Usman Shabbir
10-09-2007, 06:08 AM
Got my Alumni (Lawrence College, Ghora Gali, Mureee) Newsletter today and pasting some material from it here for archive purpose.
For King and Country.
After his meteoric rise to power in 1939, Adolph Hitler decided to launch an offensive against Austria and Poland which drew England and the Empire into the Second World War. Over four hundred Gallians answered the call of King and Country and went to fight in all theatres of the war. Many were decorated for gallantry, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Military Cross. Thirteen (that we know of) fell in various parts of the world. Here are some of those who survived.
Brig. Charles Samuel Flanagan Carroll. M.C., O.B.E. Born in Calcutta Charles came from a family with a long tradition of service in the Indian Army. He was educated at Lawrence College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. At GG he participated in athletics; considered a top sprinter he also played football for the school. Commissioned into the Indian Army, on his return to India he first served as was the custom for young officers before joining their Indian Regiment, with the Worcestershire Regiment. He was then posted to the 4th/6th Ghurka Rifles with which he served almost continually for five years, apart for a short spell with the 56th Ghurka Rifles. He was admired by the Ghurkas for his calm and deliberate manner, his command of their language and his sense of fun and fair play. As an Army friend remarked of Carroll, "Nothing ever seemed to rattle Charles." He went with his battalion to Burma in 1944 and saw plenty of action there. In 1945 he led a bayonet charge at Mindegon, south of Mandalay in which he and his Ghurkas killed 80 Japanese soldiers which was considered a Divisional record. For this action he was awarded the M.C. After the war the 4th Battalion was disbanded and Carroll became adjutant of the 1st Battalion. On Indian independence he transferred to the British Army and two decades later while serving with the 1st/7th Ghurka Rifles in Borneo he captured a notable Indonesian guerrilla leader named Sumbi. One day his patrol came across a deserted camp fire in deep jungle and among the debris an observant rifleman noted a coffee tin label. Since the local tribes drank only tea, this alerted Carroll to the fact that an enemy group was in the vicinity. A methodical search lead him and his men to the stronghold of a Javanese leader called Sumbi where he was captured. On interrogation Sumbi told Carroll that the mission of his well equipped force was to destroy the Seria oil fields and to establish control of the population of Brunei Bay. After the capture of Sumbi his forces were on the run and had to hide in deep jungle where they faced near starvation. Carroll was not only an expert in jungle warfare, he was also a master of human psychology, by arranging medical care and other necessities for the local tribes he was able to develop friendly relations with them. In return he was given vital information about the movement of the enemy and was able to confront invasion parties and then ambush them when they fled back to their own territory. The Indonesians were using well trained troops and good intelligence and to avoid a full scale war with Indonesia it was essential to give the impression that this jungle warfare was nothing more than a 'confrontation' and, the British counter measures were merely defensive. In the event, to counter the Indonesian plans it was necessary for Carroll and his Ghurkas to cross the border and carry the 'confrontation' to the enemy. This he did with the utmost secrecy and an International scandal was avoided. Carroll later attended the Staff College and the Joint Services Staff College and was awarded the OBE. He retired to a village near Alton in Hampshire, wrote a novel based on his military experiences and died in 1991.
Brig. Anthony Albert Lumb. Pakistan Army. After graduating from the Chelmsford Training College (CTC) Anthony taught for one year and was then commissioned into the Royal Deccan Horse in June 1942. His unit was shipped to Burma as part of the Independent Tank Brigade which was launched at Meiktila to sever the Japanese lines of communication between Rangoon and Mandalay. During the fierce battle for Meiktila in March 1944, Anthony received a head wound from a grenade which landed behind him and he was evacuated to a hospital in India. In June 1945, having recovered, he was keen to rejoin his regiment which was preparing for a planned invasion of Malaya. Given ten days leave he hurried home to get married then, just as he was preparing to return to Rangoon he received orders to proceed to Babina near Jhansi as a senior instructor at the Armoured Corp. Tank Centre. On partition Anthony opted for Pakistan, when the Indian Army was broken up and helped transfer Military assets to Naushera, including tanks, vehicles and equipment, all loaded on special trains. Four specials were sent off safely and finally, having done his job, Anthony Lumb left India on the special carrying the families. This train made an unscheduled stop at Amritsa, the heart of rioting in the Panjab. Anthony and another officer got down onto the darkened platform to stretch their legs when they saw several Sikhs approaching them from one end of the platform. As they passed by the other officer whispered "They're turning." Expecting trouble they both turned too, but instead of trouble they were greeted with a shout of joy from the Sikhs who had recognised Anthony from the Royal Deccan Horse and threw their arms round him. They thought that he had come to rejoin the Regiment which was stationed in Amritsa at the time and he had a hard job convincing them that he was the officer in charge of the train heading for Pakistan and would not be returning to the Regiment. In 1948 he was fighting the Indians in Kashmir. He would in years to come fight them again as a Brigadier in the 1965 war.
