106-year-old WWII Veteran's Pension Case Settled

[Ed_Haynes]

106-year-old WWII Veteran's Pension Case Settled

Times of India, 7 June 2007

[Kev in Deva]

Ed

Nice to see the old soldier get his just desserts

for those of us unused to Indian currency how much money are we talking about here??

Kevin in Deva

[Ed_Haynes]

for those of us unused to Indian currency how much money are we talking about here??

Good question, Kevin. As of today:

Rs. 2373 = US $58.64 = GB ?29.17 = ?43.11

Rs. 5000 = US $123.61 = GB ?61.48 = ?90.88

[Ed_Haynes]

Good question, Kevin. As of today:

Rs. 2373 = US $58.64 = GB ?29.17 = ?43.11

Rs. 5000 = US $123.61 = GB ?61.48 = ?90.88

Or, to put it in a currency better known to us, WWI British War Medals (at current Delhi dealer prices):

Rs. 2373 = BWM 1.87

Rs. 5000 = BWM 2.50

[Tom Y]

Or, to put it in a currency better known to us, WWI British War Medals (at current Delhi dealer prices):

Rs. 2373 = BWM 1.87

Rs. 5000 = BWM 2.50

What's that in '14 EKII's?

A shame he couldn't get backpay from "49 with interest.

[Ed_Haynes]

What's that in '14 EKII's?

There actually was one for sale with one of the Delhi dealers. Never asked the price, but you gotta wonder how it got there?

A shame he couldn't get backpay from "49 with interest.

The Indian government is not overly happy in paying any pensions to retired soldiers whose service was not to India, but rather to Britain. Just good he got the rank correction through the bureaucracy. Though it was probably a retirement-gift promotion to Naib Subadar (= Jemadar) in any case.

[Michael Johnson]

I think it is Dunsterville's book where he relates being approached by a retired soldier who needed to have his pension form signed off as proof that he was still alive. "Stalky" signed and dated the form. A week later the pensioner came back glumly. "You signed this as November - they want proof that I was alive in October!"

Bureaucracy is a marvellous thing.

[Paul R]

What is the US equivalent to a Naib Subadar (= Jemadar)? A Sargent or a Corporal?

Also, I thought that the British Govt was paying the Pensions to these soldier's?

[Ed_Haynes]

What is the US equivalent to a Naib Subadar (= Jemadar)? A Sargent or a Corporal?

There is no real equivalent. These were the commissioned ranks for Indians, who were generally disallowed king's commissions until the 1930s. Maybe a US warrant officer rank would be the closest? (If warrant officers were real and normal and powerful?) But the VCO/JCO ranks are uniquely Indian.

Also, I thought that the British Govt was paying the Pensions to these soldier's?

No. India is independent, partially so since 1947, fully so since 1950. And they inherited all these pension responsibilities, not only for thsoe soldiers who continued to serve after independence (as he did).

[Paul R]

Thanks for the explanation, Ed. It makes things a lot clearer.

So then a Sapoy is a Sargent?

[Ed_Haynes]

Private = Sepoy (infantry) = Sowar (cavalry)

Corporal = Naik (infantry) = Lance-Dafadar (cavalry)

Sergeant = Havildar (infantry) = Dafadar (cavalry)

Jemadar (infantry - Naib-Subadar after independence) = Ressaidar (cavalry)

Subadar (infantry) = Risaldar (cavalry)

Subadar-Major (infantry) = Risaldar-Major (cavalry) = God

A bit more complex than this, but close enough.