Whilst I am aware of the Transit Camp at Deolali for arriving and departing troops but have come across a Royal Artillery OCTU training British Officer Cadets in 1943. They were subsequently commissioned into the British Army with Emergency Commissions rather than into the Indian Army as was the case with graduates of the other Officer Training units in India at the time. Does anyone know any more about it?
Try Reel 2 of this regular officer, citing summary in part: Link: Gunn, James (Oral history) Another tape: Link: Hoskin, Ernest Jabez (Oral history) Possibly the papers of this wartime only officer, cited in part and no mention of OCTU: Link: Private Papers of Lieutenant B H French Joseph Frank Saunders was there: British Army Officers 1939-1945 -- S
Not sure if this is of interest but attached is a photo of the Royal Artillery Boys Depot at Deolali. In it is a neighbours father who was posted to the UK after the separation. His family were British immigrants over several generations. The original ancestor leaving Cheshire with the European Bombay Fusiliers in the employ of the East India Company.. He was killed in an uprising but his son and Irish wife survived. He became a Govt employee spending much of WW1 in East Africa returning to India to work for the Railways.. The oldest son became a Captain in the Indian Navy but the younger son went to train with the Royal Artillery at Deolali. He passed out as a Sergeant then trained as a cook.
