| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Colonel Kenneth Mason, covering the period 1909-1932.
Cassette side OA1/42/1: Family connections with India, desire to serve there. Voyage by troopship to India 1909: seasickness; Port Said conjurors; birth of child; quarantine on arrival at Karachi for measles outbreak. Service options of Royal Engineers. Posting to Meerut; superior's work methods; Mason's temporary responsibilities. Meerut's Mutiny connections. Importance of riding. Using mathematical skills in design tasks. Conserving Mutiny relics. Posting to Survey of India; its establishment.
Cassette side OA1/42/2: Responsibilities of Survey of India; Dehra Dun's function as headquarters of Trigometrical Department. Relaxation at Mussoorie hill station during hot season; opinion that there was little immorality. First survey assignment in Kashmir: its status as hill station territory; nature of work; triangulating. Spending monsoon at Gulmarg; learning golf. Attack of cholera 1911. Description of flight in biplane 1910. Playing cricket with Maharajah.
Cassette side OA1/42/3: Duck shooting in Kashmir. Return from leave 1913. Posting in command of survey in region of Chinese Pamirs with Russian cooperation: preparations and plans; distances involved; food supplies; problems of terrain; dealings with porters. Opinions on Indian Civil Service; changes after First World War. Atmosphere in India and Burma in 1932; relations with Russia.
Cassette side OA1/42/4: Russian and British frontier posts; importance of Gilgit. Contacts with Russians. Typical nature of Mason's responsibilities for young officers in India. Absence of casualties on Mason's expeditions. Financial problems in organising Pamir expedition; story of borrowing money illustrating British credit worthiness. Return to Survey of India after First World War; cutbacks and changes. Bribery and gifts; story of effort to reward Mason. Crossing mountain passes at night. Family separations.
Cassette side OA1/42/5: Financial problems of family separations. Low pay; necessity of keeping up appearances. British social hierarchy; examples. Story of Indian doctor's failure to be elected to club. Function of clubs; absence of Indian women. View of social events in Simla whilst in charge of survey office; cavalry uniforms. Wearing puggaree for comfort. British efforts to sustain prestige.
Cassette side OA1/42/6: British conduct in India; manslaughter incident; loneliness; drinking habits. Story of earthquake in Burma. Unpleasant features of Indian life: snakes; malaria; hot weather. Innocent relationships with women in hill stations. Christmas shoots. Big game shooting; unusual trophies. Disbelief in abominable snowman; strange experiences. Activities of holy men; pilgrimages. Shaksgan expedition 1926 led by Mason to complete Younghusband's surveys; getting official backing; objectives; work of expedition; Pathan surveyor.
Cassette side OA1/42/7: Account of Shaksgan expedition 1926: organisation; strategic importance of passes. Mystique of mountains; view at dawn. Danger from avalanches. Motivation of British in India. Enjoyment of service in India; reasons for leaving India.
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| Main author: |
Mason; Sir; Kenneth (1887-1976); Knight; Deputy Superintendent of the Survey of India |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. 30 min.
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| Admin history: |
British civilian Deputy Superintendent on the Survey of 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: C1510/42/01-07. 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: C1510/42/01-07
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004941/07 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/42/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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