit House No 2 and the Rest House were also made available. The Sub Area Commander, Brigadier K.K. Verma, also agreed to put up a few officers. Brigadier Akehurst, Brigadier Kapur, Captain Manekji, Colonel Chukerbuti and Colonel Shahani were allotted a room each in the Circuit House No 2. Brigadiers Choudhary and Bhagat and Colonels Batra and Bhatia were to stay in the Flag Staff House. Eight lieutenant colonels were to share the four rooms in the Rest House with the ninth one staying in the Annexe. 36 officers, which included some lieutenant colonels, were accommodated in the single officers’ quarters attached to the STC Officers Mess, most of them sharing a room.

In view of the shortage of accommodation, about 20 officers agreed to stay with married officers posted at the STC. Brigadier Iyappa was to stay with the Commandant, Colonel Apar Singh at 124 Neil Road; Colonel Luthra with Lieutenant Colonel Ghosh at the Nerbudda Club; Lieutenant Colonels Mehra and Nair with Lieutenant Colonel Sen at 4 Norris Road; Lieutenant Colonel Hazara Singh with Lieutenant Colonel Khardenavis at 8, The Mall; Major Pinto with Lieutenant Colonel Barreto at 2 Beach Avenue; Major Garewal and Major Sarin with Major Dhillon at 8 Theatre Road, and so on. Two pensioners had the pleasure of staying with their sons. Subedar Major Narain Singh stayed with his son Captain Hardev Singh and Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Chajja Singh with his son Captain H.S. Kler, who also had his brother, Captain S.S. Kler staying with him. .

Separate administrative instructions were issued for each complex where officers were to stay. These gave details of charges for rent, messing, bearers, haircuts, hot water for baths and shaving and so on. The charges for a suite in the circuit house and rest house were Rs. 2/4/- (two rupees four annas) per day, while in the rest house it was only Rs 2/-. In addition one had to pay 8 annas for lights and 12 annas for fans (if used). The charges for breakfast (eggs, toast, butter, coffee/tea) were Rs1/4/-; for lunch (soup, fish, meat, vegetable, bread, sweet, coffee) were Rs 3/-/-, for dinner (soup, fish, meat, bread, sweet, fruit, coffee) were Rs 3/4/-. A simpler meal, comprising just meat bread and sweet could be had for Rs 2/-/-. Presumably, there were no vegetarians, since no charges were specified for them. Those dining in the STC Mess were luckier – the messing charges were only Rs 3/10/- per day.

  One could get a haircut for one rupee and a shave for four annas. Hot water for baths was available at four annas.   The dhobi charges were four annas for large items, two annas for small items and one anna for kerchiefs and socks. Since fabrics such as terylene and terycot had still not been invented, everyone wore cottons or woollens. As veterans will recall, OG uniforms were starched, which crumpled after being worn once. It was not uncommon for officers to change uniforms twice or thrice in a day. To carry the dozen odd pairs of uniform, mess kit, dinner jacket, and lounge suits, one had to use a heavy steel trunk, in addition to the bedding roll or holdall. Of course, one also had to pay for the bearer, who was often shared by two or more officers. Many officers brought their own servants or orderlies, for whom accommodation was arranged. Each retired JCO was provided a batman by the unit in which he was staying.

The total transport available was six staff cars, seven station wagons, 40 X 15 cwt trucks and 30 X 3-tonners. This included transport pooled from other units and allotted by the sub area headquarters. This had to be used for transportation of stores, equipment and personnel. A large number of vehicles were needed to move furniture, tentage, PA equipment, band and working parties from one venue to the other, leaving hardly any for the guests, which included serving personnel and pensioners. As a result, even senior officers had to share the available staff cars and stations wagons. Brigadiers Akehurst, Iyappa, Kapur and Bhagat had a staff car each; Colonel Batra shared a station wagon with Colonel Luthra; Mrs. Akehurst travelled in the same station wagon as Colonel and Mrs. Shahani and Major and Mrs. Rattan Singh. Almost all officers of the rank of lieutenant colonel and below and their wives were transported to various functions in 15 cwt trucks, after being collected from pre-determined assembly points in the vicinity of their place of residence. 

Interestingly, after his arrival at Dumna Airfield on 8 March 1950, General Cariappa was to move to the Circuit House in a jeep. For the supper at Flag Staff House that evening followed by the Dance at the Nerbudda Club, he would have travelled in a staff car. Next morning, he was to travel from the Circuit House to the Parade Ground in a jeep, accompanied by the Sub Area Commander. While inspecting the parade, he was to travel in another open jeep fitted with hand rests to enable him to stand. After the parade he was to meet pensioners at the parade ground, then move back to the Circuit House for breakfast. He was then scheduled to move to a site near Hugh Rose barracks for a photograph with officers; then to Block No 14 Roberts barracks for a photograph with pensioners; then to HQ STC for the Corps Committee Meeting, then to the Boys Regiment where he was to attend a bara khana. In the afternoon he was to attend the STC athletic meet and At Home, followed by the Corps Dinner in the evening at the STC Officers Mess. He was to depart for Delhi next morning by air. For all functions during the day when he was in uniform, the C-in-C preferred to travel in a jeep rather than a staff car.

