Mark Rodrigues, now 88, recalls his early days when he left Bombay as a Store Sepoy for British Armed Forces to fight for the Allies in the Middle East on May 26, 1941.
“I utilised my spare time there to visit and see the Biblican well in which Joseph was cast into by his brothers. I also visited the puddle and the tree under which Mother Mary with Infant Jesus and St Joseph reposed during their escape from Bethlehem to Egypt,” recalls Mark, a devout Catholic.
Mark was then posted to the Egypt-Libya border to work in the 19 Indian Field Ambulance where he was entrusted to collect ration, clothing, medical equipment, etc. from various supply units located far and wide in the battle zone.
Escaping death
After British General Claude Auchinleck took over the Middle East Command, an offensive attack was launched against the enemy from Egypt-Libya border to liberate the besieged allied forces at Tobruk in Libya. With the Allied forces advancing towards Tobruk, Mark had to undergo many providential escapes from aerial machine gun strafing on convoy of vehicles.
“I had to jump off from the running vehicle when my unit convoy was bombed and strafed. I injured my left hand palm, dislocating some of my finger joints. I even saw one truck ahead of the convoy badly damaged with the driver at the wheels without his head,” shudders Mark on the haunting memories.
The Germans, under the command of Field Marshall Rommel (Desert Fox), launched a counter attack. The Allies hastily retreated towards El-Alamein, and Mark’s unit of the 11th Brigade was trapped at Tobruk, where the Allied forces had no other option but to surrender. Mark became a Prisoner of War.
“A message was sent to my home, saying that I was missing. My family and neighbors thought I died on the battle ground. Bells were tolled and 3rd day Requiem Mass was conducted at Bendore Church. It was only after six months that my personal handwritten letter was delivered from Italy informing I was safe,” says Mark speaking to City Herald.
After a month’s detention at Tobruk as PoW, all prisoners were taken to Europe PoW camps under the Germans. While voyaging towards Europe, one of the cargo vessels was torpedoed halfway in the Mediterranean Sea. When the ship started listing towards one side, Mark along with his colleagues had to swim with the help of wooden planks.
“I remained adrift for two hours in the deep blue sea till an Italian Escort ship picked us up and put us into cargo holds. My conscious voice kept telling me I will be safe all the while,” recalls Mark.
On rescue ship
“All rescued prisoners used to climb the rope ladders and stretch their hands for food. One Naval rating happened to see the Rosary around my neck and asked if I was an Indiano Catholico to which I nodded,” says Mark. “He pulled me out of the cargo hold and fed me with a sumptuous meal. It was the first time I had tasted Italian food,” he chuckles. The Rescue Ship took the survivors to Greece. The Greeks were excited to see the Indians for the first time and hence they showered the prisoners with fruits and cheered as they were taken on the street.
Shifting to PoW camps
Mark was taken to Bari in Italy, and from a camp near Venice to Anaberg and international PoW camps in Germany. The last PoW camp was at Munich where Mark was liberated and flown to Heathrow Airport in London.
“One of the PoW camps at Epinal in France was mistakenly bombed by Allied bombers. I had to jump an 8-feet barbed wire fencing when the bombs exploded. It was probably the highest jump I had ever made. I lost my hearing during the bombardment. I saw my friend running around ablaze but I was saved as only a red hot bomb splinter brushed past my overcoat. Many of my fellow prisoners died,” sighs Mark. After being liberated from Munich, Mark returned to India after rest and recreation in England in 1945.
Life after war
“I was promoted as Store Havaldar, but was found medically unfit for further promotions due to my ear disability. I was boarded out,” says Mark.
As an ex-serviceman, Mark underwent DGRE courses and passed Diploma in Draughtsmanship and Licentiate in Mechanical Engineering (LME) at Madras. Mark got re-employed in the defence establishment where he gained knowledge and experience through AMIE studies and research work in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Mark served 30 years in the organisation as Designer-Draughtsman, Junior Scientific Officer and Senior Scientific Officer, and then retired as a DRDO Scientist.
6 daughters
Mark married Emiliana and has six daughters - Sylvia, Flavia, Anita, Rosita, Patricia and late Jeanette. He is a true soldier who has fought the battles in war as well as life, and is still fit and fine narrating every detail of his past. At present, he resides at Alvares Road in Kadri and is very particular about his evening walk.