| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Colonel Walter Hugh Crichton, covering the period 1920-1940.
Cassette side OA1/20/1: Recollections of travelling by sea and air between Britain and India. First impressions of India. Origin, description and work of Indian Medical Service. Reasons for joining IMS. Description of uniform. Typical military cantonment day. Lunch-time drinking habits. Description of club organisation and facilities; membership.
Cassette side OA1/20/2: Rejection of Indian colleagues from clubs; later relaxation of attitudes. Sounds of military cantonment. Description of bungalows; gardens; servant quarters. Description of washerman and bearer's duties. Importance of learning local languages. Description of cook's duties. Relationship with servants. Recollections of guest nights. Importance of club as centre of social life; conversation there. Begins account of Quetta fuel scandal.
Cassette side OA1/20/3: Continues account of Quetta fuel scandal concerning illicit use of fuel surplus to military requirements by officers and civilians. Lack of serious corruption amongst British. Unsuitable officers. Pressure to conform socially; danger of financial embarrassment. Calling card system. Availability of credit for British. Stories of British eccentrics. Opinions on British morality in India; illustrative stories. Description of events during Delhi Week.
Cassette side OA1/20/4: Description of Viceroy's Ball; costume of Maharajahs. Description of Gloom Club dances. Social events in Simla; activities of Amateur Dramatic Society. Crichton's work improving conditions in Indian villages; sanitation and health reform. Story of viceregal inspection. Controlling quality of milk and ghee as health officer in Delhi; threats to Crichton's life. Sanitation reform in Delhi; resentment in Old Delhi. Crichton's improved design for Simla rickshaws.
Cassette side OA1/20/5: Objections to Crichton's rickshaw design; eventual success of 'Crickshaws'. Arrival as medical officer in Dera Ismail Khan; layout of cantonment. Appearance of Pathans. Description of tactics used in frontier warfare; changes introduced by air power. Role of medical officer. Posting to Parachinar. Red Shirt connections with attack on Crichton; description of attack; treatment of wounds; evacuation by aeroplane to Kohat.
Cassette side OA1/20/6: Continuation of story of treatment. Loyalty of natives of Kurram region. Crichton's involvement in campaign for birth control amongst Indian women; opposition of husbands. Crichton's interest in remedying poor health of Simla school children; success achieved by providing school milk. Value of IMS work in India.
Cassette side OA1/20/7: Aspects of life on North West Frontier: landscape; description of Pathans; tactics; personal risks. Recollections of Dera Ismail Khan. Effects of heat; description of clothing; advent of air conditioning. Pleasant nature of Parachinar. Description of attack on Crichton; treatment of wounds; begins account of evacuation by aeroplane to Kohat.
Cassette side OA1/20/8: Continues account of evacuation and treatment. Return to Parachinar to demonstrate belief in Kurram people's innocence of complicity in attack; opinion that Red Shirts had been instigators. Trial of Afghan responsible. Increased deterrent effect of hanging Muslims in pigskins. Separation forced on families in India. Advantages of India. Experience of amateur dramatics in Quetta and Simla. Role of church in British India.
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| Main author: |
Crichton; Walter Hugh (1896-1984); Chief Health Officer |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
4 hr. approx.
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| Admin history: |
British Chief Health Officer in Indian Medical Service. |
| Access status: |
Closed
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| Access conditions: |
Access to sound recording of this interview is currently unavailable at SOAS Library. The transcript can be consulted. Researchers can access a copy of this sound recording at the British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/20/01-08. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
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| Copyright: |
Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
| User restrictions: |
Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist |
| Language: |
English
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| Copies: |
Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/20/01-08
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004919/08 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/20/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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