Christmas in Jodhpur

I joined the RAF on the 17th July 1940 and after completing a six month fitter course in Blackpool, was posted to 248 squadron stationed in the Shetlands. Began working on Blenheims and later moving to Beau fighters. Stationed all over England, Scotland and Wales.

Next posting was to South East Asia Command (SEAC) leaving England on the15th October 1943 arriving in Jodhpur, India on the 17th November 1943.

My main memory of Jodhpur was a lavish garden party by Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur at the magnificent Umaid Bhawan Palace. Set in Twenty-six acres, with three hundred and forty seven rooms.
The party was held over Christmas 1943 and was for all service men stationed in Jodhpur. Set in the fifteen acre palace gardens the tables laid out with food of all kinds. The entertainment that followed included dancing and singing. Later the guests were allowed to use the swimming pools and wander throughout the grounds and most of the palace, a really good time was had by all.

Later I was posted to Burma but Jodhpur was one of my better memories of the war. I was discharged as a corporal fitter in February 1946 after five and a half years in RAF.

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