Soldiers and officers
From: The Tribune Chandigarh by Harwant Singh
THERE are strange and yet compelling bonds that bind together troops and their officers. Perhaps these are born out of shared experiences of hardships, dangers and risks, putting shoulders to the wheel, winning a well-contested match and the joys of camaraderie and espirit-de-corps. Equally, bonds are cemented through pranks and digs at each other or simply a hearty laugh at an absurd situation.
Our unit was equipped with British tanks called “Churchill.” It was fielded against the Germans in the Second World War and had taken its name from that redoubtable and dogged Britisher. Not only did the two, share a name but had many characteristics common to both. Like its name- sake it was big and heavy: tough as nuts and could withstand a lot of beating and give it back to the opponent in equal, if not in larger measure. At times the gun too looked like a big cigar. While one could put down large doses of brandy, the other was a great guzzler of high octane fuel.
So petrol was never in short supply in our regiment. There always was enough of it for cleaning the engine and other parts of the tank that seem to perpetually get greasy and sticky.
We were on annual field firing and were camping near Naraingarh. Our water trucks were of Second World War vintage and highly temperamental. Some time the truck would not start and if it did, the engine would just splutter and die down, or what we called, “race nahi pakarta.” When two, out of the total of four that we had, went “off road” there was acute shortage of water in the camp.
One evening, as we gathered in the officers mess tent for dinner, one of the young officers, who was officiating as squadron commander of the Sikh squadron, complained to the second-in-command of the regiment, regarding the water shortage in the camp. He went on to say that his men were washing their faces with petrol and even use it for ablutions during their trip to the loo.
On hearing this complaint, the second-in-command, a wizened old man and a veteran of the Second World War, had a hearty laugh and went on to narrate a story from North African campaign during the Great War. A young British officer, straight from the academy was posted to his squadron and placed in command of a tank. During a lull in the battle, the tank crew got down to brewing tea. As they sat around the stove, one of them distributed tea leaves which every one put in the mouth and swallowed the same. Though a bit perplexed, the officer did likewise. After this, sugar was distributed and the same sequence was repeated by all, including the officer. Then boiling hot water was passed around and every one dutifully and slowly drank the hot water. Seeing a look of bewilderment on the face of the officer, one of the men observed that, during battles tea is taken in this manner!
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