Interview with Mr. E.A. Jenkins [sound recording]

Mr (Lt-Col.) E. A. Jenkins's life in India, working for various commercial enterprises between 1934 and 1964, including services in the Indian Army during World War II: background and education; first impressions of India; the European community, its hierarchy and lifestyle; his career in commerce;...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA4/09 Closed

Order number: OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED]
Date(s) of creation: July 1983
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Jenkins; E A (b 1902); employee of Cox and King's shipping agents
Other authors: Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA4.09
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
scb_order_with OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED]
callnumber OA4/09
callnumber_txt OA4/09
callnumber-sort OA4/09
prefix_number 09
scb_previous_numbers OA2/66/1-3
title Interview with Mr. E.A. Jenkins [sound recording]
scb_date_creation July 1983
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 sound casettes (2.hr. approx.)
author Jenkins; E A (b 1902); employee of Cox and King's shipping agents
author_facet Jenkins; E A (b 1902); employee of Cox and King's shipping agents
Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer
authorStr Jenkins; E A (b 1902); employee of Cox and King's shipping agents
author_letter Jenkins; E A (b 1902); employee of Cox and King's shipping agents
author2 Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer
author2Str Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history Mr. E.A. Jenkins - 1934-37 Worked for Cox & King's, shipping agents, Bombay [Mumbai]. 1937-64 Worked for Anchor Line, Bombay and Karachi. 1935 Joined Auxilary Forces India. 1938 Joined Army in India Reserve of Officers. 1939-46 Served with the Indian Army.
scb_custodial_history Recorded as part of the ’Memories of the British in India’ project by India Office Library & Records [subsequently the Oriental and India Office Collection, British Library]. This recording was previously held at SOAS Library as part of the 'British in India Oral Archive Project' collection [Reference OA2], removed from this collection in August 2014 to reflect the recording’s alternative provenance as part of the ‘Memories of the British in India’ project.
description Mr (Lt-Col.) E. A. Jenkins's life in India, working for various commercial enterprises between 1934 and 1964, including services in the Indian Army during World War II: background and education; first impressions of India; the European community, its hierarchy and lifestyle; his career in commerce; the Indian nationalist movement and its effect on the European community; the outbreak of World War II and his service throughout the War in the Indian Army; Indian independence in 1947; post independence career in India; memories of General Alexander; his opinion of the capability of Indian ministers. Summary: Playback Cassette Side 1: Family and educational background. Work with Cox and King's. Why he wanted to go to India. 'Song of the Burma-Shell'. preparations for going out; kit allowance. Terms of contract. Voyage on Tuscania. First impressions of India. Description of a 'chummery'. European health standards. Sporting and club life. Social hierarchy among European business community; comparison with UK. Family and educational background. Work with Cox and King's. Why he wanted to go to India. 'Song of the Burma-Shell'. preparations for going out; kit allowance. Terms of contract. Voyage on Tuscania. First impressions of India. Description of a 'chummery'. European health standards. Sporting and club life. Social hierarchy among European business community; comparison with UK. Summary: Playback Cassette Side 2: Recruitment to Auxiliary force , India. Role of AFI. Method of dealing with communal riots. Harassment of Europeans by nationalist mobs. Lack of police intervention. Attitude of Europeans to different Indian communities. Inter-community cricket matches, influence of politics on. Outbreak of Second World War: Jenkins' recruitment to Indian Army Reserve. Period in UK. Indian Army postings. How a mistake saved Rajputs from Japanese captivity and led to Jenkins' promotion. Positive Indian reaction to War. RIN Mutiny: Calm reaction of Europeans. Confidence Japanese could not conquer India. Jenkins' post-war work with Anchor line. Business rivalries after 1947. Membership of voluntary organisation. Demand of Indians to use European swimming baths. Period working in Pakistan. Summary: Playback Cassette Side 3: Pre-1947 nationalist agitation. Indian Independence Day on board P and 0 ship. European reactions to Indian independence. Reaction to Indian threats to nationalise European companies. European attitude to missionary activity. Jenkins' lack of involvement with government . Admiration for ICS. Memories of General Alexander. Capabiltiy of Indian ministers.
scb_access_status Closed
scb_conditions_gov_access Sound recording currently unavailable at SOAS Library due to preservation reasons. Researchers can access a copy of this audio recording at the British Library Listening & Viewing Service. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
scb_copyright Copyright held by British Library
scb_use_restrictions Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist
language English
language_search English
scb_originals Original sound recording of interview available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service [Reference: C63/24-28]
note India - British rule, 1765-1947 - Commerce
World War, 1939-1945 - India
India. Army - British rule, 1765-1947 - Reminiscences
India - Independence, 1947
India - British rule, 1765-1947 - Nationalist movement
India - British rule, 1965-1947 - European community
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA4
hierarchy_sequence OA4.0009

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