THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,
SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1949.
THE LOST STORY OF THE HERO BRITAIN ALMOST FORGOT
Records Went Down In Wingate's Plané
V.C.
carned by a
A in Birme ve yan sideup, led-avenue,
father-in-law listen- ago has just been awarded- ́ed to the exploits of because his wife in Kent the South Staffs. stuck to her guns,
There was no doubt ori They. heard, March 13, 1944, about the thy he read in valour of six-foot George letters, how George
died. But the Di»
Albert Cairns, one-time tence that came as clerk in a City bank.
Lieutenant Cairns was leading
пеня war: "The old man recommend- ed him for the V.C." March 1944 a Chindit arsoult when his left-
* by was hacked ont
And, as they listened, they officer's Samural learned of what happened
the recommendation.
A1311
Japanese aword.
Ho kiled that officer, picked up the sword, and (as told on the right by James Camerun) slashed right and left among the enemy,
LAST WITNESS
io
Mrs Cairns, rosy-cheeked and golden-haired, got busy. She wrote to the adjutant of the Ho mowed down several regiment. The adjutant got In Japanese before he fell himself touch with Major J. M. Calvert, -lo die on a Burmese hilltop D.S.O. at 30.
For Major Calvert was the of the third and surviving witness. He was reopened the case with the War Office. Ile supplied the neces- sary checks.
Lieutenant Cairns, Somerset Light Infantry, attached to the 1st South Stat- fordshires. And, on the spot, his commanding officer recom→ mended the V. C.
LOST IN PLANE ·
The King Ms.bem gracious
Albert Cestos (198186),
In by glider
onward to the hill
Cairns leads the way
A Jap swort lashes out
Cairns fights back
The Japs are routed
ted
The
The' citation
May. 1040
James Cameron tells
the Burma V.C.'s story
I
Tans
a quietish week Henu. Do not look for it on the sword hacked off Lieutenan
nap; no one remembers it now. Cairns' left arm, completely. on the Eastern front.
But it left him his right arm. They manned the block; the That day Sunday Japanese
quietly And with his right arm George assembled, March who hot and and resentfully, on a hilltop Cairns dragged the sword from airless in Burma; the nearby. The next day, which the Japanese officer and killed. Mr Calmns' approached ker
Monday, March 13, they him; sloggered along somehow was about to, was M. P.. Mr G. D. Wallace,
And monsoon
counter-attacked.
up the slope whirling the sword, Mr Wallace made very strong break; a nervous, threaten-
The South Staffs were ordered an representations"
War ing time, the
to take the hilltop. Minister.
to
The recommendation went to The story was now all of one. As the sun climbed, over
Chindit the
icader,
The War Office said it the trees came the gliders, Central piece. Wingate. Before the General was "under discussion. Today and 77th Infantry Brigade, could act he was killed in an air it is deathless. crash on March 24.
of which the 1st South Staffs were part, cut loose, and drifted down into a clearing at the place called
of
And in the plane that killed Wingato were the records Cairns' 41-day-old exploit. They were destroyed.
Later,
"Now what I admire most," said Mr Wallaco, "Is Mrs Catrng faith and perseverance in seeing it through.
Ena and George, a shy man, the recommendation met first at the Belgian Bank in Broadway. was revived. But now two Bishopsgate. He spent most of the three men who witnessed evenings at his Surrey home in the deed were dead, killed in Ashridge-way, Morden battle.
There was delay. In the busy War Oflee the matter of George Albert Cairns and his valour lay dormant.
Until last December. And then Birs Ena Cairns, George's 30-year-old widow, a typist in her husband's bank, tuned in one night to a B. B. C. programme.
Broadway talking point
But at week-ends they had dates. She watched him play football and they played tennis. 'Life was like that.
He joined up in 1040. They were married in 1942. Within a year he was drafted to India. Within two years he was dead.
They had no children. Sald Ena: "George died as he lived-grandly."
Phone vision you pay only when you look
From FREDERICK COOK
the First
New York. HONEVISION is How word here.. heard early in May, it al- ready crops up in every after-the-show conversation along Broadway; and it has Hollywood in a near-panic.
The derivation explains itsel television via The telephone; Tile Idea for which it was coined may be the answer to o question which has had all show business warried! What to do about the slick-talking salosmen who are the curse of commercialised radio here and who seemed likely to wreck television before it even got
FAY BAINTER
Play that missed the mark.
ELSEWHERE...
ON AHEAD
IEUTENANT George, Albert Cairns, of the Somerset Light Infantry, attached to the South Staffs, went ahead.
It was
extraordinary, berserk Crusader in Jungle-green. we a
ΟΠ
There was a Japanese soldier strangling a wounded man the ground. George Calens dropped the sword, one-handed swung a rifle, und clubbed the For a Little while Jup dead. longer he swung and stumbled forward, then he lay down on the ground and quickly died.
