Interview with Arthur Hamilton and Olivia Hamilton [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Arthur Hamilton and Olivia Hamilton, covering the period 1925-1949. Cassette side OA1/34/1: Mrs Hamilton's family connections with India. Mr Hamilton's reasons for joining Indian Forest Service. Type of officer joining service; vocational qualification...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/34/1-6 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Hamilton; Arthur Plumptre Faunce (1895-1977); Inspector-General, Indian Forest Service
Other authors: Hamilton; Olivia Urmston (fl 1972); née Seth Smith, wife of Arthur Hamilton, Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.34.1-6
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/34/1-6
callnumber_txt OA1/34/1-6
callnumber-sort OA1/34/1-6
prefix_number 1-6
title Interview with Arthur Hamilton and Olivia Hamilton [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. 53 min.
author Hamilton; Arthur Plumptre Faunce (1895-1977); Inspector-General, Indian Forest Service
author_facet Hamilton; Arthur Plumptre Faunce (1895-1977); Inspector-General, Indian Forest Service
Hamilton; Olivia Urmston (fl 1972); née Seth Smith, wife of Arthur Hamilton
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Hamilton; Arthur Plumptre Faunce (1895-1977); Inspector-General, Indian Forest Service
author_letter Hamilton; Arthur Plumptre Faunce (1895-1977); Inspector-General, Indian Forest Service
author2 Hamilton; Olivia Urmston (fl 1972); née Seth Smith, wife of Arthur Hamilton
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Hamilton; Olivia Urmston (fl 1972); née Seth Smith, wife of Arthur Hamilton
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British Inspector-General in Indian Forest Service.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Arthur Hamilton and Olivia Hamilton, covering the period 1925-1949. Cassette side OA1/34/1: Mrs Hamilton's family connections with India. Mr Hamilton's reasons for joining Indian Forest Service. Type of officer joining service; vocational qualifications. Recruitment procedure. Terms of service. Varying status of Indian provinces and allocation procedure. Mr Hamilton's posting to Punjab. Description of voyage to India and arrival in Bombay. Mrs Hamilton's impressions on arrival in Bombay. Description of train journey. Cassette side OA1/34/2: Mrs Hamilton continues description of train journey to Pathankot followed by pony trek to base. Description of bungalow. Attitude of servants. Mr Hamilton's account of beginnings of IFS. Work of forest officers. Effects of isolation. Passing time: receiving newspapers and mail; hunting. Stories of shooting bear and encounter with leopard. Mrs Hamilton's recollection of learning to shoot and hunting. Story of close escape from panther. Cassette side OA1/34/3: Mrs Hamilton's description of utilisation of hunting carcasses. Morality of shooting. Mr Hamilton's enjoyment of stalking. Sums up feelings about mountains by quoting Kipling. Mrs Hamilton's recollections of touring in Ladakh area: physical surroundings; mirages; use of animal dung as fuel. Mr and Mrs Hamilton's recollections of collecting bird skins. Mr Hamilton's attitude to proximity of Tibetan border. Mrs Hamilton continues description of Ladakh tour. Mr Hamilton's description of Himalayan climate. Cassette side OA1/34/4: Mrs Hamilton's recollection of their strange appearance after Ladakh tour. Mr Hamilton's description of tour arrangements. Transporting logs by river. Touring: forest roads; types of bridge; camp sites and tents. Importance of touring in forest officer's life; sense of fulfillment from work. Giving advice to villagers. Mrs Hamilton's recollections of problems of living off land. Occupying time. Recollections of ayah and her stories. Cassette side OA1/34/5: Mrs Hamilton's description of camp baths. Problems in ordering goods. Cook's skills and traditional recipes. Mr Hamilton's minimal use of clubs; feeling of alienation. Society's attitude to 'jungle wallahs'. Mrs Hamilton's description of clothing. Mr Hamilton's reflections on the importance and fascination of hill regions. Mr and Mrs Hamilton's recollections of evocative sounds and smells of India. Mr Hamilton's doubts about existence of abominable snowman. Cassette side OA1/34/6: Mr Hamilton's description of how he gained experience in India. Increased appreciation of changes in Raj as promoted; preparing India for independence. Interest in soil erosion and water conservation; contacts with Indian Army men in villages. Mrs Hamilton's love of India. Role of British women; voluntary works. Interests in medical work and girl guides. Separation from children. Value of Raj. Mr Hamilton's gains from his India service.
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: C1510/34/01-06. 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: C1510/34/01-06 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004933/06
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/34/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0034.001-6

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