Interview with Colonel Kenneth Mason [sound recording]

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 fo...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/42/1-7 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Mason; Sir; Kenneth (1887-1976); Knight; Deputy Superintendent of the Survey of India
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.42.1-7
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/42/1-7
callnumber_txt OA1/42/1-7
callnumber-sort OA1/42/1-7
prefix_number 1-7
title Interview with Colonel Kenneth Mason [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. 30 min.
author Mason; Sir; Kenneth (1887-1976); Knight; Deputy Superintendent of the Survey of India
author_facet Mason; Sir; Kenneth (1887-1976); Knight; Deputy Superintendent of the Survey of India
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Mason; Sir; Kenneth (1887-1976); Knight; Deputy Superintendent of the Survey of India
author_letter Mason; Sir; Kenneth (1887-1976); Knight; Deputy Superintendent of the Survey of India
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British civilian Deputy Superintendent on the Survey of India.
description 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.
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: C1510/42/01-07. 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: C1510/42/01-07 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004941/07
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/42/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0042.001-7

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