HOLD ALL

 

The mention of HOLD All during a recent get together of friends, brought back so many memories of journeys done.

 

Before we go further we have to clarify what an HOLD ALL was , because the new generation and the genx will have no clue about it.

 

It is basically a compartmentalised bedcover with flaps , only that it is made of strong canvas material with edges stitched in leather and good metal buckles to secure the inside flaps.

One could put inside a mattress with sheets and pillows and knick knacks of all sorts which you forgot to put inside your box , and invariably a  flip flop  nicely wrapped in a news paper.

 

The hold all was then rolled and two leather straps with metal buckles were put around it and tightened. The hold all would then be a be a big roll of secured baggage.with a leather handle  connected to the two straps to carry.

 

Now this hold all was an essential part of the luggage of any service officer , and their name would be stencilled on the hold all.

 

The Hold all was often used as a roll out bed on the floor of the train  when sleeping berths were hard to get, and of course on the berths as in those years there was no bed rolls giving in the trains.

 

It was an integral part of our lives.Little did we realise after all these decades it would a be a HOLD ALL of memories of many journeys we made, the reason we made it and the joy associated with it.

 

It was definitely an apt Name .