The annual Re-union of ex-Servicemen of Gonda District (H.P.) was held recently at Gonda. More than 600 ex-Servicemen attended the re-union.

The programme commenced with interesting items of sports after which the ex-Servicemen were entertained to lunch. Lt.-Col. H. D. Bedi, R.O., U.P. Area, Lt. B.K. Wali, I.N., A.R.O., Lucknow, lunched with the ex-Servicemen, cracking jokes and cheering them all the time. Major H.S. Taragi, Secretary, D.S.S. & A.Board, U.P., supervised the lunch arrangements and personally served lunch.

At the post-lunch session a meeting was held under the presidentship of Mr. L.M. Bhatia, President, D.S.S. & A. Board; which was attended by the leading citizens and ex-Servicemen. Maj.-General. Diwan Misri Chand, G.O.C., U.P. Area, was the chief guest of honour.

The Secretary, D.S.S & A. Board opened the meeting by reading the annual report. Mr. Har Prasad Saxena, H.A.R.O., Major H.S. Taragi and Lt.-Col. H.D. Bedi addressed the meeting. Major Taragi explained the amenities provided by the provincial Board to the ex-Servicemen and their families.

Maj. Gen. Diwan Misri Chand, G.O.C., U.P. Area, decorated three ex-Servicemen with medals and pinned a Recruiting Badge on the breast of an old civilian whose three sons were in the Army. He distributed charitable grants to five ex-Servicemen and to the widow of an ex-Serviceman.

Mrs. Bhatia. wife of the President, D.S.S. & A. Board, gave away prizes to the winners of sports items.

Sub. Har Bhagat Misir, 90-year old pensioner. was warmly applauded when he received the prize for being the oldest pensioner. He was presented a stick studded with silver.

Addressing the meeting the G.O.C. said: "Our country should be made militarily so powerful that no power on earth could dare cast an evil eye on her or even dream of shaking her solidarity from within or with-out. In the race of armament which was apace all round, India, if we cherished her hard earned freedom should not lag behind. "The independence of India was achieved with the common efforts of Indian Army and the Indian National Congress and to preserve this freedom, civilians and the Army must play a vital role as they are the twin wheels of the administrative chariot."

He advised the ex-Servicemen to make the best use of the Re-unions and pointed out the various schemes launched by the Government for the benefit of the ex-Servicemen and their families.

The grants for the benefit of ex-military personnel, the General continued, were hitherto spent stringently but hereafter they would be spent liberally. He laid great stress on maintenance of communal harmony and peace.

He exhorted young men to join the various branches of the Defence services.

Mr. L.M. Bhatia, in his presidential speech, thanked the G.O.C. for his participation in the Re-union and promised all support in recruitment and other activities concerning the welfare of ex-Servicemen.

After the meeting, the G.O.C. met the J.C.Os. individually and enquired about their welfare.