TOPIC:

Hi David & Others







I acquired Peters' QSA in the mid-1970's off one of Colin Owen's Postal Auctions, but up to now, to my regret, I still do not know anything about the man.

Henk

From the "South African Indian Who's Who" of 1936

For the sake of completeness this is from the PMB Archives - Gandhi's response to his mid.

For the sake of completeness this is from the India Archives - Gandhi's return of his medals

I was reading today in the Anglo Boer War Museum that Gandhi complained bitterly that the issue of the Queen's chocolate was not extended to include the Indian contingent.

DEPOT NAB
SOURCE CSO
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 1641
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 1900/1462
PART 1
DESCRIPTION MK GANDHI. ASKS WHETHER THE LEADERS OF THE INDIAN AMBULANCE CORPS
ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE QUEEN'S CHOCOLATE.
STARTING 1900
ENDING 1900
REMARKS B/L OF C/469; PM1900/391.

The colonial secretary declined this request because the chocolate was for non-commissioned officers only (NAB, CSO, Vol. 1641, 1462/1900, 9 March 1900).


I think Mr Gandhi's comments must always be taken with a pinch of salt ( whilst in South Africa circa 1900 ) . I would be very surprised if Gandhi lifted a stretcher or dabbed a wound - He was a leader, an educated man & of a caste not associate with menial work. That was left to the "700 -800 Indian Coolies, ignorant of English". The same for medals - for the leaders & not for the workers. To my mind he was "stirring". The bitterness of his complaint was over once the letter was in the mail. The greatness of the man is that this was to so dramatically change in so short a time.