Interview with John Rowe and Dorothy Rowe [sound recording]

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 tunne...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/57/1-4 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
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

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.57.1-4
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/57/1-4
callnumber_txt OA1/57/1-4
callnumber-sort OA1/57/1-4
prefix_number 1-4
title Interview with John Rowe and Dorothy Rowe [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. approx.
author Rowe; John (fl 1888-1972); Captain, Military Engineering Service
author_facet Rowe; John (fl 1888-1972); Captain, Military Engineering Service
Rowe; Dorothy (fl 1972); wife of John Rowe
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Rowe; John (fl 1888-1972); Captain, Military Engineering Service
author_letter Rowe; John (fl 1888-1972); Captain, Military Engineering Service
author2 Rowe; Dorothy (fl 1972); wife of John Rowe
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Rowe; Dorothy (fl 1972); wife of John Rowe
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British captain in the Military Engineering Service in India.
description 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.
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: C1510/57/01-04. 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: C1510/57/01-04 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004956/04
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/57/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0057.001-4

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