Betty Caffin (centre front) ran the “Rest Haven” forces’ canteen in Poona, India, for five years from 1942. Many of the British and Indian volunteers who worked with her were the wives of officials in the police or military.

They worked together to provide home comforts for troops during WW2 and in the run-up to the partition of India.

As well as the café, the volunteers provided a rest room with reading material and a shop selling items such as toiletries and cigarettes.