Interview with Major General George Neville Wood and Mary Wood [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Major General George Neville Wood and Mary Wood, covering the period 1931-1947. Cassette side OA1/73/1: Previous knowledge of India and Indian Army. Desire for India posting. System of home and overseas battalions of regiment. Rotation of regiments bet...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/73/1-8 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Wood; George Neville (1898-1982); Major-General
Other authors: Wood; Mary (fl 1972); wife of Major-General George Neville Wood, Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.73.1-8
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/73/1-8
callnumber_txt OA1/73/1-8
callnumber-sort OA1/73/1-8
prefix_number 1-8
title Interview with Major General George Neville Wood and Mary Wood [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. 35 min.
author Wood; George Neville (1898-1982); Major-General
author_facet Wood; George Neville (1898-1982); Major-General
Wood; Mary (fl 1972); wife of Major-General George Neville Wood
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Wood; George Neville (1898-1982); Major-General
author_letter Wood; George Neville (1898-1982); Major-General
author2 Wood; Mary (fl 1972); wife of Major-General George Neville Wood
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Wood; Mary (fl 1972); wife of Major-General George Neville Wood
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British major-general in British and Indian Army.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Major General George Neville Wood and Mary Wood, covering the period 1931-1947. Cassette side OA1/73/1: Previous knowledge of India and Indian Army. Desire for India posting. System of home and overseas battalions of regiment. Rotation of regiments between stations in India. Joining 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment in Chakrata 1931. Pleasant nature of station marred by problem of troops' boredom. Efforts to maintain efficiency; use of 'bull'; maximum possible sport; walks; encouragement of other pastimes. Response of men to these measures. Cassette side OA1/73/2: Dorsets' recruiting areas. Quality of recruits. Failure to recognise one man's potential; his later success. Paternal relationship between officers and men. Quality of officers. Clubs and question of Indian membership. Segregated position of British officers from society. Description of mess life: its generally frugal nature; games; informality; gradual allowance of women; rules and standards of behaviour expected. Cassette side OA1/73/3: Dismissal of officers for ungentlemanly conduct. Situation of other ranks in India: canteen facilities; segregation from British civilians; lack of facilities; contacts with Anglo-Indians; local beer; dhobi-itch; state of health. Precautions to stop Indians getting rifles. Status of soldier. British soldiers' acceptance of North West Frontier service. Semi-active service as brigade major at Landi Kotal. Efforts to amuse troops; paper chases; concert party. Cassette side OA1/73/4: Use of defaulters to build roller skating rink. Sweepers' tea party. Peshawar hunt. Relationship of British and Indian regiments. Celebrating Plassey Day. Attitude to hot weather. Length of tours of duty. Officers' leave. Learning languages: effects on promotion; Indian tutor; set books. Recollections of eccentric brigade commander. British soldiers' introduction of British games to India. Regiment's tailor and contractor. Married quarters roll. Cassette side OA1/73/5: Travelling by train. Village hospitality. Evocative memories of India. Morality of officers and men. Necessity for officers' wives to be socially acceptable. Hospitality shown troops after quelling unrest in Dacca. Troops' education. Relationship between British and Indians within military; general attitude of British to Indians. Traditional bond between British and Indian soldiers; special relationship of Dorsets and 5th Mahratta Light Infantry Regiment. Successful careers of Wood's Indian proteges. Cassette side OA1/73/6: Continues description of protege's' careers; their attitude to independence. Opinions on partition and role of army in Raj. Position of Anglo-Indians. Story of accepting subaltern's hospitality as a general. Feelings on leaving India. Mrs Wood's description of differing reaction of British women to India. Reactions to going to India. Voyage out 1933. Recollections of household servants. Cassette side OA1/73/7: Large number of servants used. Description of running household. Life stationed at Dacca. Enjoyment of regimental life. Homesickness. Mess out of bounds to women. Daily routine. Relationship between wives of officers and men. Journey to Simla. Kiplingesque lifestyle in Simla; illustrations of society's preoccupations with protocol. Reactions to climate. Common pests. Guard on bungalow. Evocative sights of India. Cassette side OA1/73/8: Nature of life in India. Story of defending Hindu sweeper from Muslim servants; fears for such people once British left. Opinions on Raj.
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: C1510/73/01-08. 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: C1510/73/01-08 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004972/08
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/73/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0073.001-8

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