JAPS FLED
a furious, merciless, confused, and bloody business men fighting men, and vegeta ilon, and gradient, and heat, and the consciousness that the had so far scarcely Japanese was busy enough ever been turned out of a firm THE world
outside the Eighth Army position, and had
every post-
A was grinding painfully out of tonal advantage anyway. the Anzlo beach; Zhukov was Lieutenant Cairns stopped an heading for the Dalester: the explosive bullet in Forts were burning Berlin. Several bayonets clippert him. fax or one could see from the Then a Japanese officer leaped the Japanese
him, failing that their news of the day nothing what in front of ever was happening in Burma. strange picos of medievalism the official story says, that was That was customary,"
the Japanese brought to this fantastic. war, his
Samurai
Nevertheless, far away in sword. Broadway, the Infantry dis- persed. They waited while the monsoon piled its stifling clouds and the jungle steamed.
an Brm;
SWORD BLOW:
DUT the men around had seen this strange and terrible thing; a scene so appalling and exhilarating that no man who watched it could do otherwise than fight on, irresistibly.
When the struggle was over, had fled from position-something,
BU
Very rare occurrence at the time.
That was five years ago; there and other issues to distract one's mind today, and the wars and divisions in Burma have nothing to do with the South Stalis
Fow living now will remember And on March 12, one week I besworded de Henu Block; but it was later, some columns from the had been mocked at a little moment there that won what is South Staffs and the 3/8 Gurkha from the to time, in this can almost certain to be the last V.C. Rifles lald a road-and-rail block paign of moriars and brens, IC across the Japanese lines of was no decoration at Hend of the war. communication at a place called Block, that day. The ceremonial
NILE
Jar
From the man with Round-the-World Air
BERNARD WICKSTEED
was
-in POONA
A
198188 CAIRNS, V. C. In Burma.
The Army
S
now
that
the
On the table a picture at his wife
Army has its own "boarding schools'
By PETER LOVEGROVE
black
workers,
10 marked was the success there, these future craftsmen attempt is made to turn out
of the Army Apprentices may eventually leave
the trained soldiers-that will come Scheme in its brief career Colours at the age of 28 or 30 after they cease to be appren-." before World War Two that, fully qualified immediately to flees. The lads spend 60. per- with the tremendous variety take their places in civilian life. cent of their working time in -(London Express Service). and Increased complexity of the
the workshops; 30 percent Building engineers,
devoted to academie Instruction; equipment weapons and a modern army needs,
and the remaining 20 only is smiths, sheet metal has been greatly expanded since and gun and engine fitters go spent on military“, trainingom
to Chepstow, the senior of the mostly drill, PT and a Hitle cessation of hostilities. With
four schools, which opened. 25 weapon training. four permanent schools now
Apprentice Atlers operating in Britain, it is reared years ago. to turn cut 2,000 tradesmen a for the Sappers and REME or nearly twice the 1939 turners, armourers, Instrument the tealning, and telecommunications mecha- which hitherto concentrated nica and millwrights are trained entirely on the engineering and at Arborfield School, which has building trades, now covers a been running for 11 years. much wider field.
In September 1947, new estab- Lads inust be between 15 and Hishments were opened at Har-
Ticket No. 1...
supposed to give notice in ad- vance. So we lunched at the buffet in the station.
Club?
Reserve.
or eight
wireless
Tho Company to which an pprentice is attached corres ponds to a school "house", and in invested with much the same partisan loyalty, Just as in a boarding school there are pre- fects, so at this school there are
keyboard in the
"They got eight weeks' leave not
rarely
more than
15 percent
years with where are taught the 1830. That is not surprising
10 years when enlisting from rowgate and Taunton. The York- "Boy NCO". Their year is. Except for a party of four areas where the school leaving shtre school deals mainly with divided into terms, and parents Indians drinking lemonade the age is 15 years, and may be six Royal Signals trades, and turns and guardians receive reports Poona Club was empty when wo months younger in Northern out-line-radio-and telegraplac on the lads progress entered. The bar was deserted, Ireland or overseas; they must
niechanics, too, even by the barman, and our stand at least 4ft. Tins, weigh
year and and line operatora. At Norton shouts of "Bearer Boys were not less than 5 stone 4lbs, and Manor, set in the beautiful showed out of camp except on for a time, auswered by the be physically at. They aro
few Saturday afternoons and Sun- Somerset
countryside echoes only,
trained for three years, but Con reaching the age of 18, they miles, out of Taunton, is the days but so popular are "Are you sure this is the Poon enter man's service and under well-equipped camp originally amenities at Norton Maner to. 'VE never been quite hand, but it mayn't show film
The Poong Club?" I tako to serve 12 years with the built for the Militia' in
avall themselves of the oppor certain that there really either buying it or lifting it to
asked my host. He assured me it Colours, his lips.
