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 Corps exercise 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. The trial now was extented to Ambala.
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, the rapidly shifting of the ionosphere layers, predictably was the worst time for HF communication. The question of remaining in touch and maintaining communication from the speeding Jeep, the Signal to Noise ratio degrading fast just did not arise. The Second World War 19 HP trans- receiver 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.
Ambala, 172 Km away, I was told to go and I was determined to accomplish the trials. 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.
I knew a senior officer, a not too distant relative, then posted at Ambala. Though it was late in the night, hoping for a cup of tea, something 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 at his place while sending the detachment to the Four Divisional Signal Regiment, then located 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 whisky was politely declined, as also something to eat but the main attraction of landing there was conspicuous by her absence, she preferring to stay inside even though it was a fairly hot summer night.
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 to Control Station at Jalandhar 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 rueing 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.
Bleary eyed, deprived of sleep having been on the move throughout the night we drove in to the unit lines. Dismissing the detachment I presented myself to 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 that every thing was in order.
Brig Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd)
Comments: Fifty years ago the Director(s) Signals, Ordnance, EME and Army Supply Corps were all Brigadiers. Upgradation to Lt Gens in the last four decades have actually degraded the Armed Forces Rank Structure, Honour and Status. The SCPC has crowned them all with further upgradation, and subtly devastated the Warrant of Precedence; giving the Armed forces a eternal blow to prestige of Commissioned Ranks. Bureaucratic goals: "Appease the top few and throttle the rest"!
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