I had bands, military and dance, to keep me happy, and played at the Governor’s House, Boat Club, Sind Club, Karachi Club, Gymkhana Club, Traffic Institute, the hospitals (both American and British, The Convent, and at camp dances. Memories include playing under a tree in the Governor’s garden which was full of roosting parrots, our white uniforms were a picture after they (the parrots) had showed their appreciation.

At Christmas, fancy dress was in order, as were donkey derbys and camel cart races. One clown brought a camel into the airmen’s mess and rode around whilst the lads cheered him on. The camel bolted for the door and evoked great cheers as the rider hit the wall above and came crashing to the ground.

Sgt Cliff Kirkpatrick got me drunk for the first time on my 21st birthday. Dhobi rash was a problem, especially around the wedding tackle and I well remember some joker advising us to paint the affected area with iodine. Someone brought some back from Karachi which we duly applied liberally. After 20 minutes everyone in the billet was sitting in a bowl of tunda pani, in agony. On looking at the bottle we found out too late that it was for veterinary use only! After sitting all night on our bowls we were cured!

An American radio station, WV2ZX, used to provide us with Glen Miller music to counteract Vera Lynn.