| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Grace Norie, covering the period 1876-1919.
Cassette side OA1/50/1: Recollections of childhood in I ndia as daughter of forest survey officer. Education in England. Return to India 1893 to join father at Dehra Dun. Meeting officers of 2nd King Edward's Rifles whilst watching polo. Preparations for dances; Indian tailor's skill in copying dresses. Unsophisticated lifestyle. Paraffin lamps. Story of ham soaked in paraffin at dinner. Using punkah to keep cool. Popularity of Mussoorie as hill station. Social life. Foundation of Dehra Dun. Managing household.
Cassette side OA1/50/2: Supervising cook; amusing misunderstanding. Camp life. Bungalow furniture. Recreations; Dehra Dun's pleasant, if isolated, nature. Lack of contact with Indians. Princess Mary's visit to Dehra Dun. Demonstration of Curzon's unpopularity at durbar; his arrogance. Husband, Major General Norie's military career: loss of arm during 1897 Tirah campaign; annihilation of 2nd Gurkhas whilst occupying mined trench during First World War.
Cassette side OA1/50/3: Travelling by bullock cart and train. Landscape. Gurkhas' regimental band. Husband's attainment of regimental command before First World War; Irish bandmaster's gloomy prediction. Indian fortune tellers. Health dangers. Status of Anglo-Indians. Evocative sounds and smells of India. Story of all night vigil hunting leopard. Riding elephants. Begins story of meeting rogue elephant.
Cassette side OA1/50/4: Continues story; denouement whereby elephant is actually a camel. Holiday camps. Changing for dinner. Water carriers. Suddenness of death in India. Restricted social circle; lack of outside diversion. Contrast of wartime scarcity in Britain and life in India. Cultural restrictions. Recollections of earthquakes. Mrs Norie's daughter, Mrs Fleming's description of family connections with India. Relationships within Gurkha regiments. Bungalow in Dehra Dun. Servants. Evocative smells and sounds of India. Animal pests.
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| Main author: |
Norie; Grace (fl 1876-1972); daughter of Head of Forests, wife of Indian Army officer |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. approx.
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| Admin history: |
Daughter of Head of Forests, wife of Indian Army officer. |
| 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: C1510/50/01-04. 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: C1510/50/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004949/04 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/50/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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