American rations

Further to the item about a reader’s father’s RAF service, he says: “My dad started off his service in India simply because the Japanese had suddenly captured Singapore and so the ship with its personnel was diverted to India.

“Later in Persia, when delivering American planes cross border by vehicle to our Russian allies, the RAF camp was surrounded by militants of the Shah threatening to attack – the Shah of Persia had turned pro-german.

“The RAF lads merely had side arms for defence, the Yankee planes were not fully assembled and the only plane fully available was a Gloucester Gladiator belonging to the commanding officer. He duly went up in that plane and lobbed hand grenades at the Persian forces.

“Contact was made with a British Indian Army tank regiment which arrived later at the scene and the Persians soon surrendered. The Shah was deposed with his pro-british son replacing him.

“As Dad’s group was working for the Americans, they were provided with wonderful American rations. They became friendly with a local resident, a White Russian aristocrat and his wife who had fled Russia at the time of the Revolution at the end of the First World War.

“They owned a villa with a swimming pool and, in return for their hospitality, Dad’s buddies gave them some of their rations. Don’t ask me how they managed it in wartime, but the countess had knitted a jumper for me which she sent to my mum – it didn’t fit though!”