By John B Monteiro

Mangaluru, Jul 11: Col Noel Pais passed away in Mangaluru on Sunday July 10 at the age of 92 years. He had walked through many city cantonments, living in colonial bungalows, and tents in prospective war zones bordering Pakistan for 34 years and enjoyed a quiet retirement back in his hometown, Mangaluru.

Noel Francis Xavier Thomas Pais, born on December 29, 1923, was the last child of Cyprian ( who retired as Revenue Inspector) and Mary Pais. His long name, like the tail of a kite, has a short story behind it. His parents had many children, several of them dying in infancy. Noel was born with a gap of ten years after his immediate elder sister – when Cyprian was 51 years and Mary 39 years. The parents were anxious to have a male child to take care of the homestead, and them, in their old age and beyond. So, they prayed and vowed to all possible saints and as many of them as could be accommodated. Noel studied up to fourth class at his neighbouring Bejai Church School and then at St Aloysius College from where he passed out with his BA degree in 1944. Then he had to choose a career and he joined the Army.

Why did Noel choose to join the Army? Second World War was on. Recruitment for normal government vacancies was made only on temporary basis. Such jobs were kept waiting for soldiers who would be demobilised at the end of the war. So, if one wanted a permanent job, there was hardly any option beyond the Army. Noel was directly recruited as a Junior Commissioned Officer and was sent to Agra Ordnance Depot and later to Lahore for training.

Ordnance branch of the Army is very important in the national defence system. The Ordnance people have to evaluate (price, quality and dependable sustained supply), procure, store, maintain and issue war-like military stores (weapons and spare parts) for the frontline soldiers. Noel was posted with the Second Armoured Brigade at Ahmednagar. In 1947, anticipating trouble with Pakistan, his unit was moved to Rajkot. When the British left following Independence, there was a boost to recruitment and promotion of Indians. So, in 1949, Noel became a Commissioned Officer. His next theatre of action was Hyderabad, which was joined to India in a swift action against the Nizam, taking charge of the captured arms dump. The next postings were at Jhansi, Jullundar (Jalandhar) and Kashmir.

Noel was permanently seconded to the Inspectorate of General Stores. In 1963, he was promoted as Major. He became Lt Colonel in 1970 and later full Colonel – a designation with which he retired in 1978. Before that he held posts in Inspectorate General in all the four zones of India. Recalling those days, Noel said that his career was rather peaceful, not having to deal with terrorists or active action.

Noel married Esme (Mathias), a BA, B Ed, in 1960.

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