Meher Baba's Life & Travels
Herbert Davy was from London, England and was one of the first to follow Meher Baba when he met him in East Challacombe in mid-September 1931. Herbert departed England 4 days later on the 17th September taking up a teaching position at Nanking University in China employed by the League of Nations. He travelled on the SS HAKONE MARU, arriving in Shanghai in late September.
Further down this web page is the first letter Herbert posted to "Chanji" Dadachanji which was written on the 23rd September 1931 when he arrived in Singapore on his voyage to China.
State flag of China since 1949 Old Nationalist flag in 1930s Old Manchukuo Government flag
Mid 1932 Train routes for Meher Baba and his group
The following trips or journeys by Herbert Davy occurred after Meher Baba concluded his first visit to China in mid-1932 an left for India with his men Mandali.
Herbert Davy's 1st Rail Journey - China to Europe
Webmaster :
On the 4th July, 1932, Herbert Davy departed Nanking by train to the port city of Dairen as agreed upon by Meher Baba, who had left China 6 days earlier - 28th June by ship back to India.
Herbert was to proceed by train through Northern China often controlled by the Japanese forces, along the Chinese Eastern Railway which connects with the Trans-Siberian Railway at town of Chita in Russia. From there, onto Moscow, then Warsaw, Berlin and Amsterdam eventually reaching London, England.
After a brief stay with his family in London, he, along with his sister, Kitty, met Baba at the French port of Marseilles, on the 28th July at noon.
Early July, 1932
The following towns mentioned below were all visited by Meher
Baba's representative Herbert Davy on his rail journey across China and across to the Soviet territory. Read his correspondences on this web page
describing his various journeys.
DAIREN ( TARIEN ), CHINA
HARBIN, CHINA
MANCHOULI, CHINA
CHITA, RUSSIA
Herbert Davy's 2nd Rail Journey - Europe to China
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The following paragraph sets up one of the reasons why Meher Baba sends Herbert Davy back China with a task along the way to do in Warsaw.
After thirteen days at sea, the Kaiser-i-Hind arrived in Marseilles on Friday, 29 July 1932. Baba was met by Kitty Davy and her brother Herbert, who had come from China via Russia. They boarded a train for Santa Margherita, located along the Italian Riviera. The next day, much to Quentin Tod's surprise, Baba arrived earlier than scheduled. Between the towns of Santa Margherita and Paraggi, Quentin had rented a separate villa for Baba and the mandali named Fiorenza, which Baba liked very much.
Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1452
Mid-August 1932
During their stay ( at Fiorenza ), Baba wished to walk to a distant beach. As they took off, the party spread out. This annoyed Baba. Calling them together, Baba stopped and indicated that he wished to go to the seashore, pointing in a specific direction where there was a beautiful tent. Herbert looked over an embankment wall and reported, "This is a private beach and it looks as if the owner is about to return. We will be trespassing. And no English gentleman would act in such a manner!" However, his sister Kitty said that Baba's slightest wish should be followed, and so what if the owner returned! Quite indignant, Herbert contrarily refused Baba's direct order to come along and join the others as they made their way to the beach.
As the group walked along the private beach, an old man with long hair and a beard, leading a little boy by the hand, came from the opposite direction. Strangely enough, the old man greeted Kaka in the Indian fashion of folding his hands to him. The old man walked back and forth in front of them, looking at Baba frequently.
Herbert eventually rejoined the group. Baba had gone into the tent and everyone was seated around him on cushions. Baba severely reprimanded Herbert in front of everyone, "Did you think I asked you to come solely for your own enjoyment? While you were sitting up by the road, one of my agents whom I wanted you to see came and left.
He was identical in appearance to my agent that you must contact in Warsaw when you go to Russia. By not seeing him here, your work there will be considerably more difficult."
Herbert admitted his mistake and said, "Surely we should use our common sense and warn you when you are likely to put yourself in jeopardy in the West [ by trespassing ]."
Baba agreed, "It was your duty to warn me, but you must give in when I insist."
Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1463
Venice, Italy
On Saturday, 20 August 1932, Herbert left at 2:00 P.M. for the train station by gondola. Baba accompanied him and instructed him to go to Warsaw, Poland, to contact the agent identical in appearance to the old man seen in Santa Margherita.
When he got to Warsaw ( about 2 days later ), Herbert had a difficult time finding this old man, having missed seeing his twin. Searching high and low, he finally spotted a beggar who fitted the description given him by Baba. As Baba had instructed, Herbert handed him a few coins, and left enough money with someone else to purchase him a new suit.
Lord Meher Online Edition Page 1465-6
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Herbert’s journey from Venice to Warsaw began from Venice to Geneva which took 2 days. He stayed in Geneva for 5 days and arrange his next teaching assignment with the League of Nations. He then travelled for 2 days to Berlin, for a one day stay; the travelled for 2 days to Warsaw, Poland, where Herbert searched for 3 days trying to find this 'agent' in Warsaw.
After his stay in Warsaw, Herbert continued to Moscow, taking 2 days and staying for one day, before boarding the Trans-Siberian Railway train back to China.
Herbert's 2 letters further down this web page to Meher Baba and 'Chanji' Dadachanji dated 10th & 12th September 1932 describe the difficulty of this journey.
The following towns mentioned below were all visited by Meher
Baba's representative Herbert Davy on his return from Europe on a rail journey across the U.S.S.R. & China. The following towns from the Soviet border to Nanking are mentioned in his letters written on the 10th & 12th September 1932. Read his letters on this web page describing his
journey after this section.
HAILAR, CHINA
ANGANGCHI, CHINA
TAONAN, CHINA
SSUPINGKAI ( SIPING ), CHINA
MUKDEN, CHINA
DAIREN ( DAISON ), CHINA
TIENTSIN ( TIANJIN ), CHINA
PEKING ( BEIJING ), CHINA
TSINAN ( JINAN ), CHINA
TAISHAN & MT. TAI, CHINA
CHEFOO ( QUFU ) & SHANDONG, CHINA
After Herbert's visit to Chefoo, he returned to Nanking by train to take up his League of
Nations sponsored lecturing postion at Nanking University. In May 1933 Herbert had been summoned by Meher Baba and he returned to Europe on the S.S. Conte Rosso.
China Railways 1935
Letters & Cables sent to & from China - 1930s
Note : All letters & postcards on this web page posted to China is courtesy of the Meher Trust Archives in India.
26
23rd September 1931 : Letter from Herbert Davy to "Chanji" Dadachanji
This letter was written when Herbert's ship reached Singapore en route to Shanghai.
Because the contents of this letter had no reference to China it was not re-typed.
21st & 23rd October 1931 : Letter
from Herbert Davy to Meher Baba
25th October 1931 : Letter from Herbert
Davy to Meher Baba
15th November 1931 : Letter from Herbert Davy to "Chanji" Dadachanji
Because the contents of this letter had no reference to China it was not re-typed.
13th January 1932 : Letter from Herbert
Davy to Meher Baba
26th January 1932 : Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
20th Feb. 1932 : Letter from Herbert Davy to Rustom K. Irani
18th March 1932 : Cable from Rustom K.
Irani to Herbert Davy
21st March 1932 : Letter from Herbert
Davy to Meher Baba
25th April 1932 ; Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
16th June 1932 : Letter from Herbert
Davy to Meher Baba
17th June 1932 - Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
13th July 1932 : Telegram from Herbert
Davy to Kitty Davy
10th September 1932 : Letter from
Herbert Davy to "Chanji" Dadachanji
12th September 1932 - Letter from Herbert Davy to Meher Baba
19th November 1932 - Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
1932-3 - Letter from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
1933 - Letter from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
16th Feb. 1933 - Cable from Herbert Davy to Meher Baba
8th March 1933 : Letter from Herbert
Davy to "Chanji" Dadachanji
19th April 1933 - Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
28th April 1933 - Cable from Herbert Davy to Meher
Baba
1st May 1933 - Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
5th May 1933 - Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
12th May 1933 - Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
17th May 1933 - Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
27th May 1933 - Cable from Meher Baba to Herbert Davy
