Interview with Dr. John R. Marr [sound recording]
Dr. Marr is interviewed about his time in the army serving in India and Burma just after World War 2. Summary: Playback Cassette Side 1: Family background. Acquiring initial interest in India. Indian film and music. Educational background. Recruitment to Indian Army Scheme: interview; ideas of Ind...
| Order number: |
OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED] |
|---|---|
| Date(s) of creation: |
15 October 1983 |
| Level: |
Item |
| Format: | Archive |
| Main author: | Marr; John R (b 1927); linguist |
| Other authors: | Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer |
| Order number: |
OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED] |
|---|---|
| Summary: |
Dr. Marr is interviewed about his time in the army serving in India and Burma just after World War 2.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 1: Family background. Acquiring initial interest in India. Indian film and music. Educational background. Recruitment to Indian Army Scheme: interview; ideas of Indian Army career; transfer from India service to British service, 1946; embarkation leave. Jersey: signs of German occupation; attitudes to British and Germans. Memories of Col. Buckmaster, SOE. Preparations for going to India: Urdu practice; standard of Urdu instruction. Voyage on GEORGIC. Feast of plantains on arrival in Bombay. Kind of boys on draft: an Indian cadet. Culture shock of Indian cadet. Kalyan: impression of Ganesha festival; visit to Ambarnath festival; positive first impressions of India. Attitude of Indians to British. Marr1s hobby collecting reptiles. Bangalore: journey to; Marr's OTS course; comparison of Mysore with British India; relative insulation from civilian life; liberal Army regime; Marr's state of health; strict Army health regime; Army camps; loss of rations to kites; killing Russell's vipers; Army instruction; lack of interest in politics.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 2: Bangalore: friendships with Tamil bearer; prejudice of Rajput cadet against southerners. Marr's objection to inferior status of havildars vis-a-vis sergeants. Bangalore: Army advice about attitude to be taken to Indians; Marr's RAOC commission. Leave in Kodaikanal. An amusing notice at Ootacamund. Jubbulpore: M/T course; friendship with Tamil troops; Marr's interest in Indian culture; social contact with Indians; Marr's dislike for club life; his interest in local plant life; lack of signs of political activity. Marr's attitude to Indian independence; his estimate of impact of British rule. Camaraderie of officers and jawans; horror at racial¬ism of brother officer. Economic effects of British rule in India. British gift of politically neutral Army. Journey to Burma: favourable impression of Madras. Voyage on EMPIRE PENRHYN. First impressions of Burma: Marr's failure to familiarise himself with the country. His disastrous introduction to tank driving. 19 July 1947: murder of members of Cabinet; subsequent restrictions on Army movements; reasons for anti-Burmese feelings of British; female Karen clerical workers.
Summary: Playback Cassette Side 3: Problem of theft of Army property; how dacoit problem solved by Gurkhas. Xenophobia of Burmese. Friendship with Burmese officer. Shaky character of Burmese administration. Extortion by Aung San armed groups. Relics of Japanese occupation; Anglo-Karen girl's account of Japanese occupation of Burma. Marr's feelings on leaving the country. |
| Main author: | Marr; John R (b 1927); linguist |
| Other authors: | Wood; Conrad (b 1942); historian and interviewer |
| Previous numbers: |
OA2/71/1-3 |
| Extent: |
2 sound casettes |
| Note: |
Soldiers - Reminiscences. Burma - Independence, 1948 Burma India - Independence, 1947 India. Army - British rule, 1765-1947 - Reminiscences. |
| Admin history: | Interview with Dr. John R. Marr - Army service in India and Burma 1946-48. Lecturer in Dravidian languages and Karnatic music, School of Oriental and African Studies. |
| 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. |
| Access status: |
Closed |
| Access conditions: |
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. |
| Copyright: | Copyright held by British Library |
| User restrictions: | Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist |
| Language: | English |
| Originals: |
Original sound recording of interview available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service [Reference: C63/52-56] |
| Format: | Archive |