Limitations and Loyalty

Heroes Remember

Limitations and Loyalty

Transcript

Well, I think in those days, because the war was on we were treated very well. There’s no doubt about it. There’s nobody that tried to show us that they are speedier and all that, because we are fighting a common purpose for the common cause. So we were treated very well and, of course, there were other difficulties because sometimes we used to run out of rations and other difficulties which were very bad, quite often because the advance was so fast that sometimes you used to run out of ammunition, but we still survived. Then we ran out of rations, then our rations were halved and still if the supplies didn’t reach, it was halved again. We still had to survive and then we never got letters from back home for months together but we still survived. We faced the enemy bombardment, there was strafing by the air, and artillery shellings but we still survived because although the troops belonged to different countries, different religions, different castes, we all grouped, allied forces grouped themselves into a very good perfect family and this family, members of the family would not only respect each other but they would die for each other. There was so much respect and so much affection for each other that we would do anything for our fellow person whether he is an Australian, Canadian or any country he may be.

Description

Mr. Jauhal describes several aspects of army life in Africa and the mutual respect of all Allied troops.

Pritam Jauhal

Pritam S. Jauhal, was born in Jalandhar, Punjab Province, India on October 4, 1920. He was one of four children. At his mother’s insistence, he moved at the age of sixteen to New Delhi to further his education. Here he lived with his aunt and uncle. Mr. Jauhal’s father had served in the First World War, and Mr. Jauhal himself enlisted in 1937, citing the threat of global domination by Hitler as his reason. He joined the England Corps of Signals. He became a wireless operator, and served in that capacity during the Allied campaign to liberate North Africa. Mr. Jauhal saw no further action in the war, but remained in the Indian army. He served three tours of duty during the wars with Pakistan, and was also a member of the International Control Commission in Hanoi. Mr. Jauhal retired with the rank of Colonel.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
Person Interviewed:: Pritam Jauhal
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: North Africa
Battle/Campaign:: North Africa
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: Fifth British Division
Rank:: Colonel
Occupation:: Wireless Operator

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Limitations and Loyalty

Heroes Remember