Interview with Lady Vere Birdwood [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Lady Vere Birdwood, covering the period 1910-1945. Cassette side OA1/7/1: Attitude to Raj. Family connections with India; recollections of grandparents. Father's employment in Indian Political Service as resident in various Indian states. Wives' attitu...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/7/1-7 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Birdwood; Elizabeth Vere Drummond (d 1997); Lady; née Ogilvie
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.7.1-7
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/7/1-7
callnumber_txt OA1/7/1-7
callnumber-sort OA1/7/1-7
prefix_number 1-7
title Interview with Lady Vere Birdwood [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 3 hr. 20 min.
author Birdwood; Elizabeth Vere Drummond (d 1997); Lady; née Ogilvie
author_facet Birdwood; Elizabeth Vere Drummond (d 1997); Lady; née Ogilvie
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Birdwood; Elizabeth Vere Drummond (d 1997); Lady; née Ogilvie
author_letter Birdwood; Elizabeth Vere Drummond (d 1997); Lady; née Ogilvie
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British civilian daughter of Indian Political Service Resident and wife of colonel in Indian Army cavalry.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Lady Vere Birdwood, covering the period 1910-1945. Cassette side OA1/7/1: Attitude to Raj. Family connections with India; recollections of grandparents. Father's employment in Indian Political Service as resident in various Indian states. Wives' attitude to Raj. Birdwood family history in India. Army life. Childhood recollections of India: nanny's smallpox; seeing Himalayas; living in tent in Delhi; influenza epidemic. Friendship with ayah. Admiration for Madrassi ayahs. Cassette side OA1/7/2: Madrassi ayah's care for son. Effects of childhood separations from parents. Parents' concern over financial insecurity; importance of promotion and honours. Emphasis on protocol. Reproduction of English life in India. Indians' affection for children. Relationship with Indians. Attitude to India on return there after schooling in England. Cassette side OA1/7/3: Life as resident's daughter in Udaipur; riding. Life in Srinigar; social activities. Touring with father in Kashmir; description of villages; accommodation. Description of Gulmarg hill station. Life in Gulmarg: attending dances; morality. Impact of monsoon: preparations; walking in rain. Cassette side OA1/7/4: Emphasis on exercise. Garden tended by Indian prisoners. Importance of game hunting. Reasons for participating in big game hunting; assistance of local expert huntsmen. Description of clothes: changes; customs. Drinking habits. Honesty of Indian servants. Shopping in bazaars. Problems of living up-country. Cassette side OA1/7/5: Nature of life up-country. Great distances in India; effort of moving; tedium of long train journeys. Frequency of moves. Description of Mount Abu club; trivial conversation. Church attendance. Interest in Indian religions; visiting guru. Supernatural experiences. Cassette side OA1/7/6: Story of seeing ghosts in Simla and Mount Abu. Marriage to Indian Army cavalry officer; dislike of life as army wife. Little contact with Indians. Confinement of Bannu. Regimental life: effect of malicious gossip; transfer of unsuitable officers; strict morality. Regimental mess. New Year's Day parades. Admiration for Indian soldiers. Cassette side OA1/7/7: Indian Army cavalry. Benefits of public school education for British administrators. Incorruptibility of British administrators; refusal of Indian 'gifts'. Attitude to Raj; no awareness of imminent independence. Lack of interest in England about India. Evocations of India. Defence of British role in India.
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: C1510/07/01-07. 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: C1510/07/01-07 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004906/07
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/7/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.007.001-7

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