Air Vice Marshall. S. A. Yousuf. (S. J. Joseph) Pakistan Air Force.
Steve, a fine athlete and sportsman left the College to join the Royal Indian Air Force during the Second World War. Having opted for Pakistan in 1947, as a Squadron Commander he helped transfer aircraft from India to Pakistan. His task was not without incident. He found that all the planes had been tampered with and it was with great difficulty and at great risk to his pilots and himself that they were brought across the border safely. During a distinguished career he served as Deputy Chief of the Air Force and rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshall.
Liut. Gen. Bahadur Sher. Pakistan Army. A friend of Steve Joseph and know as 'One spud Two gravy,' Bahadur Sher decided early in life on an Army career and when WW2 broke out he enlisted. At College he showed qualities of leadership and his teachers were of the opinion that he would go a long way; and he did. He was a fine athlete and sportsman and in his final year he was appointed a Prefect. He was an easy going lad with a great sense of humour which endeared him to everyone. During the war he was sent overseas and took part in many operations and was awarded the MC for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. Later in life he rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Pakistan Army and held many command positions. Being a Pathan for whom Palau, Chicken Tikka, Lamb roasts and Naan 'Kawab' were the order of the day, his knick name came from his distaste of GG food. He would take one look at the 'jhits' which passed for meat and say. "I'll have one spud and two spoons of gravy."
The War years at GG.
The staff during these years were as follows. Principal Cannon W. F. Cotton, Vice Principal & Head of the CTC Mr A. S. Collier, Headmistress Girls School Miss E. Waddel, Headmistress Junior School Miss N. Glegg, Headmaster Boys School Mr E. Munrowd. Inter. College and CTC Mr H. L. Edwards (although he was called up as a reserve officer for part of the war), Rev. W. J. Toop, Mr A. S. Thurley, Mr H. R. Smith and Chaudhry Abdul Hamid. Boys School Mr P. O'Lin, Mr L. V. Pushong, Rev. A. H. Rogers (Joined up as an Air Force Chaplain, taken prisoner of war in Singapore and used to look out for any Old Gallians), Mrs Eyre Walker, Mr Sardarilal Chopra, Mr J. E. Anderson, Mr D. Gorey, Mr J. Walsh, Mr Pareira, Mrs A. Anderson (Matron) and Mrs Bedell (Matron). Girls School Miss Cockhill, Miss N. Smythe, Miss M. J. Axford, Mrs Mylcrist (Matron) and Mrs Stevens. Junior School Miss Ayre Walker, Miss J. Clarke, Mrs Montgomery (Matron, later Boys School) and Mrs Weatherall (Matron)
Although generally, it was 'routine as usual' we were reminded by new activities that there was a war on. There were blackouts from dusk to dawn, wood and coal rationing and fire and air raid drills and the rationing of some foodstuffs. To assist with the war effort an economy campaign began and in 1941 the Principal, Cannon W. F. Cotton, had this to say. "The Government of the Punjab is inaugurating an economy campaign, not because there is any particular virtue attached to gloom and discomfort, but because it is virtually necessary that all available money should be devoted to the prosecution of the war. Suggested ways in which economy can be practiced which concern this estate are:-
(a) Expensive entertainments should be avoided. This is not intended to act as a check upon friendly entertainment and hospitality.
(b) Expenditure on luxuries such as tobacco and alcohol may be reduced.
(c) Athletics and sports prizes should take some form which enables the greater part of the cost to be given to some war funds. This has been done on the initiative of the boys and girls themselves and not to impress The Royals.
