Thanks for this Mick. Of course, I should have looked in a dictionary for vice - never come across this usage before.
I think I've found the answer on India too. I've 'discovered' The Dragon on line on the Regiment's web site - a veritable mine of information. It seems that the 1st Battalion were stationed in Lucknow at the time my father was in India, and I've come across a L/Cpl 'Pedlar' Palmer in N°6 Platoon "B" Company who helped the platoon do well in an Athletics Competition. No idea about the 'Pedlar', but might have been dad, although I guess there could have been more than one L/Cpl Palmer out of the more than 100 or so in the Battalion.
In any case I'll be reading the issues of Dragon which have been scanned before asking any more silly questions.
Thanks again for your help and keep up the good work.
