大象传媒

I was 11 when we were living in Shillong when my Mum became the W.V.S Secretary for the whole of the Assam district. She typed many letters working on her small grey Hermes typewriter, entirely self taught. She worked with Beth Small the W.V.S organiser they had many problems to overcome between them. They were responsible for keeping many transit canteens going for the troops, by ordering supplies from Gauhati and Sylhet. Once a 'bungle' was made as 100lbs of ghee arrived instead of a 100lb of tea. Our own household rations had to be fetched from the F.S.D (Food Supply Depot) which supplied tins of Australian bacon, tinned fruit and bully beef! There was the B.I.D (Bulk Issue Depot) as well which was like a travelling shop selling chemist's goods, writing paper and war time toilet rolls etc. Otherwise fruit veg and meat were bought in the bazaar by the cook. We had wonderful papyas everyday, and a basket of oranges cost very little , one rupee in season. I don't remember apples, only in dried fruit along with prunes and figs. There were bananas too of course. So we were very well off, and felt guilty when we had letters from Home asking if had enough food in view of the Bengal famine.
When we were in Shillong the Garrison Theatre was built to entertain the troops. ENSA the forces entertainment organisation performed regularly there with people like Bob Hope and Vera Lynn raising everyone's morale. During the day it was used as a roller skating rink (very popular), a cinema for films starring Deanna Durban ( I remember her singing 'A Nightingale sang in Berkley Square' and everyone fell in love with her!)'A Baby in the Battleship' and 'The Song of Bernadette' with Jean Simmons. That was considered to be eminently suitable for us and we were taken along to see it as a special treat. I wept copiously over that one!

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.