Interview with Ed Davis [sound recording]

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 journ...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/23/1-4 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Davis; Edward (fl 1924-1972); solidier
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.23.1-4
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/23/1-4
callnumber_txt OA1/23/1-4
callnumber-sort OA1/23/1-4
prefix_number 1-4
title Interview with Ed Davis [sound recording]
scb_date_creation 1972-1974
scb_level Item
level_sort 8/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File/Item
scb_extent 3 hr. 00 min.
author Davis; Edward (fl 1924-1972); solidier
author_facet Davis; Edward (fl 1924-1972); solidier
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Davis; Edward (fl 1924-1972); solidier
author_letter Davis; Edward (fl 1924-1972); solidier
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British private and infrantryman in Dorsetshire Regt in India, Gurkhas.
description 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.
scb_access_status Closed
scb_conditions_gov_access 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.
scb_copyright Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
scb_use_restrictions Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist
language English
language_search English
scb_copies Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/23/01-04 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004922/04
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/23/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0023.001-4

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