As noted in the previous post Major General D.K. Monty Palit was given the .20 gauge Williams Evens by Indian Naval Captain Reggie Sawhney, date not mentioned but it had to be after 1975. Sawhney was a big man, big enough to have added an extension to the stock if need be. He is mentioned in a few Indian and British officers memoirs such that a picture of him can be put together somewhat.
Born Lahore probably a few years earlier than General Palit say 1912 or so? His father was Indian, a Professor (probably at Punjab University in Lahore - founded about 1880 and prestigious); his mother was British.. His brother was Duggie Sawney of the Indian 16th cavalry (and brother-in-law of Indian industrial titan J.R.D. Tata) and he had a sister named Sheila Sawhney (both mentioned in Palits book). He was one of a group of students who with Palit traveled to UK on the SS Strathmore in Sept 1936. He was known as a sportsman, natty dresser, a pukka Sahib, something of a dilettante, a person who put play above work, and someone who was not excessively serious about his job even though he rose to the rank of captain and commanded the Indian equivilent of Annapolis.
He was an Indian Naval reserve officer in 1947 when India and Pakistan split apart; he was apparently torn about which way to cast his lot even though he was Hindu because of his ties to Lahore but wound up in the Indian Navy.
.. British Naval officer Benjamin Samson recounted an incident in 1947 when Sawhney, then a Naval Reserve Lt. Commander, signaled that he was having difficulty making up his mind which side to choose, Pakistan or India, and asked for an extension. The Indian officer Daya Shankar went over to the soon to be Pakistan Naval officer Siddique Choudhury and said why dont we come to an agreement, Ill give you two extra ships and you keep Sawhney.
.. Samson went on to note that Sawhney was a well-known character with a tremendous sense of humour, who whilst very English in many ways, was yet a complete desi-Punjabi and fond of the good life! He also did not like to over-stretch himself in any way in so far as work was concerned, which he considered an unnecessary chore; he could never understand why the Navy took their work so seriously So here he was, liked by most because he was good company and an intelligent person, but not exactly the first person to choose for your team.
A Few Good Men. Benjamin Abraham Samson 1916-2016.
http://www.basamson100.com/commander-ins-delhi.phpAir Marshal Idris Hasan Latif commented that Capt Reggie Sawhney of the Navy was deputy commandant of the JSW (National Defense Academy). He noted that Sawhney was a charming and friendly person with a wonderful sense of humor and recounted an incident where Sawhney humiliated the chief grounds instructor for being disguised as a gentleman (that might have been funny to the class-conscious but Sawhney comes across to us today as a first class pretentious twit).
The Ladder of His Life (Biography of Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM)
https://www.amazon.com/Ladder-His-Life-Biography-Marshal/dp/93819048551975 Then US Ambassador to India William B. Saxbe commented on Sawhney who was his regular hunting and fishing companion. Per Saxbe Sawhney's mother was British, his father an Indian professor. He had been a captain in the Indian navy, and he had run the cadet school. He had retired from the navy and was an agent for an American sugar company. Saxbe mentioned that when they went hunting, Reggie would bring a table and tablecloth and the silver service to set it up so their lunch was ready when they came in (picture the servants doing the work).
I have seen the Elephant; an Autobiography. William B. Saxbe, US Ambassador to India 1975.
https://books.google.com/books/about/I_ve_Seen_the_Elephant.html?id=dz53AAAAMAAJPalit notes that Sawhney was very different from himself, but he ultimately became the Generals regular week-end shooting companion when both had retired. And here the trail ends. Sawhney died about 2000. His American wife may be alive and might know where and how he got the Williams Evans. He had to have come to the USA on a "Marriage Visa" and as such there will be extensive records at State about him, his family and American wife. That might be a stretch to get and track down. But for nowthats about as far back as I can take the story. Its been fun.
Passing out parade dec 1950. Sawhney naval officer on podium behind commander taking the salute. Cadets carrying SMLE Enfield .303's.
