| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Norman C. Watney, covering the period 1926-1946.
Cassette side OA1/71/1: Joining Indian railways as assistant locomotive superintendent. Conditions of service. Aspects of voyage to India 1926: chit system; taking up teetotalism; social structure and customs of passengers; Indian passengers. Attitudes to Indians. Arrival at Bombay; posting to North Western State Railway. Kitting out at department store: reasons for buying more expensive imported kit; description of bedding roll and enamel basin.
Cassette side OA1/71/2: System of porterage at railway station. Train journey to Lahore: description of carriages and dining car; story of robberies on trains. Posting to Karachi; unpleasant train journey. Obtaining furniture for bungalow. Recruiting servants. Training by senior Anglo-Indian officer. Indispensable role of Anglo-Indians; their social status. Royal Engineer officer's work for railway. Levels of corruption. Duties of bearer; system of buying food. Joining club.
Cassette side OA1/71/3: Reaction to Watney's teetotalism in club; drinking habits. Description of calling card system. Learning languages with Indian tutors. Custom of changing for dinner. Buying additional kit. Indian tailors. Joining Auxiliary Force India: training; commission as second lieutenant. Playing cricket. Status of Parsees. Indian trust in British. Illiteracy of many train drivers.
Cassette side OA1/71/4: Problems of heat up-country. Recruitment to railway from British Army. Importance of railways. Quality of services. Maintenance of viceregal train; organisation of its journeys. Railway officers' excellent opportunities for game hunting; description of typical expedition. Spending leaves skiing at Gulmarg. Story of near disaster due to runaway train. Opinions on Raj and Indianisation. Opportunities and challenges India provided.
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| Main author: |
Watney; Norman C (fl 1926-1972); railway director |
| Other authors: |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. approx.
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| Admin history: |
British Deputy Director on North Western State Railway, 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: C1510/71/01-04. 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: C1510/71/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004970/04 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/71/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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