HMT Nevasa sailing into Bombay harbour

The surrounding Kumain hills were ideal for hiking or, to use the term that a soldier of the 42nd would more readily have recognised, Khud walks (Khud being Hindi for ravine). This was very much a regimental institution with associated paraphernalia such as Khud walking sticks and company dogs which accompanied the soldiers on their strolls. Before the monsoon broke there was the constant danger of Khud fires which in themselves were regarded as spectacles that broke the monotony. Also the period in the mountains would allow mountain warfare training camps to be held such as that at Hawal Bagh 1932.

Khud walking and Hawal Bagh mountain warfare camp


Meanwhile, back at base, in Meerut, hot weather regulations would be in force. These precautions would ensure that everyone would be indoors by 9am/10am and not be allowed out before 4pm. Any parade in-between times was restricted to those which could take place under cover. The temperature at 7pm would still be in excess of 38C.

Meerut barracks


At 12.30pm the company would sit down to a light meal with the troops clad in singlets and white shorts. The meal consisted of a "wine biscuit and a read of Thomson's Weekly". Between 1pm-5pm there wasn't a trace of life in the barracks. Activity started with the arrival of the heavy meal at the latter time and increased from this point on.

Meerut barracks

Kailana was a very small station in the north of the United Provinces, about 60 miles from Dehra Dun and 8000ft above sea level. The station was isolated and the hills considered to have particularly steep gradients. With other regiments there was room for 1000 men. It is recorded that 550 men of the 1st BW had the pleasure, in 1933, of spending 3 months here.

The first part of the journey from Meerut to Kailana was made by train to Dehra Dun. From here the trip uphill was by bus. All available units from Scottish Motor Tractors and Alexanders were commandeered to take the 42nd to Kalsi via Jumnipur. Kalsi rest camp lay in a perfect setting at the bottom of the thickly clad lower slopes of the Himalayas. Kalsi was also well known for its bat like mosquitoes.

The short cut and at the top of the short cut


All of the baggage would be offloaded from the buses on to A.T carts and then in the cool of the evening a route march was begun to Saiah. Saiah rest camp was besides an ice cold stream, which had its source in the Pindari glacier. An early start the next day brought the troops to the bottom of the infamous "Short Cut" - a narrow and very steep hill road leading to Kailana camp.

Saiah rest camp

There were two barracks here - the upper and lower lines - with one BW company in each. It was the cause of much humour for the troops to see a procession of tired and dusty officers arriving on parade from their mess 1000ft below.

Kailana barracks and Signal section at Kailana


As usual sport dominated the activities here along with Khud walks but there was unfortunately only one football pitch. Soldiering was again confined to route marches and musketry, which were often interrupted by torrential rain or made impossible by the terrain. Other amusements were few. The Bazaar was indifferent and the Soldiers Club many weary miles away which was made worse by the complete absence of the "tat".

Kailana bazaar and Kailana neck - between Chakrata and Kailana


Lebong was the final hill station to be visited by the 42nd following its move from Meerut to Barrackpore. The journey was made by rail in two stages. Firstly from the Racecourse Station Barrackpore to Siliguri where the kit was offloaded onto the small wagons of the Darjeeling and Himalayan railway. As the train wound its way up the mountainside men on the front of the engine would feed sand onto the rails so as to improve traction. Upon reaching Darjeeling the troops detrained and set off on a four mile march to Lebong with the kit being taken by the few small motors available.

Darjeeling and Himalayan railway

Lebong was a spectacular station lying in the shadow of Kinchinjunga and in sight of Everest. It possessed probably the highest racecourse in the world. There were no tents so all of the men were in barracks which had to be debugged using blow-lamps provided for the purpose. It also turned out to be the wettest of all stations.

Once more football was the main form of exercise and entertainment. The only pitch was also used for parades, polo and hockey. Apart from this Darjeeling was the attraction and could be reached by taxi, tat or on foot involving a still climb of 1000ft.


Darjeeling of course was tea-plantation country much to the chagrin of the officers as it meant less game available to be shot. However, it gave extra motivation to those on Khud walks as the planters frequently provided tea at their bungalows as well as pineapples in their orchards. The main outing in 11935 was a trip to the river Rangneet involving a 6000ft descent in six miles. The river was 1000ft above sea level spanned by the Manjitar Bridge leading to Sikkim.

For the 42nd as they headed from Lebong to Barrackpore on November 15th 1935 a sixteen year way of life was coming to an end. December 1936 saw them leaving for the Sudan and War was on the horizon. Indian independence followed and the British Army's occupation of the sub-continent was over.

Inside the barracks

Bibliography
Red Hackle 1921-26 and 1931-35

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