| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with John Rowe and Dorothy Rowe, covering the period 1888-1946.
Cassette side OA1/57/1: Mr Rowe's early life. Experiences as a sapper road building in Khyber Pass. Childhood recollections of India: travelling; boarding school; baths; Quetta irrigation tunnels; holidays. Posting as Military Engineering Service officer to Landi Kotal. Recollections of work controlling water supply and building roads: contacts with local tribesmen; tribal territory; caravans. Mrs Rowe's recollections of caravan's arrival in Peshawar. Visit to Khyber Pass; necessity of keeping to road.
Cassette side OA1/57/2: Mr Rowe's posting to Peshawar to continue Khyber road. Mr and Mrs Rowe's impressions of Peshawar. Mrs Rowe's account of journey from Peshawar to Simla Hills. Arrival at bungalow. Cook's oven. Running household; food supplies. Pleasant surroundings and lifestyle; local expeditions. Mr Rowe's recollections of Simla Hills posting based at Dagshai 1927 to replace road. Recollections of Simla.
Cassette side OA1/57/3: Mrs Rowe's recollections of life in Simla and Jutogh. Kipling's close relations with area; realism of his books. Story of doctor's unorthodox treatment. Kipling's insight; his accurate picture of British soldiers. Attending ceremony; journey by open litter. Mr Rowe's story of schoolboy who became priest to tribesmen. Monkeys found on Jakko Hill. Mr Rowe's posting to Madras. Mrs Rowe's recollections of Madras: its unique nature; their living quarters; social events; visiting bazaar; Indian festivals.
Cassette side OA1/57/4: Mrs Rowe's recollections of Nilgiris. Fruits and vegetables. Mr and Mrs Rowe's recollections of unusual occurrences: Nilgiris juggernaut procession; Indian 'toothache' tree; murders in Khyber; fakirs' activities. Mr and Mrs Rowe's opinions on aspects of Raj: caste system; relationship with Indians; independence; partition; social status; bribery; relationship between British women and servants; Indian schools; sadness at leaving. Mr and Mrs Rowe's recollections of evocative smells, sights and sounds of India. Mrs Rowe's stories of amusing incidents.
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| Main author: |
Rowe; John (fl 1888-1972); Captain, Military Engineering Service |
| Other authors: |
Rowe; Dorothy (fl 1972); wife of John Rowe, Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. approx.
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| Admin history: |
British captain in the Military Engineering Service in 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: C1510/57/01-04. 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: C1510/57/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004956/04 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/57/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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