| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, covering the period 1904-1947.
Cassette side OA1/3/1: Reasons for joining Indian Army. Description of mess life. Pre-1914 attitude to Indians. Life of British women in India. Description of 1911 Durbar. Army officers' attitude to British rule. Description of 62nd Punjabis: differing ethnic groups; relationship between officers and men; family atmosphere. Recruiting expedition. Languages used in regiment. Repetition of earlier material. Recollections of Indian language tutor. Role of viceroy's commissioned officers. Indian religious festivals.
Cassette side OA1/3/2: Differences between Indian races; language difficulties. Relationships between British and Indian Army personnel. Changing attitude to Indians after First World War. England's lack of interest in India. Faults of army's Indianisation programme. Description of North West Frontier service; its appeal. Recollections of 1933 Mohmand campaign. Punitive raids: terrain and tactics; description of 1935 Nahakki night operation; recollections of Waziristan campaign. Discipline and morale.
Cassette side OA1/3/3: Overcoming personal fears in action: traditions of service; fatalism. Nature of leadership; problems of high rank. Reticent attitude to ideals. Life of officers' wives. Position in society held by a general. British regimental officers' attitude towards Indian Army officers. Churchill: animosity directed towards India; attitude to Auchinleck; conduct of Second World War.
Cassette side OA1/3/4: Position of Commander in Chief, India. Indianisation during Second World War; effects on Indian Army. Indian Navy mutiny; its causes. Indian independence: acceleration caused by war; Indian Army's political neutrality; effects on mixed Hindu and Muslim regiments. Indian soldiers' loyalty to unit; conduct during massacres. Description of division of Indian Army; Auchinleck's attitude. Recollections of Hindu exodus from Pakistan area; massacres involved. Breakup of Auchinleck regiment. Auchinleck's role in division of war materials; preventing conflict between India and Pakistan. Role of C in C. Abolition of topee. Reasons for joining Indian Army; costs involved.
Cassette side OA1/3/5: Equipment costs on joining Indian Army. Sports and hunting. Description of tiger shooting. Evocative sounds of India. Daily routines. Recollections of 1911 Durbar and sight of regiment marching. Description of climate; effects of heat. Early responsibility in Indian Army. Affection for India.
|
| Main author: |
Auchinleck; Sir; Claude John Eyre Auchinleck (1884-1981); Knight; Field Marshal |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. 16 min.
|
| Admin history: |
British Commander of Peshawar Brigade, Indian Army 1933-1936 and Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army 1941-1947. |
| 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: C1510/03/01-05. 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: C1510/03/01-05
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004902/05 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/3/T |
| Format: |
Archive
|
