Sunday, April 18, 2010

WW2 Pamphlet V for Victory Bugle Man - India


Today's item is on pamphlet issued in 1946 during Delhi Victory Week which was official local celebration of victory by the Allies over Germany and Japan.

The Delhi Victory Week was celebrated on March 3rd to 9th, 1946 in New Delhi, India. The Victory Week saw more than 100,000 visitors. Highlight of the week was the parade on 7th March, in which 10,000 men and women, horses, mules, camels, mechanized equipment, bands and airplanes took part. The Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell; the Supreme Commander of Southeast Asia, Lord Louis Mountbatten; the Commander-in-Chief in India, Sir Claude Auchinleck; and the U.S. Acting India-Burma Theater Commander, Maj. Gen. Vernon Evans, were on hand to witness the event.

Most of the literature printed during Victory Week had same design as shown below in the pamphlet.

The pamphlet shows a large V of Victory sign with a Bugle Man. The pamphlet is of size W 6.2" X H 9.6".

Continuing on the celebration events, the parade was led by units of the Armored Corps. Artillery, and Engineers of the British and Indian Armies with their equipment. It was followed by massed pipe bands and massed flags of formations. A crack detachment of 200 American troops, led by Capt. Donald McCullough, headed the marching columns.

The parade also showcased detachments from Nepal, West Africa, East Africa, Burma, the Royal Indian Navy, the Royal Indian Artillery, the Royal Indian Engineers, British Infantry, Indian State Force Infantry, Special Detachments, Royal Indian Army Service Corps, Indian Army Medical Corps, Indian Army Veterinary Corps, Indian Army Ordnance Corps, Army Remount Department, Indian Pioneer Corps, Indian Army Corps of Clerks, the Royal Air Force, and Royal Indian Air Force.

It was followed by massed provincial banners, Boys Detachments from most of the units of the Indian Army, Boys Detachments representing Indian State Forces, a Boys Detachment from the Royal Indian Army Service Corps, Women's Services, and Delhi Police Band and Delhi Police Department.

Another highlight and huge crowd puller was the fly-past by planes of the Royal Air Force and Royal Indian Air Force which concluded the parade. They included three Cornells, five Harvards, three Dakotas, six Hurricanes, 36 Spitfires and six Lancasters.

The week's events got underway on 4th March morning with a "Remembrance" Ceremony at Memorial Arch. Two thousand troops, representing all arms of the Indian, Nepalese and Burma Services, joined in exercises dedicated to those who lost their lives in World War II.

A military "tatoo" was given on 4th March evening at Irwin Stadium and repeated on 6th, 8th and 9th March, in which various exhibitions of marching, bagpipe playing and mechanized equipment were given, and the sky was lit brightly with fireworks.

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