He was generally known as the angel with the fuzzy beard. Angel? Not to take a look at and definitely not like one among Margaret Tarrant’s sylph-like illustrations within the E book of Widespread Prayer given to me at Christmas 1949. He was Main Dudley John Gardiner, Indian Military retired. Having served as a senior quartermaster throughout the Second World Conflict, he determined to settle in Calcutta.
Dudley had witnessed the horrors of the 1944 Bengal famine, an unlucky stain on British administration within the latter days of the Raj, when Imperial sources stretched to the restrict had failed the teeming thousands and thousands.
With the Japanese threatening Burma and japanese India, Dudley wouldn’t have condemned the federal government, however as soon as the enemy was defeated, he was decided to play his half in bringing reduction to these affected by malnutrition within the former capital of British India.
By the point I used to be posted there in 1972, Dudley was already feeding the 5 thousand – and plenty of extra – every day. I first learnt of him from the outward-going Salvation Military brigadier accountable for the Calcutta citadel and its reduction centre. Over my lengthy life I’ve come to know the way the ‘Sally’ Military by no means rejects a volunteer, nor turns away the real article looking for shelter. Nonetheless in my late twenties on the time, I might not have seen it fairly like that, however one thing prompted me to go and search for myself.
A big ‘go-down’ (storage facility) had been given over to the retired quartermaster in order that, underneath the Military’s umbrella, he might arrange and run an enormous soup kitchen. On my first go to, I discovered Dudley – an enormous of a person – dressed all in white. His short-sleeved shirt revealed highly effective brawny arms which stirred the large cauldrons; ballooning trousers couldn’t cover his swollen legs and sandaled toes, a symptom of elephantiasis attributable to a worm an infection. His rig was accomplished by a white forage cap and butcher’s apron speckled by splashes from his cooking.
Behind the cauldrons have been stacks of donated grains, lentils and different pulses which he and his assistants poured into the nourishing and steaming brew being ready for a noon distribution. Those that wished to be fed, nonetheless, needed to signal on for a ticket; it was all very orderly, as one would possibly count on from an previous quartermaster. As an Military corporal with a broad Scottish brogue as soon as stated to me throughout a go to to BAOR: “if yer nay any coupon, yer nay get yer grub!”
Dudley was British by means of and thru. He was born in 1916 and baptized into the Anglican religion at St Mary, the Virgin, in Twickenham. It’s usually forgotten that Normal Sales space was an ordained Anglican priest earlier than he based the Military within the East Finish. Dudley was not himself a Salvationist; I doubt whether or not he would have referred to as himself something. After I requested him if he missed England, he replied: “No, Tony. I’ve obtained nobody there. All of the household I’ve is right here.” Then, he mirrored for a second and went on: “Effectively sure, I do miss a pint of excellent previous English beer.” Because it occurred, Christmas was simply not far away; so I used to be in a position to ship a case of lager from my retailer imported underneath diplomatic privilege from Singapore. The cans have been adorned with luscious lovelies, however this is able to not have disturbed Dudley as he guzzled.
Someday later, it was with nice pleasure that we heard Dudley had been awarded the MBE (what he affectionately termed “my bloody effort”) for his humanity. I’ll at all times keep in mind attending his investiture. Clearly, he couldn’t fly again to “Buck” Home. As an alternative, the Excessive Commissioner in Delhi got here right down to Calcutta and visited the soup kitchen. Whereas Dudley stood stiffly to consideration in his full white outfit, Woman Walker needed to stretch as much as pin the honour onto his broad proud chest lined by a freshly laundered apron.
Dudley died in 1981. Shortly earlier than, he had printed an autobiographical memoir in paperback along with his imposing determine on the entrance cowl. All who had identified of him in Calcutta would have appreciated the title – “Angel with Bushy Beard”. Each bit as a lot an angel as his modern within the metropolis, Mom Theresa, Dudley had completed what Christ had commanded. How would he have responded to Gaza? My guess is he would have stood to, however you’ll have needed to stand in keeping with your ticket prepared.