These proposals are not put forward with a view of curtailing the normal enjoyments but that by self denial we must all play what part we can in providing material for winning this war." As in the UK, there were collections for various War Funds to which the boys and girls gave generously, whatever they could afford and the money came rolling in. There was a Spitfire Fund to contribute towards the cost of a Spitfire fighter which also included money saved by awarding certificates instead of cups and medals on Founders Day. The College's contribution was acknowledged by receipt and a letter from Lord Beaverbrook the Minister responsible for the procurement of war material, in which he had this to say. "Dear Mr Cotton, I have been greatly touched by the gifts you have sent me from the pupils of your school. They send to us in Britain, the most heartening evidence of their determination to play their part in the great struggle for civilisation upon which our Empire is engaged. Theirs is the spirit which will ensure the Empire's triumph and its continued greatness in years to come." Other funds included The Red Cross Fund, The Archbishop of Canterbury's Fund for the poor in Russia, the Fund for the families of the Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy, The Viceroy's Fund, The Soldier's, Sailor's and Airmen's Fund and The Ambulance Fund.
Ambulance Fund contributions.
Fete Rs. 2499- 8- 3.
Surrender of sports prizes Rs. 450- 0- 0.
Musical Society Rs. 50- 0- 0.
Chapel collections Rs. 94- 0- 0.
Subscriptions Rs. 38- 4- 0.
D.S.Sale Rs. 20-12- 0.
Entertainments Rs. 349-15- 0.
Total. Rs. 3503- 3- 3.
Here is what the Reverend had to say. "Yesterday I received instructions about the procedure to be adopted for the presentation of a Motor Ambulance to the War Department. I am sending a cheque to General Nugent, Headquarters North Western Command who is dealing with the matter for us. I have asked for the following inscription on the plaque with the College crest and motto. 'Presented by The Lawrence College, Ghora Gali.' I have expressed what I think is the wish of the College that the Ambulance should be for service overseas, if possible in the Middle East." It is not known if any Old Gallian serving there ever saw the Lawrence College Ambulance roll by, but one thing is sure, if any of them did, the sight must have gladdened their hearts and made them long for the hills again.
For King and Country.
After his meteoric rise to power in 1939, Adolph Hitler decided to launch an offensive against Austria and Poland which drew England and the Empire into the Second World War. Over four hundred Gallians answered the call of King and Country and went to fight in all theatres of the war. Many were decorated for gallantry, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Military Cross. Thirteen (that we know of) fell in various parts of the world. Here are some of those who survived.
Brig. Charles Samuel Flanagan Carroll. M.C., O.B.E. Born in Calcutta Charles came from a family with a long tradition of service in the Indian Army. He was educated at Lawrence College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. At GG he participated in athletics; considered a top sprinter he also played football for the school. Commissioned into the Indian Army, on his return to India he first served as was the custom for young officers before joining their Indian Regiment, with the Worcestershire Regiment. He was then posted to the 4th/6th Ghurka Rifles with which he served almost continually for five years, apart for a short spell with the 56th Ghurka Rifles. He was admired by the Ghurkas for his calm and deliberate manner, his command of their language and his sense of fun and fair play. As an Army friend remarked of Carroll, "Nothing ever seemed to rattle Charles." He went with his battalion to Burma in 1944 and saw plenty of action there. In 1945 he led a bayonet charge at Mindegon, south of Mandalay in which he and his Ghurkas killed 80 Japanese soldiers which was considered a Divisional record. For this action he was awarded the M.C. After the war the 4th Battalion was disbanded and Carroll became adjutant of the 1st Battalion. On Indian independence he transferred to the British Army and two decades later while serving with the 1st/7th Ghurka Rifles in Borneo he captured a notable Indonesian guerrilla leader named Sumbi. One day his patrol came across a deserted camp fire in deep jungle and among the debris an observant rifleman noted a coffee tin label. Since the local tribes drank only tea, this alerted Carroll to the fact that an enemy group was in the vicinity. A methodical search lead him and his men to the stronghold of a Javanese leader called Sumbi where he was captured. On interrogation Sumbi told Carroll that the mission of his well equipped force was to destroy the Seria oil fields and to establish control of the population of Brunei Bay. After the capture of Sumbi his forces were on the run and had to hide in deep jungle where they faced near starvation. Carroll was not only an expert in jungle warfare, he was also a master of human psychology, by arranging medical care and other necessities for the local tribes he was able to develop friendly relations with them. In return he was given vital information about the movement of the enemy and was able to confront invasion parties and then ambush them when they fled back to their own territory. The Indonesians were using well trained troops and good intelligence and to avoid a full scale war with Indonesia it was essential to give the impression that this jungle warfare was nothing more than a 'confrontation' and, the British counter measures were merely defensive. In the event, to counter the Indonesian plans it was necessary for Carroll and his Ghurkas to cross the border and carry the 'confrontation' to the enemy. This he did with the utmost secrecy and an International scandal was avoided. Carroll later attended the Staff College and the Joint Services Staff College and was awarded the OBE. He retired to a village near Alton in Hampshire, wrote a novel based on his military experiences and died in 1991.
