Page 211 - Leadership in the Indian Army

posting, he was struck off the strength of 3rd Cavalry and transferred to the
Indian Signal Corps, which now became his parent arm.
Raj reached Jhansi, where 10 Infantry Brigade was located in early May

1940. He reported to the Commander, Brigadier (later Field Marshal and
Chief of Imperial General Staff) ‘Bill’ Slim. Raj’s first impression of the
great soldier was of a man with a strong, determined jaw, but with kind eyes
above a closely clipped moustache. Slim gave Raj the welcome news that
Army HQ had approved his promotion to Captain, and he could take over
the brigade signal section from the reservist British officer who was then in
command. Slim also told him that they would be sailing for the Middle East

in about two months. When Raj assumed command of the brigade signal
section, it comprised one-third British and two-thirds Indian Other Ranks
(IORs). He soon discovered that the section was to be Indianised, and only
three British non-commissioned officers (NCOs)—one sergeant, one lance
sergeant and one corporal—were to remain. In addition, their equipment
was to be ‘modernised’. The No. 1 wireless sets were to be replaced with

No. 5 sets, the D-3 telephones with D-5, and the old magneto exchange
with one with lights. Raj had to train his men, now almost all Indians, on
the new equipment, in just 60 days. It was a daunting task, but Raj was
young and brimming with confidence. He had a good second-in-command,
and with the help of the British NCOs, they were able to finish up in good
shape, after working day and night for two months.
When the brigade entrained for Bombay, Raj’s parents were there to see

him off. Having lost four children, his mother was inconsolable at the
thought of her now eldest son going to war. Bill Slim spoke to his parents
and reassured them that Raj would be safe. (After his father’s death, when
Raj was sorting out his papers, he found that Slim had written to his parents
regularly, informing them of his progress and well-being.) In early July
1940, they embarked at Bombay and set sail for the Middle East. They

disembarked at Port Sudan, having suffered a few air raids by enemy
aircraft during the voyage. From Port Sudan, the brigade went by train to
Gedaref, where HQ 5 Indian Division had already arrived. Raj met the CO
of the divisional signal regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Morgan, and
then proceeded with his brigade to a place about 11 miles away, just short of
Gallabat which was held by the Italians. Shortly afterwards, the brigade
launched an attack on Gallabat. Preceded by a heavy bombardment, the

attack took place in the early hours of the morning, and the Italians were