South Yorkshire Times, July 22nd, 1944
Life In India
West Melton Major’s Letter
We have received an interesting letter from Major Frank Laver, (33), elder son of Mrs. and the late Mr. R. Laver, of 58, Winterwell Road, West Melton, who is serving in India. Major Laver is an old boy of Wath Grammar School, leaving in 1929 for Leeds Training College where after training for the teaching profession, he obtained an appointment on the staff of Wath Victoria School. In 1934 he joined the Army Educational Corps and three years later he went out to India where he served five years on the frontier, part of the time with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and about two years with the R.A.F. in an educational capacity.
He was commissioned in February 1941, promoted to Lieutenant the same day and Captain in June the same year. He was posted to the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. and went on active service early in 1942. After seeing service against the Japanese in the first Arakan campaign, he left Burma in May 1943 and is now at the Indian Staff College. His wife (formerly Miss Mary Brearly who was on the staff of Kilnhurst Church School in 1936 and joined Major Laver in India a year later) and two children returned to Egland in May. Mrs. Laver expects to take up a teaching appointment under the War Office.
Major Laver expects to be in India for some time yet. He was promoted to Major in October 1942 before the Arakan campaign and was acting Lieut. Colonel for a short time at the end of 1943.
Yorkshireman of India
Recording some of his experiences of India, he writes “During my time on the North-West frontier, I came to regard the Pathan as the Yorkshiremen of India. The people of India are politically conscious. The countryman remains the simple loveable type of chap, near to soil the world over, generous kind and tired, with his future always out of his reach, but near enough to spur him on. The folk I like best are the hill people and the thing I’ve hated most has been, and still is, the women working down the mines.
The children in many cases go down the pit too – it is the only place the parents can keep an eye on them. Please do not think this is a peace-time regular proceeding. The Indian running his own municipal affairs shows the same hard-headed sense his British counterpart does. There are far too many fairytales told about India, and too man wrong impressions. It is only by seeing for one’s self that perspective is maintained. This is where the Tommy abroad is our best diplomat and I believe the same applies to the India Sepoy when he gets to England. India is not all paradise and the Tommy has a difficult time whether he be on active service or in a so-called peace station. The best thing the folk at home can do to back him up is to keep him well supplied with mail and chatty news.”
Major Laver will be remembered by many friends in the district as a former members of Swinton men’s hockey team, and he continues to play in India. His brother, Flying Officer Douglas Laver, who has been in the R.A.F. since 1927 was shot down over Germany in February last, and has since been reported a prisoner of war. He is believed to be in Stalag Luft 3 where the 47 R.A.F. men were recently shot after attempting to escape.