Interview with Sir Gilbert Laithwaite [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Sir Gilbert Laithwaite, covering the period 1919-1943. Cassette side OA1/38/1: Entry into India Office; its position and strengths; distinguished superiors. Visit to India as private secretary to Lord Winterton 1922: voyage out; visit to Poona; VIP tra...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/38/1-4 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Laithwaite; Sir; Gilbert John (1894-1986); Knight; colonial administrator
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.38.1-4
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/38/1-4
callnumber_txt OA1/38/1-4
callnumber-sort OA1/38/1-4
prefix_number 1-4
title Interview with Sir Gilbert Laithwaite [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 1 hr. 42 min. (sound cassette: analog).
author Laithwaite; Sir; Gilbert John (1894-1986); Knight; colonial administrator
author_facet Laithwaite; Sir; Gilbert John (1894-1986); Knight; colonial administrator
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Laithwaite; Sir; Gilbert John (1894-1986); Knight; colonial administrator
author_letter Laithwaite; Sir; Gilbert John (1894-1986); Knight; colonial administrator
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British civilian Private Secretary to Viceroy in India Office.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Sir Gilbert Laithwaite, covering the period 1919-1943. Cassette side OA1/38/1: Entry into India Office; its position and strengths; distinguished superiors. Visit to India as private secretary to Lord Winterton 1922: voyage out; visit to Poona; VIP trains; aides-de-camp; meeting Lord Reading at Simla. Viceregal splendours; justification during wartime. Attitudes in India to visiting VIPs. Comparison of British and Indian civil servants. Accompanying Ramsay Macdonald to 1931 India Round Table Conference. Cassette side OA1/38/2: Opinions of Gandhi and Jinnah; contrasts. Brief portraits of Viceroys: Reading; Irwin; Willingdon. Service as private secretary to Viceroy Linlithgow; re-establishment of good relations with Gandhi; Linlithgow's physical appearance; background to 'Linlaithwaite regime'; extent of Laithwaite's influence. Linlithgow's efforts to implement Round Table Conference decisions including federation; disruption caused by war. Political triumphs and defeats. Opinions on Auchinleck and Wavell; choice of Wavell as Viceroy. Cassette side OA1/38/3: Return to England 1943. Accommodation as private secretary 1936. Description of servants. Daily routine of Laithwaite and Linlithgow; relaxations; description of typical tiger shoots. Viceregal visits to Calcutta and Madras. Viceregal audiences, balls and investitures. Description of Simla; its social life. Servant's story of Curzon's working habits. Cassette side OA1/38/4: Respect for Indian Secretariat. Reaction to leaving position as Viceroy's private secretary 1943; later career. Opinions on partition; independence and achievements of Raj.
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: C1510/38/01-04. 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: C1510/38/01-04 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004937/04
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/38/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0038.001-4

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