Interview with Brigadier F.J. Dillon [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Brigadier F.J. Dillon, covering the period 1919-1940. Cassette side OA1/25/1: Reasons for posting to India; attitude to posting. Descriptions of Khyber Pass and Landi Kotal. Feelings on arrival on North West Frontier and when under fire for first time....

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/25/1-8 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Dillon; F J (fl 1919-1972); staff officer
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.25.1-8
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/25/1-8
callnumber_txt OA1/25/1-8
callnumber-sort OA1/25/1-8
prefix_number 1-8
title Interview with Brigadier F.J. Dillon [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 2 hr. approx.
author Dillon; F J (fl 1919-1972); staff officer
author_facet Dillon; F J (fl 1919-1972); staff officer
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Dillon; F J (fl 1919-1972); staff officer
author_letter Dillon; F J (fl 1919-1972); staff officer
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British officer in British in North West Frontier, India.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Brigadier F.J. Dillon, covering the period 1919-1940. Cassette side OA1/25/1: Reasons for posting to India; attitude to posting. Descriptions of Khyber Pass and Landi Kotal. Feelings on arrival on North West Frontier and when under fire for first time. Tactics of frontier warfare; withdrawing pickets; protection of wounded. Pathan code of honour. Account of first time under fire on NWF. Cassette side OA1/25/2: Necessity for disciplined troops on NWF. Personal nature of frontier warfare; increased risk for officers. Position and role of officers: setting an example; attitudes under fire; necessity of trust in higher command. Role and organisation of mountain artillery; duties of observation officers. Incidence of cholera. Dissent after Third Afghan War amongst men enlisted for duration of First World War. Formation of 6th Mountain Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from regulars for 1920 Waziristan campaign; their high quality. Cassette side OA1/25/3: Gunners' relationship with Indian soldiers and affection for mules. Account of Waziristan incident in which Dillon was slightly wounded and picket overrun. Rate of casualties. Qualities of British and Indian regiments. Dangers of overconfidence on NWF. Elite nature of Punjab Frontier Force. Account of follow-up engagements after battle of Ahnai Tangi in Waziristan 1920. Cassette side OA1/25/4: Explanation of 'being sent down the hill'. Story of war weary British officer. Recollections of political officers: eccentricities; peace keeping role; outstanding individuals. Recollections of outstanding generals including Alexander and Auchinleck. Transfer to Indian Mountain Artillery 1927. Lulls in frontier fighting. Strange command structure on reconnaissance mission. Afridis' reception of young British officer. Efficiency of Indian bazaar communication system. Holiday station attitude of Peshawar; description of clubs. Drinking habits; high standards of behaviour and morality. Cassette side OA1/25/5: Enlistment of Mahsuds in Motorised Transport Company under Dillon's command; story of them guarding his wife. Description of mess tent. Description of battery route marches: sports and games en route; songs; setting up camps; visiting villages; Kitchener tents. Learning languages. Role of Pathan women. British officers' credit. Gossip amongst British. Attitudes to independence amongst British. Opinion on Indian politicians. Hard life of British troops. Cassette side OA1/25/6: Efforts to alleviate boredom amongst troops. Opinion on role of Raj. Dislike of Indian religious bigotry. Dislike of Indian politicians and regret that they rejected Dominion status. Opinions on partition. Description of Dillon's service on NWF 1920-36; story of seven bar frontier medal. Account of expedition during Third Afghan War 1919. Replacement of men enlisted for duration of First World War with regulars before Waziristan campaign 1920. Attitudes to NWF service. Regiments new to NWF. Cassette side OA1/25/7: Gaining experience in frontier fighting; different requirements from trench warfare. Quality of Afridi shooting; difficulty in seeing them to reply. Story of surprise attack on unwary picket in Waziristan campaign. Posting to army headquarters 1936. Problems of preparing for war in peacetime. Prejudice against headquarters staff. Lifestyle at headquarters: keeping fit; move to Simla in hot season; accommodation in New Delhi and Simla. Recollections of Simla: Tibetan convoys; rickshaws; 'rickshaw coolies' uniform [term from original source, indentured/contract labourers]; high society. Cassette side OA1/25/8: Attitude of high command, British Army officers and Indian Army officers towards Indians. Preparing Indian officers for post-independence role. Story illustrating early acceptance of inevitability of independence. Attending dress reception at Viceroy's house 1939. Social life in Simla; undercurrents. Women's attitude to change; problem of family separations. Paternalistic relationship between British officer and Indian troops; custom of durbars. Opinions on Raj; missed chance of Dominion status; role of NWF campaigns.
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: C1510/25/01-08. 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: C1510/25/01-08 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004924/08
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/25/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0025.001-8

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