Interview with John C. Rivett-Carnac [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with John C. Rivett-Carnac, covering the period 1888-1927. Cassette side OA1/55/1: Family connections with India. Adventurous childhood in India; self-confidence imbued by father's status. Servants' frightening stories. Earthquake. Financial problems delayi...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/55/1-5 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Carnac; John Claude Thurlow Rivett- (1888-1975); Chief of Police
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.55.1-5
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/55/1-5
callnumber_txt OA1/55/1-5
callnumber-sort OA1/55/1-5
prefix_number 1-5
title Interview with John C. Rivett-Carnac [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 Carnac; John Claude Thurlow Rivett- (1888-1975); Chief of Police
author_facet Carnac; John Claude Thurlow Rivett- (1888-1975); Chief of Police
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Carnac; John Claude Thurlow Rivett- (1888-1975); Chief of Police
author_letter Carnac; John Claude Thurlow Rivett- (1888-1975); Chief of Police
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British civilian Chief of India Police.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with John C. Rivett-Carnac, covering the period 1888-1927. Cassette side OA1/55/1: Family connections with India. Adventurous childhood in India; self-confidence imbued by father's status. Servants' frightening stories. Earthquake. Financial problems delaying education in England; handicap this posed. Problems of low pay: predicament of family man; gradual improvements. Entry into Indian Police 1909 resulting from desire to return to India. Public school origin and attitudes of candidates. Early responsibilities after training. Cassette side OA1/55/2: Early responsibility as assistant chief of police; attitude to these powers. Corruption of Indian subordinate officials in police, judiciary and other services. Honesty of British officers in Indian Police since the 1840s; their public school outlook. Posting 1919 to Shahjahanpur. Morning rides hunting with dogs; encounters with porcupines. Daily routine. Problems of hot weather; mosquitoes; snakes. Endemic diseases; suddenness of death. Typical district station community. Cassette side OA1/55/3: Shahjahanpur club: membership; introduction of Indian members. Attitudes to Indians. Life as police chief: standard of living; sporting recreations. Description of pig sticking; stories illustrating dangers. Experiences shooting game. Booking area of forest for hunting. Stories of shooting tigers and leopards. Cassette side OA1/55/4: Story of shooting leopard. Trophies. Duck, geese and snipe shooting. Recollections of touring; reaction to prevailing poverty. Village money lenders. Evocative sounds and sights of India. Efforts to trap dacoits; story of battle with group of dacoits in Etah district. Cassette side OA1/55/5: Continues story of battle with dacoits; prevalence of such bands. Methods of dispersing crowds. Difficulties with Hindu and Muslim rivalry within Gorakhpur police. Success in dealing with communal rioting. Hunting dacoits to alleviate boredom in Etah; resulting reputation in newspapers. British morality and sexual innocence. Story of misfit police officer's demise. Drinking habits. Drawbacks of India service. Pride in Raj. Relief at leaving India 1927; quotes Kipling's 'Land of Regrets'.
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: C1510/55/01-05. 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: C1510/55/01-05 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004954/05
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/55/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0055.001-5

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