Last Report gave our news to the end of March of this year, and until April it was very remarkable how little the War had affected us. April, however, brought the Jap air-raids on the east coast and on Colombo. The day fixed for my April chaplaincy visit to Tuticorin happened to be a day when a Jap air attack was expected, and I witnessed scenes of panic and mass evacuation such as I had seen on the roads of France to the west of Arras in March 1918 when the Germans were threatening to break through to the Channel ports. Literally hundreds of people were on trek bringing with them just such household things as they could carry. The week which followed was the most anxious one that we have experienced. On the Wednesday, I received official notification that enemy air-raids and landings were fully expected and that I had best take what steps I thought necessary for my own personal safety. The Bishop of Tinnevelly was staying with me at the time and we agreed that all we could do was just carry on - which we did.

Since April, the War has come home to us in many ways. By the screening of lights and the curtailment of train services, by an all-round rise in the prices of foodstuffs and commodities, by petrol rationing and an acute shortage of rice, sugar and paraffin oil. The shortage of rice is really serious and, although we have stocks which will last till Christmas, I do not quite see what we shall do later on if conditions do not improve.

Following the arrest of Mr. Gandhi, we have had trouble in this area in common with most other parts of India. Wires have been cut, a railway station burnt down, and Government property threatened. Recently I was officially warned that trouble might be expected in Nazareth, but so far nothing untoward has happened to disturb the peace.

I have no more to say under this heading except that I feel we have much to thank GOD for. Not only have we been kept safe when danger has threatened, but the school has been kept so busy that it has had no time to be concerned with the distractions without.

Under this heading I propose to deal with the various activities of the school, one by one:

Religious instruction both to boys and staff is in the hands of my headmaster. I cannot speak Tamil.

By arrangement with the Warden of the Theological College at Tirumaraiyur. The fortnightly visits are much appreciated, I gather, by both our boys and the theological students. I do not attend these meetings because they are in Tamil.

Seven Hindu boys received Baptism this month (September) at the Diocesan Boys' Camp. I have had nothing whatever to do with their preparation because I cannot speak Tamil and I prefer to have the boys baptised in this way because I cannot take a Tamil Baptism service and have never baptized a Tamil person - whether one of my boys or anyone else.

(a) Chapel, Union Christian College, Alwaye [Aluva], Travancore. This was completed in June last and dedicated by Bishop Pakenham Walsh. It is an exercise in Malayalam architecture with aisles, transepts and central tower with low spire and apsidal sanctuary.

(b) Chapel, High Clerc (American) School, Kodalkanal. All work has been stopped on this building till after the War. In case I am not here to supervise its erection, I have prepared full plans and estimates.

(c) Parish Church, Vickramasingapuram, Tinnevelly District. Good progress has been made on the masonry work in spite of local apathy. Here again, in case I am not here to see the building completed, I have prepared full plans and estimates. (Three photos are enclosed of Vickramasingapuram Church.)

(d) Cathedral, Kottayam, Travancore. Plans for extending this cathedral have been entrusted to us and the work of building a new lady Chapel, side-chapel, Chapter House and vestry, together with a general restoration of the old fabric, is now proceeding and will be finished early in 1943.

Apart from a very large order from the South India Railway Company, most of the work of the last six months has consisted of small orders - and plenty of them. I have also come to an arrangement with Messrs. Evans Fraser and Co. (House Furnishers) of Bombay for a continuous supply of ornamental wooden articles such as trays, cruets, bowls, candlesticks and small articles of furniture. This particular line keeps the teachers and senior boys very busy.

For the third year in succession I have been appointed Corresponding Member of the Indian Institute of Architects for the Province of Madras. The office holds certain duties, but these are by no means onerous.

7. SCHOOL STRENGTH

Same as last year - 118.

8. SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD

A meeting was held in August. I felt that it was my duty to state that a return after my furlough was highly improbable - either married or single - due to the fact that I have not acquired Tamil and am therefore unable to keep my side of the undertaking with the S.P.G. to make the Chaplain side of the work my main contribution.

Except for a minor outbreak of Smallpox, the health of the School has been excellent. I dealt with the Smallpox outbreak by inviting the Public Vaccinator to visit the school and vaccinate everyone (including the Superintendent).

This has been regularised. It is a reform which should have been seen to long ago.

The matter of ownership of the pathway through the Mission Compound has not yet been settled but I foresee a verdict in our favour by the District Magistrate in the near future.

This has been in operation daily since the beginning of July. Those present include one Hindu and one Roman Catholic.

A return after my furlough is highly improbable and I hope that the matter (a) of a Correspondent to carry on the work of the School when I go on furlough, and (b) the appointment of my successor, may receive the attention of the authorities both at home and out here.

Nazareth, Tinnevelly, S. India.

30th September 1942

["I had seen on the roads of France to the west of Arras in March 1918" appears above. These are the only words by him that I have found from his time as a 20 year old corporal in the R.G.A.

We visited the battlefield, west of Arras in 1968 [George aged 71]. This was a very emotional time.]