| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Spike Milligan, covering the period 1918-1927.
Cassette side OA1/47/1: Recollections of father, Lance Bombardier Milligan: joining army; rough rider uniform at Woolwich Academy; posting to India at Kirkee near Poona; marriage; voyage out. Recollections of mother, Florence Kettlebrand and her family. Milligan's birth 1918. Recollections of grandfather, Trumpet Sergeant Major Kettleband's, smart appearance; his full dress Royal Artillery uniform and sword. Description of Poona Armistice Day Parade. Grooming of horses. High standard of appearance of British units in India. Reveille.
Cassette side OA1/47/2: Soldiers' morning routine. Reasons for importance of cleanliness in army. Nature of British soldiers: disciplined behaviour; absence of homosexuality; use of brothels; popularity of pets. Effects of heat. Prevalent illnesses. Mental breakdowns; suicides.
Cassette side OA1/47/3: Living in Poona married quarters: neighbours; prevailing moral standards. Strain on Milligan's mother of bringing him up in appalling desert conditions in Hyderabad Sind. British army humour. Knowledge of Hindi as child. Stories illustrating father's uncertain grasp of Hindi. Essential Hindi army phrases. Indications of regimental pride. Soldiers' off duty gambling: crown and anchor; housey housey. Regimental bands of Royal Artillery and Punjabi Irregulars.
Cassette side OA1/47/4: Continues description of Punjabi Irregulars' regimental band; other regimental bands. Rosy view of England as child. Feeling of superiority over Indians, 52 which persisted even though they invariably won childhood games. Later realisation of Indian merits; value of their sense of humour. Description of travelling by train in India: carriages; landscape; station atmosphere.
Cassette side OA1/47/5: Selecting Christmas presents from Army and Navy Stores' catalogue; description of some amusingly inappropriate contents. Extreme respect for officers; view of their wives. Regimental dances. Opinions on end of Raj and its underpinning society. Story of double toast to Queen Victoria as well as George V illustrating her continued influence after death.
Cassette side OA1/47/6: Birth in Poona. First impressions of India; family's high standard of living. Father's posting to Hyderabad Sind: living and schooling in tents; visiting cinema; malaria attack. Return to grandparents' home, Kirkee. Clothes; visiting tailor. Tonga and victoria carriages. Attacks of fever. Soldiers' lifestyle. Recollections of grandfather, neighbours and home. Food. Toilet facilities. Servants. Story of supernatural incident. Playing games with Indians. Itinerant performers.
|
| Main author: |
Milligan; Sir; Terence Alan (1918-2002); Knight; comedian, called Spike Milligan |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
3 hr. 10 min.
|
| Admin history: |
British civilian son of soldier in Royal Artillery in India. |
| Access status: |
Closed
|
| 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: C1510/47/01-06. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
|
| Copyright: |
Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
| User restrictions: |
Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist |
| Language: |
English
|
| Copies: |
Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/47/01-06
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004946//06 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/47/T |
| Format: |
Archive
|
