Interview with Norman C. Watney [sound recording]
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 cu...
Date(s) of creation: |
1972-1974 |
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Level: |
Item |
Format: | Archive |
Main author: | Watney; Norman C (fl 1926-1972); railway director |
Other authors: | Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
collection |
SOAS Archive |
---|---|
id |
OA1.71.1-4 |
recordtype |
archive |
scb_item_location |
Archive & Special Collections |
item_location |
Archive & Special Collections |
scb_loan_type |
Reference only |
callnumber |
OA1/71/1-4 |
callnumber_txt |
OA1/71/1-4 |
callnumber-sort |
OA1/71/1-4 |
prefix_number |
1-4 |
title |
Interview with Norman C. Watney [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 |
Watney; Norman C (fl 1926-1972); railway director |
author_facet |
Watney; Norman C (fl 1926-1972); railway director Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
authorStr |
Watney; Norman C (fl 1926-1972); railway director |
author_letter |
Watney; Norman C (fl 1926-1972); railway director |
author2 |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
author2Str |
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
format |
Archive |
scb_admin_history |
British Deputy Director on North Western State Railway, India. |
description |
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. |
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: C1510/71/01-04. 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: C1510/71/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004970/04 |
scb_related_material |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/71/T |
hierarchy_top_id_raw |
OA1 |
hierarchy_sequence |
OA1.0071.001-4 |