The ‘Rover’ is the commander’s wireless link to the world when he is moving away from his headquarters. It was a few days earlier than the exercise (Doaba) that I was ordered to check the performance of the GOC’s Rover around Jalandhar. Possibly due to the rigors of atmospherics or the ionosphere not playing up the results of the trial were deemed to be unsatisfactory.
Task
I was called by the Adjutant and in the presence of the 2I/C another non- technical wizard, there was plethora of such officers in the Corps those days not their fault with most having grown up commanding line companies constructing PL or laying cable on the ground with little exposure to wireless and other technical equipment; the only problem was that they were not prepared to accept the fact of life, and ordered take the rover out on the road and prove it right up to Ambala. I, too junior to have a voice or allowed to profess a technical opinion, like a dutiful officer, saluted and marched out of the office to organise for the move.
By the time we had tied up and the three of us me, the radio operator and the driver of the jeep left for Ambala it was already dusk. Under the circumstances with the day and night meeting each other with shifting of the layers of the ionosphere the worst time for HF communication the question of remaining in touch and maintaining communication from the speeding Jeep, the S/N ratio degrading fast just did not arise. The puny Second World War WS 19HP transreceiver pumping out a couple watts of energy and a not so sensitive receiver even with the 14 feet rod antenna trailing at an angle was totally unsuitable for the task and we were soon out of touch with the Control Station at Jalandhar.
Report My Signal
Ambala was 172 Km away. I was told to go and Ambala I was determined to reach. Communication or no communication; Hello Alfa Bravo Charlie report my signal calling and calling again and again repeated ad nauseam hoping against hope to make a contact till we reached Ambala but reamined still out of touch.
Main attraction
I knew a senior officer, a not so distant relative then posted at Ambala. Though it was late in the night hoping for a cup of tea some thing to eat and not the least to have a look at his young daughter and if possible exchange a few words with her, I got dropped myself at his place while sending the detachment to the 4 Div Sig Regt then at Ambala for some hot food and if possible try to contact Control at Jalandhar using a wire aerial. I did get the tea, the Black label whiskey was politely declined, as also some thing to eat but the main attraction of landing there was made more conspicuous by her absence preferring to stay inside even though it was a fairly hot summer night.
Communication Established
Having done our duty both in letter and spirit we turned back towards Jalandhar alternately calling and listening now more hopeful of making a contact as the distance now to control was decreasing by the minute. All this time we were oblivious of the flap going on back at Jalandhar with no news of the Rover detachment every one was hoping for the best and fearing the worst possibly even ruing the decision to send us on a wild goose chase. Low on fuel as we turned in a wayside petrol pump the day was already breaking and with the physics of radio wave propagation becoming more favourable the welcome call of the control manna to our ears and soothing to our sore throats came booming into the head phones.
Return to Unit
Bleary eyes deprived of sleep with being on the move throughout the night we drove in to the unit lines. Dismissing the detachment I presented myself in front of the office of the Second in Command Maj Harchand Singh. With the failure of the mission at the back of my mind I was mentally braced for an imperial rocket. Possibly the relief of seeing me in one piece and not lying mangled somewhere on the road between Jalandhar and Ambala with the wrecked Jeep the worst case scenario was enough to cover my acts of omission and commission. I was summarily dismissed and ordered to go and rest in my room I have no doubt that the next call by him must have been to the worried CO informing him that every thing was in order.
Sincerity Pays
I have a feeling that this act of mine got noticed as a sincere youngster and was reflected in my next annual report by the CO. The unfortunate fallout of the exercise was the Driver who had nearly met with a head on collision, when fears of those back in the regiment would have come true, with an on coming vehicle on the journey back was found to have had defective vision and hence boarded out.
Dress changing routine: PT rig, Games rig, Uniform, Mess dress (summer, winter both ceremonial and daily), Lounge suit and Dinner Jacket.
Recollections of 11 Corps Sig Regt 1956- 58
Brig Lakhsman Singh, VSM (Retd)
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