Indians wept when Our troops left by Captain P. N. PEARSON
(As published in the "Illustrated" Oct. 2 1954)

There were only about a dozen officers and ninety men left of the 1^st. Battalion of the Somersets. Major W. J. Atkins; the quartermaster, had been handing over supplies and-equipment to the Indian Forces which were succeeding us, and on the morning of February 28, 1948, we had little left but our uniforms, small arms and of course, the regimental plate.

Faces at every window

Reveille was earlier than usual, and everyone spent a lot of time getting kit in perfect shape for the ceremonial parade which was to precede embarkation. Soon after dawn the battalion marched out in its olive-green tropical kit, white belts and anklets, and dark green berets.

First we went to the Royal Yacht Club, where the members had organized a magnificent breakfast for officers and men. At nine thirty, after more spit and polish, we moved off. That march to the Apollo Bundar, the large square by the quay-side, was a very moving experience. The streets were 'lined with men from the Indian Services, Mahratta, Gurkha and Sikh, infantry-men and Indian Grenadiers. On the Apollo Bundar guards of honour from the Royal Indian Navy, the Royal Indian Air Force and the Army of the Dominion of India were drawn up. There were many thousands of people, jammed elbow to elbow along the route. Faces blocked every window. Now that the long campaign to force us from the sub-continent had succeeded, the feeling towards us was strangely different from what it' might have been. The Indian Army was sorry to see us going. So were the civilians . Many were weeping, and I felt it was not only because they believed they would be less secure once we had gone.

The major never let go..

At the Apollo Bundar there were farewell speeches and presentations. The lndian Army gave the regiment a silver-plated replica of the Gateway of India. Major Acock held it during the rest of the ceremony, the final march-past in slow time and the march to the embarkation launches, no mean feat in view of its weight.An Oil painting was also presented to us. Major Atkins carried it until the ceremony was over.

It was a curiously quiet crowd which watched as we marched to the quay. About a mile off-shore lay the Empress of Australia. By 11 a.m. about 1,3oo officers, men, families and officials had crowded on board. Half an hour later she gave a long blast on her siren, and slowly moved out to the open sea. The last British troops had left India.

A model and painting, gifts from the Indian Army are taken in a launch

The Somersets march under the eight-three-foot high Gateway of India

Capt Pearson carries the Kings Colours to Bombay Harbour