- Contributed by听
- CSV Media NI
- People in story:听
- George Lapsley
- Location of story:听
- Milgary Hills, Far East
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A4110922
- Contributed on:听
- 24 May 2005
This story is taken from an interview with George and Peggy Lapsley, and has been added to the site with their permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions. The interviewer was David Reid, and the transcription was by Bruce Logan.
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The beauty of Burma, the Nilgari hills. Nilgari hills, the rich people were all there. And of course, they had a canteen. I went to this place and, on the way up, on this train, I became very friendly with 2 army officers. They turned out to be rugby players, and I was a rugby player, so we got on really well. By the time we reached the top the 2 boys had decided that we couldn鈥檛 separate. For I would have to go to the Naval leave camp and they would have to go to the army camp, which I think was one of the palaces of the Maharaja of Jaipur. So they had a spare uniform. So I took off my naval uniform and put it in a bag, and I was then attended on by their servant.
The only thing, the first night there was a big dance in the Maharaja鈥檚 palace. And we all dressed up for this dance. Now, there are 2 salutes, the naval salute and the army salute. So when we went up, and we were introduced to the Colonel, I think he was a colonel. He was the head of the Army there. He was luckily for me half cut, and maybe 3 quarters cut, because when we were introduced I immediately saluted. Wrong salute! He was so drunk he didn鈥檛 notice. I remember I won 6 bottles of champagne, and they shared with me. And we had a great time.
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