Interview with Charles Wright and Isobel Wright [sound recording]

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 voyag...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/74/1-4 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Wright; Charles (fl 1922-1972); Sergeant-Major
Other authors: Wright; Isobel (fl 1972); schoolmistress, Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.74.1-4
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/74/1-4
callnumber_txt OA1/74/1-4
callnumber-sort OA1/74/1-4
prefix_number 1-4
title Interview with Charles Wright and Isobel Wright [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 Wright; Charles (fl 1922-1972); Sergeant-Major
author_facet Wright; Charles (fl 1922-1972); Sergeant-Major
Wright; Isobel (fl 1972); schoolmistress
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Wright; Charles (fl 1922-1972); Sergeant-Major
author_letter Wright; Charles (fl 1922-1972); Sergeant-Major
author2 Wright; Isobel (fl 1972); schoolmistress
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Wright; Isobel (fl 1972); schoolmistress
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British Company Sergeant-Major in British Army in India.
description 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.
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: C1510/74/01-04. 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: C1510/74/01-04 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004973/04
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/74/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0074.001-4

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