During my service in the Military I was to be Posted to a quite important Railway Station called Jamalpur, in Bihar. It was early May 1942 and our Unit was transported to a wooded area to set up Camp. Four of us shared a 1201b. tent and after erecting same in the late evening we turned in to sleep as we were shattered. The ground was to be our resting place for a time until wire framed beds were received. Of course the inevitable happened: a storm hit us on the first night and we were nearly washed away. We hadn't had the energy to dig a trench around the tent; this being the most important procedure after the erection of a tent. I remember waking, and with disbelief seeing 'Taffy' suspended against a tent wall which he was trying to hold in place! However, we dried out the next day. Our task at this scrub jungle site was to build roads and erect accommodation for Stores, and Ammunition would be placed in the forested hill area, with the help of local native labour.

A Headquarters was built near the town and Stores were housed in an area at the south outskirts near a railway line. Work was fairly hectic through the humid hot (up to 113F at times) Summer as supplies were urgently needed in Assam for the Burma Campaign. A number of us suffered from Prickly Heat rashes and sores in other parts, that is, mainly in the 'Crutch' area. Calamine lotion was liberally used! .Our spare time was fully used with various diversions; for example football. Three of our Unit were invited to play for the Railway Institute team in an annual tournament. Fancy playing games in these hot and humid conditions, we must have needed our brains examining. But we were very young and could take a lot of punishment! It was a bit cooler in the late evening when we played.

The Railway Institute was a 'Godsend' and we were to discover its joys quite soon. On Saturdays a dance was held. The Musicians who entertained us were a small family of Philippinos; very nice people. These dances were well attended and we found the company most friendly and agreeable. We were given invitations to Dinner and made many friends here. One of our chaps even married into the community and I was later, many years later to meet him in my local Library in London. Of course we got together on occasions to reminisce with him and his wife. I, through an old school member (who I have already mentioned) was introduced to several members of the Railway Colony. I got to like the people and always received friendly treatment. I was fortunate even to get on closer terms with a very lovely blond girl (who had recently come down from her school in the Hills) I was to meet Pamela in Calcutta a few years later where she was training to become a nurse.

The European Railway Institute (the Indians had their own Institute) was a fairly comprehensive Club of a good standard. The facilities were: Swimming Pool and Tennis Courts and some Courts for Badminton. Inside the Club was a good size Hall used as a Cinema and on Dance nights the chairs were cleared to the sides and some tables set up. Also 'Housie Housie' (Bingo) and Whist games were also played here. Next to this was a very well furnished 'Cocktail' Bar for the Ladies... .or anyone for that matter. Through to a Library and Reading room. The Billiards room also had its own Bar, all the necessary Wash rooms and Lavatory's were included in the building. Many happy hours were spent at this Institute and many friends made. There was just one snag and that was the long walk back to the original Camp. One night my torch picked out a snake, which one of us almost trod on. It was curled up between one of the railway sleepers on the line. Of course on our approach it was on the attack so with a swipe from the cane I was carrying (our Camp Orders advised everyone to carry canes) it was despatched. The snake was a Banded Krait and I took it back to Camp and laid it out on a table for the night meaning to remove its skin the next day. The next morning I was not very popular because a couple of our tent mates were not able to sleep!

Our working life at Jamalpur was quite hectic. Some civilian girls were taken on to work as office clerks; this did make working hours more pleasant. Our spare time was well employed and enjoyed due in very big part to the way we were accepted and entertained by the civil population and of course the many facilities the Railway Institute provided. My eight months in Jamalpur were happy and I could write much more about the Colony but I have other Stations to mention.

Later, during 1944 I was to do fleeting trips to Mohuda, Gomoh and Ranchi. The latter town being famous for an Asylum for the Insane. At Gomoh on an evening visit to the Railway Institute dance, I met the family of a chap called Healy who had been in Assam with me. I was, therefore a centre of interest, for a short while as his family wanted news of their son who they thought might be too close to the Japanese Army! I also attended a dance, by invitation from the Hendersons who were related to some old friends of ours in Delhi. This was at the Railway Institute in Howrah (Calcutta). Here again the Railway people were most kind and entertaining.

Outside Dhanbad the land was rich in Coal so this area of Bihar was mainly a Mining place. Employing thousands of Natives who had a fairly miserable and poor life. The Climate was not very healthy and many natives suffered from Elephantiasis and other complaints. Mining Engineers there were of course, to run the business and the man I mentioned earlier, Bertie was one. His home which I visited was outside Dhanbad and his Club, a very fine affair, at a place called Kulti. The Club members made us Military types welcome. I will never forget the evening I went to Bertie's place for Dinner. On arrival I was received by Della and her Mother. Bertie was not present yet; apparently he had gone with a railway chum called Bowen (who incidentally I had met some years earlier up in the Hills) after a reported Leopard 'Kill'. After we had been chatting for forty minutes or so Bertie and his friend arrived looking a bit ruffled. Bowen had a couple of nasty scratches on his face and the left sleeve of his jacket had been torn loose. The report goes that the said Leopard was on its 'Kill' and took fright when the Shikaris approached. The animal made a dash to escape and Bowen was in its way so it knocked him down and escaped: he was severely shaken but not badly injured. However, he was a hospital case for anti Tetanus injections to stave off blood poisoning because of the bad scratches. I believe a few stitches were also necessary. Anyway, after the incident had our full attention we carried on and enjoyed our dinner.

Asansol, quite near to Dhanbad is also an important Railway Colony; I was able to go there only once, to the Cinema and some shopping before our long trip to Imphal. Though I have passed through the station many times going to, or away from Calcutta.

In retrospect I can honestly say that I found the Railway Community people most interesting and pleasurable to meet and socialise with. Of course I had to report my findings to some of the intolerant (perhaps even ignorant) groups I had grown up with in Delhi and Simla!