About one week out of Bombay, India, we were given a smallpox vaccination. We arrived in Bombay 20 March 1944 at 3:30PM. In checking my records before we got off the ship they found no record of my smallpox vaccination so I was given another one. We were put on a train for a four day, three night trip across India (through the Bengal Jungle to Calcutta). The train was made up of third class coaches with wooden benches along the sides and the middle. Believe it or not I slept in one of the luggage racks over the benches.
From the train we went by truck to a Replacement Depot at a town called Baidyabati, located on the West bank of the Hooghly River. There was a military hospital to the south of the camp and a British jute mill on the north. The British had a compound where we could go and get Citrus drinks and small sandwiches. They (the British) bowled on the green and had some fierce tournaments. Our barracks were made from Bamboo with mud walls and thatched roofs. The beds were hand made with rope woven back and forth to make the springs. We did not have mattresses, but only GI blankets. Every morning I woke up looking like a waffle.
LOL
Believe it or not I slept in one of the luggage racks over the benches.
That was probably more comfortable.
Every morning I woke up looking like a waffle.
These are fascinating tidbits.
Thanks!