Interview with Mrs A. Lee [sound recording]

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. Tra...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/40/1-5 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Lee; A (fl 1909-1972); wife of British Army Band Sergeant
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.40.1-5
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/40/1-5
callnumber_txt OA1/40/1-5
callnumber-sort OA1/40/1-5
prefix_number 1-5
title Interview with Mrs A. Lee [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. 10 min.
author Lee; A (fl 1909-1972); wife of British Army Band Sergeant
author_facet Lee; A (fl 1909-1972); wife of British Army Band Sergeant
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Lee; A (fl 1909-1972); wife of British Army Band Sergeant
author_letter Lee; A (fl 1909-1972); wife of British Army Band Sergeant
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British civilian wife of British Band Sergeant in India.
description 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.
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: C1510/40/01-05. 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: C1510/40/01-05 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004939/05
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/40/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0040.001-5

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