| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Major E.S. Humphries, covering the period 1907-1911.
Cassette side OA1/36/1: Enlistment in 1st Battalion Royal Scots. Voyage to India. Meeting 2nd Battalion; their appearance. Train journey; description of stations. Anglo-Indian railway communities: origins; social contacts with soldiers; desire to marry British soldiers despite official disapproval. Segregation of troops from rest of British society. Arrival at Kathgodam. Story of fears during first guard duty. March to Ranikhet. Attractive nature of Ranikhet.
Cassette side OA1/36/2: Barrack bungalows. Duties of soldiers' servants; latrine attendants. Contacts with Indians restricted to those of low caste; opinions on caste system. Duties of various barrack room servants. Necessity of supplementing diet to avoid malnutrition. Low wages. Uses of cigarette coupons; gambling. Nature of barrack room life; recreations. Recollections of close friend. Superiority of signallers. Soldiers' pets. Story of Humphries' revenge on friend who bullied his dog.
Cassette side OA1/36/3: Continues dog story. Eating marrow-bone fat. Availability of sport; football and hockey. Training with Gurkhas at Almora; impromptu football matches; mutual respect. Combatting ill health; fear he would die in India. Counterproductive effects of topee, spine pad and cholera belt. Free Thursdays. Quinine doses; effects. Effects of malaria. Dislike of vaccinations; unpredictable effects. Leave allowance; visit to Sandys' Home.
Cassette side OA1/36/4: Excellent conditions at Sandys' Home. March from Fatehgarh to Delhi after formation of Indian Signal Corps Company. Continuing influence of Kipling and Kitchener 1909; Kitchener's reforms. Story of Royal Scots' victory over Rifle Brigade during Kitchener training test. View of Himalayas from Ranikhet. Importance of protocol; Delhi Durbar 1911. Barrack room taboo subjects. Lack of female company. Lower ranks' attitudes to sex; warning medical lectures.
Cassette side OA1/36/5: Risk of venereal disease outside medically supervised brothels; unpleasant effects. Formation of Indian Signal Corps 1911: organisation; Indian contingents; success of scheme. Friendship with Indians, less intense nature than with British friends. Recollections of Indian friends. Troops' attitudes to officers; stories illustrating relationship with one particular officer. Opinions on independence.
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| Main author: |
Humphries; Edward S (b 1889); army signaller |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. 30 min.
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| Admin history: |
British signaller in British Army in India. |
| Access status: |
Closed
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| 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: C1510/36/01-05. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
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| Copyright: |
Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
| User restrictions: |
Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist |
| Language: |
English
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| Copies: |
Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/36/01-05
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004935/05 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/36/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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