Brig. Anthony Albert Lumb. Pakistan Army. After graduating from the Chelmsford Training College (CTC) Anthony taught for one year and was then commissioned into the Royal Deccan Horse in June 1942. His unit was shipped to Burma as part of the Independent Tank Brigade which was launched at Meiktila to sever the Japanese lines of communication between Rangoon and Mandalay. During the fierce battle for Meiktila in March 1944, Anthony received a head wound from a grenade which landed behind him and he was evacuated to a hospital in India. In June 1945, having recovered, he was keen to rejoin his regiment which was preparing for a planned invasion of Malaya. Given ten days leave he hurried home to get married then, just as he was preparing to return to Rangoon he received orders to proceed to Babina near Jhansi as a senior instructor at the Armoured Corp. Tank Centre. On partition Anthony opted for Pakistan, when the Indian Army was broken up and helped transfer Military assets to Naushera, including tanks, vehicles and equipment, all loaded on special trains. Four specials were sent off safely and finally, having done his job, Anthony Lumb left India on the special carrying the families. This train made an unscheduled stop at Amritsa, the heart of rioting in the Panjab. Anthony and another officer got down onto the darkened platform to stretch their legs when they saw several Sikhs approaching them from one end of the platform. As they passed by the other officer whispered "They're turning." Expecting trouble they both turned too, but instead of trouble they were greeted with a shout of joy from the Sikhs who had recognised Anthony from the Royal Deccan Horse and threw their arms round him. They thought that he had come to rejoin the Regiment which was stationed in Amritsa at the time and he had a hard job convincing them that he was the officer in charge of the train heading for Pakistan and would not be returning to the Regiment. In 1948 he was fighting the Indians in Kashmir. He would in years to come fight them again as a Brigadier in the 1965 war.
Air Vice Marshall. S. A. Yousuf. (S. J. Joseph) Pakistan Air Force.
Steve, a fine athlete and sportsman left the College to join the Royal Indian Air Force during the Second World War. Having opted for Pakistan in 1947, as a Squadron Commander he helped transfer aircraft from India to Pakistan. His task was not without incident. He found that all the planes had been tampered with and it was with great difficulty and at great risk to his pilots and himself that they were brought across the border safely. During a distinguished career he served as Deputy Chief of the Air Force and rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshall.
Liut. Gen. Bahadur Sher. Pakistan Army. A friend of Steve Joseph and know as 'One spud Two gravy,' Bahadur Sher decided early in life on an Army career and when WW2 broke out he enlisted. At College he showed qualities of leadership and his teachers were of the opinion that he would go a long way; and he did. He was a fine athlete and sportsman and in his final year he was appointed a Prefect. He was an easy going lad with a great sense of humour which endeared him to everyone. During the war he was sent overseas and took part in many operations and was awarded the MC for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. Later in life he rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Pakistan Army and held many command positions. Being a Pathan for whom Palau, Chicken Tikka, Lamb roasts and Naan 'Kawab' were the order of the day, his knick name came from his distaste of GG food. He would take one look at the 'jhits' which passed for meat and say. "I'll have one spud and two spoons of gravy."
The War years at GG.