For events being held outdoors such as the ceremonial parade and athletic meet, it was ruled that no shamianas will be put up and only available tentage will be used. The MES agreed to give about 400 chairs and these were to be supplemented by those available in the STC. No sofa sets were to be taken on hire. Tea and lemonade were the only refreshments to be served during the pagal gymkhana and athletic meet, under arrangements of M/s Salig Ram & Co.,  the STC contractor. For the bara khana units were sanctioned additional funds to purchase extra rations. The amounts sanctioned were Rs 300/- for the MTR, Rs 600/- for the TTR, Rs 150 for the Boys Regiment and Rs 75 for the Depot and Demob Company.

               One reason for the austerity displayed during the reunion was the personality of the Colonel Commandant, General Cariappa, whose dislike for ostentation and expensive entertainment was well known. If he had attended the reunion as scheduled, there is little doubt that he would have been presented with a mess bill. Colonel Guman Singh, who was the Commandant of the Rajput Regimental Centre in 1951-53, related an interesting story to the author about Cariappa’s fetish for mess bills. Cariappa, who was also Colonel of the Rajput Regiment, once visited Fatehgarh for a regimental function. After his visit, his ADC asked for a mess bill. When the Mess Secretary declined, on the plea that the C-in-C and Colonel of the Regiment was an honoured guest, he was told very firmly about the C-in-C’s orders in this regard. If he was invited to a mess party, or in some officer's home, he would graciously accept the food and drinks offered by his hosts. But all expenses incurred at his place of stay would be paid by him. Colonel Guman Singh knew Cariappa, as well as his temper. He immediately had a mess bill prepared, which was promptly paid. According to him, if Cariappa had come to know that he was refused a mess bill, the Rajput Centre would have got a new Commandant.

           

               During Cariappa’s visit to the Centre, the Army Commander, Lieutenant General Thakur Nathu Singh, who was also from the Rajput Regiment and Colonel Guman Singh’s father-in-law, was also present. There is a similar story about General Nathu Singh that is worth recounting.  In 1946, Nathu Singh was a colonel, posted as DDPS in the AG’s Branch, which was then located at Meerut. He was close to the C-in-C, General Claude Auchinleck, also known as the Auk. Once, the Auk called Nathu Singh to Delhi, where he stayed with him in the C-in-C’s house (the present Teen Murti). When the time came for Nathu Singh to leave, he asked the ADC for the bill for the drinks he had while staying in the C-in-C's house. The ADC told him to talk to the C-in-C himself, which he did. The Auk said: "Don't be silly, Nathu. You are my guest." To this Nathu Singh replied: "Sir, I wish I had known this earlier. I would have had a few more drinks."    

Old timers will readily recall many such instances when senior officers insisted on paying for hospitality during official functions. The author himself remembers an incident during the Corps Committee Meeting held in Mhow in April 1972. Major General S.N. Antia, who was then Chairman of the Canteen Stores Department, was also present. When he was leaving, he asked for a mess bill. The LO, Captain M.K. Gandhi, told him that no bill was to be given. General Antia then reportedly rang up the Commandant and asked him whether he was still a member of the HQ Mess. On getting an answer in the affirmative, he wanted to know how he could be treated as a guest in his own mess! After this, orders were issued for a mess bill to be prepared. Realising that no one had kept an account, General Antia himself pulled out a small piece of paper on which he had written the number of drinks and cigarettes he had consumed.  The bill was made out and promptly paid.

To the present generation of signallers, the above accounts may appear fanciful. However, it cannot be denied that our outlook towards hospitality and the manner of celebrating regimental functions has changed with time. Perhaps there is a need to introspect and reappraise this important subject, which is closely related to esprit-de-corps. There is no reason why some of the practices followed during the 1950 reunion, such as officers staying with colleagues as house guests, sharing transport, keeping the bill of fare simple etc. cannot be emulated even today. There is also a need to have a relook at the propriety of hiring professional artistes to perform at such functions. At one time, concerts, plays and variety entertainment programmes were performed entirely by Signals personnel or members of their families. Though the standard was probably not as good as that of professionals, the spectators rarely complained. It is hoped that the Centenary Cell will give a thought to these points, while planning the programme for the celebration in 2011.

(Some of the information about the 1950 reunion will form part of the chapter on Regimental Institutions in Volume 3 of the History of the Corps of Signals, presently under production. The anecdotes about Generals Cariappa and Nathu Singh have been taken from their biographies, which form part of the Author’s book “Leadership in the Indian Army – Biographies of Twelve Soldiers”, published in 2005)