| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Ed Davis, covering the period 1924-1936.
Cassette side OA1/23/1: Enlistment in Dorsetshire Regiment 1927. Enthusiasm on posting to India. Issue of tropical kit and advice booklet. Account of voyage to India. First impressions. Uncomfortable train journey to Meerut. Description of Meerut station. Soldiers' bungalows. Nicknames of British soldiers; story of how Davies became known as 'Jungle' Davies. Descriptions of dust storm and locust swarm. Control of civil disturbances during hot season; effects of heat and insect pests.
Cassette side OA1/23/2: Prickly heat. Difficulty of keeping out mosquitoes. Protecting food from kite hawks. Story of 'Bombay milk cart'. Army slang. Absence of guards regiments in India. Description of route marching. Welcome on arrival at village. Eating sugar cane and mangoes. Daily routine of soldier. Visiting bazaar; activities of fakirs. Out of bounds areas: unsupervised brothels; temples. Begins story illustrating consequences of another regiment's bad behaviour.
Cassette side OA1/23/3: Continues story: Indians' misdirected fury; Davies' close escape. Restrictions on civilian clothes. Paucity of leave: restrictions caused by low pay; facilities in Sandys' Homes. Description of church parades: their futility; troops' resentment. Soldiers' suicides. Opinion that Indian tour of duty was too long. Incident on manoeuvres with Gurkhas. Origin of Gurkha regiments. Duties on Thursdays. Impossibility of game hunting for ordinary soldier. Enjoyment of service. Relationship with officers.
Cassette side OA1/23/4: Relationship between officers and men. Contacts with Indians; attitudes towards Indians. Absence of normal sex life: supervised brothels; fear of venereal disease; existence of homosexual relationships. Bugle calls. Evocative smells of India. Soldiers' anticipation of returning to England despite enjoyment of India service. Opinions on British Raj. Pride of British soldier in the Raj. Pride in Dorsetshire Regiment.
|
| Main author: |
Davis; Edward (fl 1924-1972); solidier |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
3 hr. 00 min.
|
| Admin history: |
British private and infrantryman in Dorsetshire Regt in India, Gurkhas. |
| Access status: |
Closed
|
| 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: C1510/23/01-04. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
|
| Copyright: |
Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
| User restrictions: |
Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist |
| Language: |
English
|
| Copies: |
Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/23/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004922/04 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/23/T |
| Format: |
Archive
|