trades bricklaying.. masonry, since there are grand playing such a place as
was, and pointed to the shields
painting and decorating, Poona. I didn't cara to On the way up here by train round the walls recording the the Colours and four with the trad
Belds, and keen inter-company plumbing and pipetting, car- passed the Kalyan names of bygone winners of show
pentering and joining, architec- rivalry at soccer, rugger, my ignorance by wo
transit camp. Do you remember sporting trophies. The dates of but
tural and mechanical draughts ming and athletics. Also
hockey, cricket, boxing, swim- doubting it openly,
1322, of you lucky ment some went back thero lurked an idea at the Kalyan, like Poona, is hallowed
They find this is no dead-end, manship, and surveying.
magnificently appointed, theatre On the notice board were the soul-destroying job.
Headmasters of grammar, which seats. 700, - gives twice- names of two officers, a major pose of the training is to pro- Tens of thousands of British and squadron-leader, who had duce some of the future senior secondary and technical schools weekly cinema shows, and in troops spent their first night in been "Posted" for not paying NCO's, Warrant Officers and and officials of the Ministry of which the School produced its India there. And, for a reduced their club accounts. At one time Commissioned Officers of the Labour recently made a tour of own pantomime last Christmas.
The Administration staff are selected from · Infantry ⠀ and number, it was the last stopping a disgrace like this would have technical Corps to which they the Norton Manor establish- place before their troopship sail- ruined a man's whole carcer, and are posted when they leave the ment.
RAC, while the "Instructors"="" ed out of Bombay. Bless 'em all! pursued him through every con- Schools. And as, after the most
They found that although the allotted on a ratio of one per the trade boys wear the King's uniform, 10 to 12 apprentices-coms from Kalyan is now a camp for re-tinent to his grave, the cad. But meticulous inspection of schools fugees from Pakistan.
I doubt it anybody but the club and workshops,
is run broadly on the Technical Corps or from unions have recognised most the school secretary worries about it now.
taught good boarding school lines. No civilian occupations. of the Army trades
any
goingwere thought up out in
Both Chicago by Commander E. F McDonald, head of 0 radio
A New York doctor has been manufacturing concern,
telling how, when he took a plan is a surt of sub party of six to His
Ace Olivier's scribers club,
Members will Hamlet," he was turned down get a privately-clrculated pro-at the box office, telephoned a gramme, with their television broker, and listened while the sets, linked up to their tele- broker telephoned the cinema back of my mind that per- ground. phone lines.
and got the tickets at once for haps it was a hoax.` Whonever the programmo an extra Ico. offers something they want to Complaints are even being sce, they just throw a switch heard that people fail
So when I saw a train labelled to get "Poona Express" They and their tickets for and all back.
at Victoria guests
one night Station. Bombay, I bought a tle will
hout, and then read next morning ket and boarded it. enjoy-without
At last Ta Interruption
for commercial that it is closing down "for
sure that the fabulous plugs a first-run feature film lack of business." not yet seen in a movie theatre. While people will pay fancy home of the Blimp actually did And automatically their tela prices for tickets I don't know phone bill will be debited with what the theatre can do about the fee one dollar.
McDonald is not anying yot
where be will get his films. I
i known though, that he had
it.
a show
་
make
exirt.
- But do you know, even now that I'm here, standing in front line.
There are ghosts all along this Above the ghats (Indian of a notice on the platform that for the steep hilla that rise from reminder of the essentials "Poona" I still have my the coastal plain) the valley
doubts.
a number of secret talks with Ainsanity of. Hollywood:
Mr
Arthur Rank
Britain's film chlet was here.
while Things out there are booming again, becausa businces at the einemus is so bad.
It may develop into a very
big thing Most Broadwayltes seem to think so.
No chota pog.
all over the country Earnings 320000 latest statistics are that OR one thing the only refresh
ments you can get to drink 52,000,000 Americans nover go
widens and there is Dehpur. Rond, the old transport depot.
Long ago
The lorries are still there, thou- ƒ ̃ ̄NA (if this be Poona) is a)
sands of them baking in the sun, and not a man to be seen.
fair city bright with tropical flowers and trees that blossom red. It stands at the junction of two rivers and is dominated by And getting nearer to Poona is a Hindu temple perched on an Kirkee racecourse. Or what was outcrop of rock. It used to be the Aldershot of India, or one of to the films at all, that others are tea and lemonade. Does that the racecourse. You had to be a
catching the stay-away sound like Poona to you?. All the gentleman to ride at Kirkce, a them. Broadway tickets scandal habit but in Hollywood there way up in the train I kept telling pukka pukka sahib, But now no- myself that from now on I, too, body rides there at all, genties £12 to £15, n pair for 'shows The reason is that cinema would be able to say: "I remem, man or jockey, like "South Pacifie" and "Kiss managers, casting about for bab once in the monsoon when Me, Kate) in beginning to, something to pull in the people, I ordered a chota per In the club.