The staff during these years were as follows. Principal Cannon W. F. Cotton, Vice Principal & Head of the CTC Mr A. S. Collier, Headmistress Girls School Miss E. Waddel, Headmistress Junior School Miss N. Glegg, Headmaster Boys School Mr E. Munrowd. Inter. College and CTC Mr H. L. Edwards (although he was called up as a reserve officer for part of the war), Rev. W. J. Toop, Mr A. S. Thurley, Mr H. R. Smith and Chaudhry Abdul Hamid. Boys School Mr P. O'Lin, Mr L. V. Pushong, Rev. A. H. Rogers (Joined up as an Air Force Chaplain, taken prisoner of war in Singapore and used to look out for any Old Gallians), Mrs Eyre Walker, Mr Sardarilal Chopra, Mr J. E. Anderson, Mr D. Gorey, Mr J. Walsh, Mr Pareira, Mrs A. Anderson (Matron) and Mrs Bedell (Matron). Girls School Miss Cockhill, Miss N. Smythe, Miss M. J. Axford, Mrs Mylcrist (Matron) and Mrs Stevens. Junior School Miss Ayre Walker, Miss J. Clarke, Mrs Montgomery (Matron, later Boys School) and Mrs Weatherall (Matron)
Although generally, it was 'routine as usual' we were reminded by new activities that there was a war on. There were blackouts from dusk to dawn, wood and coal rationing and fire and air raid drills and the rationing of some foodstuffs. To assist with the war effort an economy campaign began and in 1941 the Principal, Cannon W. F. Cotton, had this to say. "The Government of the Punjab is inaugurating an economy campaign, not because there is any particular virtue attached to gloom and discomfort, but because it is virtually necessary that all available money should be devoted to the prosecution of the war. Suggested ways in which economy can be practiced which concern this estate are:-
(a) Expensive entertainments should be avoided. This is not intended to act as a check upon friendly entertainment and hospitality.
(b) Expenditure on luxuries such as tobacco and alcohol may be reduced.
(c) Athletics and sports prizes should take some form which enables the greater part of the cost to be given to some war funds. This has been done on the initiative of the boys and girls themselves and not to impress The Royals.
These proposals are not put forward with a view of curtailing the normal enjoyments but that by self denial we must all play what part we can in providing material for winning this war." As in the UK, there were collections for various War Funds to which the boys and girls gave generously, whatever they could afford and the money came rolling in. There was a Spitfire Fund to contribute towards the cost of a Spitfire fighter which also included money saved by awarding certificates instead of cups and medals on Founders Day. The College's contribution was acknowledged by receipt and a letter from Lord Beaverbrook the Minister responsible for the procurement of war material, in which he had this to say. "Dear Mr Cotton, I have been greatly touched by the gifts you have sent me from the pupils of your school. They send to us in Britain, the most heartening evidence of their determination to play their part in the great struggle for civilisation upon which our Empire is engaged. Theirs is the spirit which will ensure the Empire's triumph and its continued greatness in years to come." Other funds included The Red Cross Fund, The Archbishop of Canterbury's Fund for the poor in Russia, the Fund for the families of the Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy, The Viceroy's Fund, The Soldier's, Sailor's and Airmen's Fund and The Ambulance Fund.
Ambulance Fund contributions.
Fete Rs. 2499- 8- 3.
Surrender of sports prizes Rs. 450- 0- 0.
Musical Society Rs. 50- 0- 0.
Chapel collections Rs. 94- 0- 0.
Subscriptions Rs. 38- 4- 0.
D.S.Sale Rs. 20-12- 0.
Entertainments Rs. 349-15- 0.
Total. Rs. 3503- 3- 3.
Here is what the Reverend had to say. "Yesterday I received instructions about the procedure to be adopted for the presentation of a Motor Ambulance to the War Department. I am sending a cheque to General Nugent, Headquarters North Western Command who is dealing with the matter for us. I have asked for the following inscription on the plaque with the College crest and motto. 'Presented by The Lawrence College, Ghora Gali.' I have expressed what I think is the wish of the College that the Ambulance should be for service overseas, if possible in the Middle East." It is not known if any Old Gallian serving there ever saw the Lawrence College Ambulance roll by, but one thing is sure, if any of them did, the sight must have gladdened their hearts and made them long for the hills again.