It is Deolali really, not Doolally.

Three cheers for the British squaddie.

He has served all around the world in major theatres of war and many little backwaters, but wherever he is, he will imprint his stamp on the area in his own inimitable fashion.

Thus in France: the city of Ypres becomes “Wipers”; 

in southern Malta: Siggiewi becomes “Ciggie-Wiggie” 

and in India: Deolali becomes “Doolally”.

Deolali is in Maharashtra province in western India and, for a long time it was the site of a British Army transit camp in the days of the Raj.   (Nowadays, the Indian Army has an artillery firing range at nearby Devlali so it still has a military connection.)  Soldiers or units of soldiers were sent to Deolali camp when they had finished an assignment or posting and waited there for orders to be cut for their next posting.

They waited … and waited.  Often waiting so long, with very little to do, they went crazy.  Tap is the Hindu word for fever and “Deolali Tap” is the term applied to any soldier who has waited too long and has gone feverish with the frustration.

My Grandfather Holland served with the South Staffordshire Regiment during the Great War or the war to end all wars (it was not until much later that it was called the First World War), he served in Egypt and India, finishing up in Deolali Camp.  I have before me now his silver cigarette case, inscribed inside:

 A Memento

 From the

 PALSAWALLAH

 Deolali 1919

It looks as if Grandfather did not get back to Blighty (from the Hindu Bilayati meaning foreign and used in the Great War to refer to England or getting back to England) for quite a while after the end of hostilities.  I do not think he was badly affected by the experience though as I remember him as quite a sensible gentleman as he grew older.

The photograph is of my two Grandfathers’ 1914 – 1918 Service medals awarded for that conflict (my Grandfather Allcock’s military service was with the Royal Artillery). 

Now, if you know anybody who is a bit addled, barmy, bonkers, crazy, crackers, cracked, cuckoo, gone with the fairies, potty and so on – you can add this to the repertoire: gone Doolally or Doolally Tap.

But, please, spell it: D - E - O - L - A - L – I.  Thank you.