My father Aaron Richard Samuel was born in the
city of Rangoon in Burma on 17th March 1917. I am told that he joined the British Army
during the war in Burma. He was a medical student in the Rangoon Medical College. Sometime
later around 1930s I am told when Burma was under siege and Rangoon was war ravaged his
family decided to trek into India.
Now those days the only route to India was over the mountains and
ravines and on foot. Families had to gather whatever precious little money and belongings
they had and carried them across the border. Many people perished along the way. He had
even seen the death of his uncles and aunts in this manner. It seems his Mother SOPHIA SAMUEL and other members of his
family along with his siblings boarded the last ship that sailed to INDIA and headed for
the shores of MADRAS a city in the south east coast of India.
My father and his father A.D. SAMUEL undertook
to walk to India. It was considered that able bodied men and adults should walk and leave
the sea passage to older women, the sick and children. It seems on the way my grand father
became very sick due to the altitude and the debilitating task of walking over mountainous
terrain. Footwear and clothing seemed to wear off and water and food became a scarcity.
For many miles I am told my father carried his ailing father on his back and finally
reached India.
After his rehab in India my father was listed in the Officers Regiment
of the Indian army wing of the British army. He pursued his career in the Indian Army and
retired in 1972 as as a provisional Lt. Col and posted as the Commander of the NCC Brigade
at St. Thomas Mount near Madras.
