8.
Journey to India
Absolute calm is not the law
of ocean,
It is the same with the ocean of life.
Mahatma Ghandi
Our fate was always mysterious.
Iranian, Polish, British or the Soviet authorities made
decisions over which we had no control. We learned of our
impending departure from Meshed only a week In advance.
Likewise, our destination was only then revealed.
On 8th December 1942 our long convoy of canvas-covered
army lorries carried us through Iranian terrain inhabited
by nomadic tribes. We were escorted by armed Iranian
police to ensure our safety through this land renowned
for ambush by the fierce, belligerent, highly-spirited
tribesmen in that area of Persia.
Initially we traveled through undulating deserts, arid
and dusty, then through rugged mountains. We stopped
briefly at pre-arranged destinations, usually remote
Iranian police security posts in small villages. There we
had our refreshments and a rest at night. This part of
our Journey was reminiscent of our convoys long trek from
Turkmenistan through Persia to Meshed although we were
now generally physically stronger and In good spirits.
There were, however, still deep emotional wounds to heal.
Our food provisions were the American and British army
k-rations. Each package contained pills to purify
drinking water, sachets of lemon or orange-flavoured
drink, a tin of corned beef, a small tin with butter,
some cheese, chocolate, a tin of either spaghetti or
baked beans, hard wholemeal army biscuits, tea, coffee
and small packets of sugar or saccharine. American
rations also included dried raisins, dates and some
toilet paper. We were well catered for.
During our three daily comfort stops we were often
surrounded by malnourished Iranians, who begged us for
food. My brother recalled how one grateful man offered
him his pet fox for the bar of energy chocolate, which
Alek had generously given to him. Of course, he was
unable to accept the fox as no pets were allowed on our
Journey.
When our lorry convoy arrived at the nearest railhead we
were transferred into a specially-chartered passenger
train in which we sat for six days and six nights,
traveling through north-west India (now part of the
independent country of Pakistan). At the end of this
period we reached our destination of Karachi port. On
this train we were escorted by a British Ghurka army unit
for our continued protection. At a station Just before
Karachi, English ladles met our train and presented us
with small bags of boiled sweets. At Karachi sea port our
train pulled up right beside the waiting ship. We were
very Impressed by the ship's tremendous size and the port
Itself. Most of us had never seen a ship before as we had
always lived in inland areas, a long way from the coast.
Our transport ship was painted gray. It was a British
navy vessel, destined for service in India. Our voyage
from Karachi through the coastal waters of the Arabian
Sea towards the Gulf of Kutch took three days and three
nights before we arrived on the Kathiawar Peninsula at
Jamnagar. This stretch of sea was known for the presence
of Italian, German and Japanese submarines, during the
Second World War. On board we were catered for by British
sailors and British soldiers who were very kind to us.
For our protection the transport ship was provided with a
British naval escort corvette, an anti-submarine boat,
accompanied by a US catalina flying boat, which circled
the area to further ensure a safe crossing for 3,000
Polish orphans and staff on board our ship. There was
still the real possibility of an encounter with enemy
forces, so no chances were taken by the British
authorities.
The ship sailed into shallow waters near Jamnagar until
it could proceed no further. At that point an anchor was
dropped and its engines switched off. One by one we were
then lowered over large Jute nets suspended down the side
of our stationary ship. We were assisted by Indian
soldiers who carried the small children on their
shoulders, into the waiting barges below. Two tugs were
employed to tow each barge towards the coast, again as
far as the sea depth permitted. The Indian soldiers then
carried us on their shoulders individually into extremely
shallow water where we waded bare-footed ashore towards
the adjacent sandy beach. Here by the sand dunes a train
awaited our arrival. This train brought us to Jamnagar,
one hour later.
Before our Journey ended we faced a further one hour trip
by road in British army lorries, accompanied by Indian
soldiers under British command. Our new camp was 25 miles
from the town of Jamnagar. The camp had been constructed
by courtesy of the Maharajah of Jamnagar. who also paid
for all the daily expenses connected with the running of
this new orphanage. Our camp site was on hilly land
overlooking the sea some three miles away and near the
Maharajah's summer residence, which occupied another hill
site terminating in a high cliff, by the sea. We had an
excellent view of our benefactor's holiday resort from
the camp. Here we were safe as his honoured guests, under
the protection of the British colonial authorities in
India.
***
|
