| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Sir Reginald Savory, covering the period 1914-1934.
Cassette side OA1/58/1: Regret India was granted independence as early as 1947. Joining Indian Army. Troopship voyage to India. First impressions. Relative status of Indian Army regiments; story of how Savory joined 14th King George's Own Ferozepore Sikhs. Introduction to Sikh social customs. Admiration for Sikhs; description of their characteristics. Recruitment policy. Position and role of viceroy's commissioned officers. Bravery of Sikhs at Gallipoli 1915.
Cassette side OA1/58/2: Ease of coping with Sikhs' food and religious customs. Cantonment's commanding officers and magistrates. Recollections of service with 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment; mess life. Aspects of life in Indian Army: mess life; drinking habits; promotion; daily routine. Sikhs' hockey skills; rifle range shooting; officers' horses. Social life; wearing evening dress. Club life: attitudes to non-members; opinion that banning Indians was misguided.
Cassette side OA1/58/3: Indian Army's discouragement of cantonment visitors. Food. Indian cook. Drink suppliers; local drinks. Menance of chit system to poor officer. Punjab's climate; efforts to keep cool during hot season. Nature of cantonment life: prevailing tedium; gossip; social distinctions; gardens; Indian tailors; nuisance caused by dogs and hyenas.
Cassette side OA1/58/4: Recollections of ayahs; their versions of nursery rhymes. Recollections of Indian language tutor. Vast differences apparent in India's regions. Varied methods of spending leave. Static nature of businessmen's home in contrast to army officers' mobility. Recollections of Indian philosopher. Learning languages. Officers' hobbies. Travelling by train; scene at stations. Description of pony carriage. Evocative sights and sounds of India.
Cassette side OA1/58/5: Recruiting tours: composition of recruiting party; reception at villages; hearing local grievances. Quotes from his letters to wife describing visits to villages and school. Relationship between British officer and his Indian men; officers' nicknames. Distinctive bird call. Route marches: ribald marching songs; pitching camp at staging posts; shooting parties after day's march. Recruiting tours: planning and publicity; composition of recruiting party; methods of recruitment.
Cassette side OA1/58/6: Attitude to North West Frontier. Family and non-family frontier stations. Life and operations based at Razmak: maintaining communications; determination to rescue wounded; withdrawing picket; value of operations training; recreations. Campaign experiences: building perimeter camps; pickets guarding road construction; importance of return before nightfall; invisibility of Pathans. Morale and competitive nature of regimental pride. Success of British troops in adapting to frontier conditions; reaction of Indian troops. Peshawar Red Shirts riots 1930; Sikhs' loyalty.
Cassette side OA1/58/7: Problems faced in Peshawar 1930-31; influence of Simon report. Posting as one of first instructors at Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun 1932. Background to IMA's formation. Insight cadets gave Savory into Indian people; pride in his work there. Contacts with Auchinleck; admiration for his views.
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| Main author: |
Savory; Sir; Reginald Arthur (1894-1980); Knight; Lieutenant-General |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
3 hr. 13 min.
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| Admin history: |
British Lieutenant-Colonel in Indian Army and instructor at the Indian Military Academy 1914-1934, company commander of Ferozepore Sikhs at Gallipoli, 1915. |
| 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: C1510/58/01-07. 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: C1510/58/01-07
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004957/07 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/58/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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