( WITH THE VETERAN)
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" We disembarked at Aden & were permitted to visit the local market.After two days we again embarked Kala Ghoda & headed for Port Sudan.The troops left the ship & thereafter there were endless days spent moving up & down the deserts & hostile terrains of North Eritrea,Khartoum,El Obeid, Kassala,Atbora,Wodi Halfa & then all along the River Nile up to Cairo.
General Wavell who was later our C in C in India was a great Commander.He loved Indian Army.Our Western Desert Force Commander was Lt Gen Connor who had 4 Indian Division under his command.In addition he also had an Armoured Division & other forces.
We captured thousands of Italian PWs and their tanks & guns.
Nearby, Australians & New Zealanders had also fought very well.
Hitler had in the meantime attacked Greece & Crete.
We were ordered to move towards Greece Front.When the force level fell down in our area,Rommel under orders of Hitler landed at Tripoli with his Afrika Korps.
Although the Iraq crisis did not deplete Wavell's Forces,we now became part of a major attack on Lebanon & Syria.
I was young & I did not understand the planning at the highest level.However, one thing was clear. Wavell appeared to have been sacked & he was replaced by Auchinleck.
So for us as true soldiers, it was like a Merry Go Around.We kept on moving all over.I still remember that we had procured small pieces of silver from Addis Ababa (Abyssinia).
Time was flying away.Months seemed like days as we had no time to think about ourselves. We could eat any thing,wear any thing & sleep anywhere ! There, I realized limits of the human potential & the extremes that one could go to .World War had got stretched.
We used to hear about Americans using latest weapons, airplanes, vehicles,ships & technology.
Lots of our fellow comrades had been killed & wounded.
We were still together as an invincible Team !
It was one day in the evening that we were told that 10 Brigade would go to Cyprus.
( To Be Continued)
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