At the Club worry the cinemas, too.
(none at the agencies, in a sudden spurt.
'POCKET CARTOON
by OSBERT LANCASTER
are giving shorter and shorter at Poons... rung to films, and the backlog
of pictures, which was giving But I can't do it Tho nitéged the studios headaches, is now city of Poona is dry four days s almost exhausted.
week, and this is one of them.
EVENT in
At some, time in their careers most officers of the Indian Army were stationed here. It was ono of the better places to be.
Marriageable, daughters came out from England with their THE same thing has happened "chaperones, and found romance to polo: There are no ponies, among the subalterns. Sona fol- no players, no reputations made towed their fathers into the regi (Incidentally, if you happen to or lost. Poon Turf Club ir stili ment, and bearers served their have any retired Indian Army open-Just. But the politicians in masters with the fidelity of The legitimate colonels with high blood pres Bombay have sinshed the racing slaves theatre was the on-off sure about the house it would be programme. By next year they return of Fay "Bainter inkindest to keep this article from hope to have stopped it. "Goydon," promising them. If they read some of the
A melodrama which just missed things I've got to say they might Not being an Army man my
blow up and burst.)
self but only one of those to would have a moderate Last year there were only two portah, fellows, I anticipated a ft been bit, but it chose the spring days a week when you couldn't little trouble about getting into Next year thare will be, the Poona Club, I needn't have Ume. alump as opening, time drink
are left behind. They declare it and closed again after seven seven. In other words, there will worried." I WBA signed in by un
be complete prohibition in the Indian I met on the train,
is haunted, and want to move performances,"
Province of Bombay Rightly Candida, Jay Robinson
(You will promise not to let somewhere else. Every club, just enough, the provincial Govern this fall into the colonel's hands, every officers, mess, they say, is "Young Woodley," "Night Must Fall and others, in London) ment has chosen as its D day won't you? It would make him peopled by whispy spirits who mutterBy Gadi in the night, was sumalently menacing as an (D for dry the appropriate date so unhappy.) unpleasant young man with of April the First
This Indian, who is an officer and plaintively call for their
the mark
..
The pattern of life was clear, and though some of us outsiders may giggle at the mention of Poona's name, this vanished race of Brilons really loved the place, And that is more than you can
say about the Indian officers who
paychopathie Landencies to curious aidelight on this in the premt Army, bald the bearers, patholic. I almost want deserve better luck on Broad
attitude to the demon alcohol is would have likod to ask me to: lo cry mywelt.'; VALENCIA Sacked at regulation that a firm may the club for lunch, but if you 4London Express Heroics);), show a man with a drink in his, want a meal there now you'r
ways
The pur-
Get Him Out Of This-No. 4
by ERNEST DUDLEY
The Armchair Detective
T
HE priceless Giles oil-painting, "Since 1 Used Your Soup I'To Used No Other," owned by millionaire Lord Parsley, has vanished from Parsley Court, his lordship's
country seat at Market Garden
Clean Umbod
́intrepid · · Snip Carion-Insurance Agent is assigned to get back the picture. Balp Carton learns ' that the venomous Popi L'Apache and his gang have smuggled it to Paris.
and
Ship Carton-who, always, goes to Cluernsey for his summer holidays, so bo la confident that he will be sh's to And his way round the day, City—follows, auks Ho reaches the Underworld of Parla," where the men!! Kid, forever. guzzling absinthe and getting stabbed in the back. by cocottes, and hurries to No, 13, Ras Morgue, knocks three times, and Baks for FTOU-PION.
3. Pro-Frou is a dancer at the Follo Rouge, but, unknown to Brip Carton, abe has #ecome Pepi L'Apachos femme fataẩm Bhe overpowers Only Carton: with bec perfume--it'a nil the wears at the Rouge and sends for Pap
Änip Carton recovers conacióczne find himself as dumped make this estate Octopus Room at the top of No. 15, RO Morgue.
Prve room is steel-lined, exdopt for alde which is a glass tank containing octopus. Hour (the door, KÊN Ekrouch) which poisons-gadin creeping, and in the corner, sure) Espi bas lett a bomb. The firs burning closer and diewer. Akentein, Shin-steel»ilhed, Ropek, of. uplow YOU OWN HIM
All the alison are in the picturwet