REMINISCENCES OF A SOLDIER: 95 NOT OUT ( PART 7 )

 

" I also recall that both 4 & 5 Indian Divisions were there. In fact 10 Brigade belonged to 5 Indian Division.

We dug up defences in & around Cyprus.We made tunnels too.I fondly remember the people of Cyprus.They were tall & handsome people.And a handsome is that handsome does.All villagers around the town had vacated their ground floors for us.They looked after us as their own families.For all of us they were like angels-perfect hosts & perfect people.Their children had mixed with us as part of a larger family.It was a home away from a home.

As we parted after a little more than six months,it was a tearful parting.We had nothing to give them as gifts.May their tribe increase !

We were transported  in various types of ships in the Mediterranean Sea cutting almost South West towards Alexandria.We disembarked at night.

Again miles & miles of travel at night by military transport/on foot.We were deployed between the Qattara Depression & dunes due West of Cairo.We were now part of 4 Indian Division.

On the El Alamein front, in Aug or September 1942, we heard that  General  Montgomery had taken over command of 8 Army-our Army. Earlier , he had commanded 3 Division & had taken part in the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940.

One day while we were cleaning our rifles with a few sentries on alert status, we saw a small fixed wing plane landing very close to us.It stopped barely 100 metres from us .Apart from the pilots who continued to stay inside the cockpit, we saw three  officers walking towards us.I knew that they were British Officers.I was the senior most person present.

I made the entire Squad to take position &
do stand to.Lo & Behold ! - here  was a four star General wearing a big beret that had  a number of formation signs/insignia fixed upon it- standing right opposite me. He returned my salute smartly.

Having served for so many years with British officers ,I could easily & surely guess that he was the  Army Commander.

Yes, he was ! Our singular fortune to host Lt Gen Bernard Law Montgomery-our 8 Army Commander. An average looking man of medium height ,totally unassuming &
of a thin build -but with a perpetual smile on his wrinkled face.

My hand did not come down as I had never dreamt of standing so close to my Army Commander.He came much closer,shook hands with me & patted me on my back.He asked for every one to come close to him.He met every one & shook hands.And then the  best thing happened.

Looking at me he asked  " Can you give me some tea?"

We were elated. Our Army Commander had tea with us in enamel mugs.

Easily that was our proudest moment especially  when he said " SHABBAS-SHABBAS-KEEP IT UP".

Till the little plane disappeared,all of us asked each other " Was it a dream?" )

A great Leader he was -the chief architect of Allied Victory - later known as the  Montgomery of Alamein. 

Our victory over Axis Forces in El Alamein turned the tide in North Africa & was followed by expulsion of Rommel from Egypt & rapid advance into Tunisia.
(Much later we came to know that out of the few Hindi words that he knew, one was "SHABBAS"- meaning Shabash.And,he pronounced it that way !! )

(To Be Continued