Chapter 9: FIRST COMMAND

In my section there was one white sergeant, a batman groom for me and the rest were all Indians from the sub continent. Heading them was a Havildar (Sergeant), next a Niak (Corporal) and about twenty drivers, generally referred to as Jungle Wallahs. In the Section there were four limber GS Wagons, each drawn by four miles, two abreast, with a driver riding on each near side mule. We had one mess cart, a one-horse affair, carrying our bedding and rations plus two or three tarpaulins for shelter. The three NCO's, my batman groom and I all rode horses, shaggy unkempt steeds, they had seldom known any shelter that early spring of 1918.

In order to help in communication, I asked my sister who was married to a District Commissioner in India's Central Provinces and fairly fluent in Hindustani, to send me a dozen needy sentences in their language. To this day I remember such phrases as "Hidderau" (come here), "Decco" (look at that), and "Gildi Jau" (go quickly). I liked this, my first command in the field.

My Section had to have special rations, a concession dating back to peace agreements following the Indian Mutiny in the 1850's. They drank a lot of tea and about once a week they were given a live sheep, which they butchered themselves following a religious ritual. They weren't supposed to eat beef but did when in a pinch!