AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 157 of 237 first armoured tank “Vijayantha” was made and since then many others. It was his pride. “Sarvatra” meaning “everywhere”, is the motto of the Madras Sappers and true to his motto Pappa has left a legacy in perhaps every part of the country and beyond. Even towards retirement he helped to set up the Govt. Officials Co-operative Housing Colony a flourishing colony for retired officers in Besant Nagar Madras. Being a Madras Sapper was his identity and pride and he put his heart and soul into the organisation of their bicentennial celebrations at MEG Bangalore. It was a grand event. Several British Madras Sappers too attended the celebration from the UK. Pappa remained in touch with many of them and was flooded with invitations from them whenever he visited us in England. We once undertook a 300 mile journey up to the highlands of Scotland in Bremar from Yorkshire to meet his ex-commandant Col. Sir John Forbes and his wife Lady Forbes only to find the dear gentleman was quite hard of hearing, but it was plain to see they were delighted to meet each other again so it was well worth the effort.