大象传媒

As a child during the war we were sheltered from the horrors of the blitz in the coastal holiday resort of Nairn.

Towards the end of the war we had German and Italian prisoners of war billeted in the town in what were previously hotels. They seemed to be able to work locally helping out on farms.

The local agricultural societys show ground was occupied by a large number of Indian troops. These were a mounted regiment and they had many horses. I believed they trained in the surrounding district.

The most memorable thing about these - to us exotic - troops was their hospitality. Every so often they would organise an 'At home' and provide a feast of curries,rice, chapatis and naan bread. All cooked in the open air. Whist we were allowed to look at their wonderful horses.
After the meal a display of horsemanship would be put on including pig sticking.Occasionally they would put a show in the local cinema on a sunday night when there would be singers, magicians and acrobats. I well recall that they always included the song 'I'll walk beside you'
only they pronounced it 'I'll valk beside you'
This was in honour of Major Alan Murray ,usually in the audience,the composer of this song who was also billeted in Nairn organising ENSA parties who travelled nightly from the town to the surrounding airfields and barracks.Some names that I recall from the ENSA billetees were Anne Shelton, WillFyffe,Matheson Lang etc.

It would interesting to find out what became of these troops. They always wore headgear in the shape of turbans so perhaps they were Sikhs.
They were excellent ambassadors for their country.

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