Maharajah's Palace, Mysore [Wikipedia]

L-Cpl Fred Goode, of the 2/6th Royal Sussex Regiment, Cornwallis Barracks, Bangalore, writing on July 19th [1916] describes their march to Mysore. He is the son of Mr Charles Goode, of 140 North Street, Luton.

"We did the 200 miles in 16 days, which was not bad considering the blazing sun," he wrote. "We dodged the best part of that as reveille was at 3 o'clock every morning.

"When we reached Seringaptam, about 77 miles from Bangalore, we walked all round the fort which was [in the 18th century] supposed to be impregnable but which our Army broke through. It was held by Tipu Sultan, who tortured a number of our British officers most cruelly.

"Next day we resumed our march to Mysore, and about a mile from that city we found flags flying everywhere. The reason we went to Mysore was because his Highness the Maharajah sent an invitation for the whole battalion to become his guests. His Highness's band met us and played us into the city.

"On arriving at Government House we were surprised to see about 30 beautifully furnished marquees, all laid for lunch, and after lunch His Highness provided motors, wagonettes, gharries and bullock carts in which we taken around the city. It was grand.

"We visited the Lal Bagh (or zoo), and I must say His Highness has some collection. We went all through the royal stables, which were as clean as a new pin, and the next item was tea, and that was great after living on stew and porridge.

"In the evening we were inspected by His Highness and then marched to the Palace. The Palace defies description. It fairly took our breath away by its magnificence. It was dark when we arrived, but suddenly the grounds became one blaze of dazzling electric light.

"The Colonel said His Highness had given us permission to go over the Palace, and we found it one mass of gold, ivory and marble. All the doors were inlaid with ivory, and the ceilings were marvellously carved. His Highness's State rooms were gorgeous. In one room there was a big organ, and we were almost afraid to walk on the thick carpets with our heavy boots.

"We considered it a great honour to our Battalion to be thus royally invited and entertained, as we are the only British soldiers who have ever marched there and back, and the only Battalion that has been there for over 50 years. We all felt proud of such recognition."

[The Luton News: Thursday, August 17th, 1916]

One of our earlier diary blogs recorded that L-Cpl Goode had been married by special licence at Luton Parish Church on Saturday, September 11th, 1915 to Miss Dallas Yorke Sandle Jump, of St Albans.