Going to Mumbai next week. Planning to see Beach Candy, or is it Breach Candy?! As it is mentioned in Dads Diary. Toying with the idea of a side trip to Deolali, but think we might not have time. Anyone know whereabouts the army in Mumbai was based? All the main forces seem to be in Colaba at the end of the peninsular now. Could take photos if needed.
Hi zahonado, There was a large camp at Worli too, although it is more famous for the RAF presence than the Army. Do you know which dock your father landed at? The 13th King's came in at Alexandra Dock, which now called Indira. Apart from the Gateway Monument, other places mentioned by some of the veterans I have spoken with are: Ballard Pier, The Regal Cinema, Victoria Gardens, The Taj Mahal Hotel (sadly now more famous for other reasons) and the Racecourse, all favourite haunts of men on leave in Bombay. I'm very envious of your trip, any photos of the city and WW2 places of interest would be fantastic to see. Steve
Breach Candy, according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breach_Candy but an earlier photograph says Beach Candy http://oldphotosbombay.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/beach-candy-1850-near-malabar.html Cheers Maureen
At last managed to upload a few snaps from recent trip to Mumbai! Our local guides were interested in why we wanted to go to Breach Candy- now one of the most wealthy parts of the city, but we found it and there was actually a park and free library there too. The Regal Cinema is still there though not showing films these days. A fascinating visit to an extraordinary city, but little trace of 1940s now.
zahonado (and others), you may be interested in some photographs of the resort at Breach Candy c 1939 in this link (scroll down) taken by Gordon Gibbons, RAF http://rampais.com/genelogy/ggphotos/urban/index.htm (part of http://rampais.com/genelogy/ggphotos/index.htm) Cheers Maureen
Thanks Maureene, great photos ...looks posh even then. Now it's home to the richest businessmen in Mumbai, but there was a little park and a free library/ reading room right on the sea front. Hard to imagine all the military lying around in deck chairs though!
Hi zahonado, I have been looking through some of the photographs Chindit 1 families have sent me and one location keeps turning up. I'm pretty sure this is Bombay, but the question is, where? Did you happen to come across this place by any chance, or does it resemble somewhere you passed by? Best wishes Steve
More likely Delhi or Lucknow I think. At first glance thought it was Victoria station in Mumbai but the dome is too big. Do you know the men's unit and could it be traced that way? Most likely a Moslem or Mughal monument, hence Delhi or Lucknow suggestion. Maureene may have an idea or two!
Actually I've changed my mind..quite possibly the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata...have a look at some of the images in google... As you know Kolkata was a favourite leave destination... Hope that helps.
Thanks for your thoughts zahonado. The men are from the 13th King's Liverpool, it is before Chindit 1, so probably late 1942 I would say. In the War diary it says drafts of men were given leave and most went across to Bombay, hence my post. It could be anywhere really, it would just depend on how long they had and what trains were available. The battalion settled in Calcutta post Longcloth, but some of these fellows were killed during Chindit 1, so it cannot be during that time. Best wishes and thanks again, I'll take a Google at the Victoria Memorial.
A member on another forum has suggested this building as the potential venue for the photographs I posted earlier, any thoughts? It is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. Once known as the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay.
Thanks for your reply Lionboxer, It is so difficult to be sure with this one as there is never a direct shot of the building from the front. There are definitely strong similarities between the images though:
Could well be. It is sited just opposite the Regal cinema. But when I visited there did not seem to be so much space in front.