South Yorkshire Times, November 13th 1943
Mexboro’ Signalman’s Impressions
Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, 50, Doncaster Road, Mexborough, have two sons, both serving overseas, Ronald (31), joined the Army in July, 1940, and for the last two years has been serving as a signaller in India.
William (25), who before the war was a Territorial, was called up when war broke out, and is with a Heavy A. A. Brigade. Bombardier William Thornton has been with the Middle East Forces for over two years. Before the war Signalman Ronald Thornton was a linotype operator with the South Yorkshire Times and was a popular figure in local sporting circles.
Recently his parents have received some interesting letters on life in India. Writing on September 14th, Signalman Thornton said that razor blades (in short supply in the home country) were very plentiful there, at a price. The ones that used to be sold in England for a penny each were 5d. He says, “fortunately, we get a few blades issued free, which helps a lot. Then the natives (happy wallahs) give you quite a respectable shave for a penny. I had never been to a barber for a shave before coming out here, but this lazy life and tiring heat has changed a lot of old customs. Food is good just now. How is this for Sunday dinner? Chicken, roast potatoes, cabbage, onion sauce, jelly with custard and pears, and iced lime juice. Then we have fried fish occasionally. and eggs are plentiful, though chiefly duck eggs. Bananas and sweet limes (oranges) are coming into season again. Sorry, it is not possible to send a crate of them over. I have had a look round the works of a large daily paper here and was surprised at the modern equipment. All the labour was done by natives, the only Europeans being the linotype and newsroom manager, and the editor.”
Writing a few days later Signalman Thornton says, “I have moved to a new camp a few miles away and am on detached duties working the teleprinter. My tatti hut is in the middle of a mango plantation, but unfortunately the fruit will not appear again for some months. I played in a football match last week. At least it started as a football match and ended in water polo. There was a terrific storm and we played through the torrential rain till the ball was floating and it had to be held between someone’s hands to take the corner kicks. The copy of the South Yorkshire Times for July 3rd arrived to-day and it was very welcome indeed.”
Apologising for the fact that he had not written again for a month, Signalman Thornton says, “Things have been in an awful state with the floods. Our camp was submerged about five days ago and many had to spend the night and most of the following day on the roofs of the tatti huts and lorries. II was not in the camp at the time and the following day I made the trip to my billet on a raft and by wading in about 2ft. of water in order to rescue my belongings. A lot of my kit was lost. Luckily the rains stopped for a few days, which enabled the dhobies to get most of the swamped clothing dry in the sun which is the only means of drying out here, but I have still a lot of mud-covered stuff to get cleaned. By the time you get this letter I expect I shall be away from this place to ‘’somewhere in the Central Provinces.” A change that will be most welcome after being around here for 14 months.”
Signalman Thornton goes on, “Of course you will know about ‘the Jap taking advantage of the disorganisation due to the floods, as it was given out on the wireless. There was little panic in the city and very little damage, except that caused by the river overflowing. There has been no tram service for the last few days and the cinemas were unable to operate, but things are almost normal again now. Giving further details of the monsoons, Signalman Thornton says that he much prefers the excessive heat to the tragic happenings that follow monsoons. Signalman Thornton, who is married, resides in Church Street, Mexborough.