A TRUE STORY FROM Les Oswin, ex Royal Signals.

In early 1945 whilst waiting for the boat for the Far East. I heard   on   the   B. B. C. Forces Request programme on the wireless, a record which took my fancy. Weeks later in the Indian Ocean, I had the bright idea of writing to the B.B.C.  In London to have this record played for me on the Overseas Forces Request Programme. A ridiculous idea, of course, because  I was still hundreds of miles from India and would be unable to post the request to U. K  until I arrived , and even if it were ever played over the air, where was I likely to be and would I have access to a wireless set. Was I wasting my time writing to the B.B.C.?  From the middle of the Indian Ocean. But I had faith.

February 1945 saw me in Bombay where I posted the letter, followed by spells of training in Mhow Gungewars, Chindwwharra. Across India by train to Calcutta, where I spent three days in June 1945. In July I was at an Army Transit Camp   Commilla, Bengal, awaiting posting orders to my first permanent unit in the Far East. And  these  were not   expected for some time since arriving  in India  5 months  previously  I had access to an old fashioned  wireless set  designed to receive transmissions from England, but there was a big problem , the set had not worked for months.

So with time on my hands I found a screwdriver from somewhere, and full of hope, using the small amount of wireless repair experience gained during my three years in the Signals, I had it in good working order in an hour. And we all settled down to listen to the B. B. C.  From London.

One of the first programmes we picked up was the latest Request Programme for Overseas Forces in the Far East. imagine my surprise and delight, when my name  was  mentioned  and  my record  request  played in that very programme . My patience had been rewarded after 5 months.

My Faith. Hope and Patience were all justified in the end, but I now have my own copy of the record, “Opus ½” by the Benny Goodman Quartets, and I can now be reminded of a remarkable coincidence, whenever I want.