| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Mrs A. Lee, covering the period 1909-1920.
Cassette side OA1/40/1: Father's army service; husband, G T H Lee's service as bandsman. Troopship journey to India 1909: conditions; measles outbreak; hearing stories of Indian service. First impressions. Train journey to Multan; life in quarantine there. Journey to hill station during monsoon; rest camps. Description of dust storm. Living under canvas at first hill station, Dalhousie: bedding; improvised furnishings; cooking; food supplies and rations.
Cassette side OA1/40/2: Problems of childbirth. Recreations. Conditions on plains during hot season. Visit to Himalayan foothills as maid to district commissioner's wife after loss of child. Segregation of officers' and privates' wives. Limited number of regimental wives. Raids on Peshawar barracks. Stories illustrating Afridi characteristics. Peshawar bazaars; shopping. Smallpox outbreak in Nowshera. Band's service as stretcher bearers in actions against Afghans. Description of married quarters.
Cassette side OA1/40/3: Cooking arrangements. Servants' duties and characters. Methods of transport. Handpulled fans. Recollection of hearing regimental march of 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. Story of inspection of regiment after long route march. Stories of keeping donkey and dogs. Soldiers' dogs. Brigand scare at camp for women and sick. Boundaries of typical plains cantonment; Indians permitted.
Cassette side OA1/40/4: Attending musical show of Rajah of Kapurthala's sons and regimental band; bandsmen's private bookings. Husband's pay. Delays on leaving India; stay in old hospital; daughter's jaundice. Soldiers' treatment of Indians. Soldiers' marriages to Anglo-Indians. Indian dressmakers; typical 1909 clothes. Recreations: gramophone; band's concerts; sports. Relationship with officers' wives; colonel's wife's visit to sick son. Attitudes to Indian service; suicides. Evocations of India. Moth catching; insects.
Cassette side OA1/40/5: Problems with pests whilst in camp; porcupine attack on dog. Soldiers' wives anticipation of return to England. Efforts by regiment to persuade husband to stay. Good relationship between officers and men. Feelings about Indian service, prospects of return and role of Raj.
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| Main author: |
Lee; A (fl 1909-1972); wife of British Army Band Sergeant |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. 10 min.
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| Admin history: |
British civilian wife of British Band Sergeant 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: C1510/40/01-05. 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: C1510/40/01-05
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004939/05 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/40/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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