| Summary: |
Audio recording of oral history interview with Charles Wright and Isobel Wright, covering the period 1922-1935.
Cassette side OA1/74/1: Opinions on Raj. Soldiers' reactions to Indian service. Background to Wright's enlistment in Black Watch and drafting to India 1922. Description of troopship voyage. Arrival at Bombay; stay in Deolali transit camp. Joining regiment in Allahabad; rekitting. Pay. Description of work of barrack servants. Morning routine. Contrasting military cantonments. Afternoon and evening routine. Troops' efforts to avoid paying barrack servants.
Cassette side OA1/74/2: Soldiers' pets. Camp life; relaxations. Description of troop train journey from Allahabad to Quetta. Troops based at Quetta; training with Gurkhas. Prevalent health problems. Itinerant entertainers. Troops' use of local Indian tutor. Parades. Desertions. Contacts with Anglo-Indians. Relationship of officers and men; lack of promotion opportunities. Relationship with Indians. Restricted recreational facilities. Absence of sex life. Restrictions on marriage. Married quarters. Regimental dances.
Cassette side OA1/74/3: Background to Wright's marriage in Meerut. Services offered by barrack servants. Signallers' unofficial results service. Cantonment bazaars; typical stalls. Move to hill stations: description of daily routine adopted on marches; enjoyment of marches; regimental band's accompaniments. Stories of marches disrupted by sandstorms, flies and snakes. Impressions of village near Delhi.
Cassette side OA1/74/4: Controlling communal riots in Multan. Reception of Dorsetshire Regiment in Berhampore area. Multan's unpopularity. Weekly inspections. Improving conditions of service in 1930s. Troops longing for home; leaving India. Enjoyment of India service. Attitude to Raj. Regimental pride. Mrs Wright's description of background to her posting as army schoolmistress in India. Voyage out; first impressions. Social life in Meerut. Marriage. Married household; servants' honesty. Itinerant tradesmen. Travelling by train during disturbances 1941.
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| Main author: |
Wright; Charles (fl 1922-1972); Sergeant-Major |
| Other authors: |
Wright; Isobel (fl 1972); schoolmistress, Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer |
| Extent: |
2 hr. approx.
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| Admin history: |
British Company Sergeant-Major in British Army in 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: C1510/74/01-04. 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
|
| Copies: |
Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/74/01-04
Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004973/04 |
| Related material: |
Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/74/T |
| Format: |
Archive
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