Interview with Violet Rogerson [sound recording]

Comments on life as a nanny companion from 1925-30 to the family of Colonel Ronald Playfair St Vincent Bernard (1888-1943), Indian Army 1907-43, recounting her experiences on the North-West Frontier and at Delhi. Summary: Went to India October 1926 as nanny to two boys whose father was English offi...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA4/17 Closed

Order number: OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED]
Date(s) of creation: 6 August 1984
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Rogerson; Violet (1893-1985); nanny
Other authors: Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA4.17
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 OA4/17
callnumber_txt OA4/17
callnumber-sort OA4/17
prefix_number 17
scb_previous_numbers OA2/74/1
title Interview with Violet Rogerson [sound recording]
scb_date_creation 6 August 1984
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 1 sound casette
author Rogerson; Violet (1893-1985); nanny
author_facet Rogerson; Violet (1893-1985); nanny
Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer
authorStr Rogerson; Violet (1893-1985); nanny
author_letter Rogerson; Violet (1893-1985); nanny
author2 Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer
author2Str Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer
format Archive
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 Comments on life as a nanny companion from 1925-30 to the family of Colonel Ronald Playfair St Vincent Bernard (1888-1943), Indian Army 1907-43, recounting her experiences on the North-West Frontier and at Delhi. Summary: Went to India October 1926 as nanny to two boys whose father was English officer in Gurkhas. Friend of the mother. It was felt that she would be isolated as only white woman there so Miss Rogerson accompanied her for five years. Travelled out with them. Children did not like voyage. Took 3 weeks with various ports of call - at Marseilles mail and passengers taken on board. Arrived at Bombay then up to North West Frontier by express. Knew about India from her cousin who was a District Magistrate in Madras. Journey took four days by train. Went to Kashmir and Simla in hot weather. Officer was Major initially then became Colonel. Living in army quarters in an old fortress - small but safe with Gurkhas guarding. Quarters were for two single officers and she had dining room for day nursery and ate with the family. They got on well. Children of one and 2-3. Only white women for a time. No time to be lonely, because of the children. At this fort (Malakand) for three years then he became Colonel and eventually Lord Birdwood's military secretary, so they were then in Delhi - very different. New Delhi newly built. There until he retired. She came home end 1930 and stayed with them for a while before going home. Met many people in India who knew her family in England. Simla very peculiar - very classy. Had quarters in a hotel there. Went to the park and met other nannies and children. Kashmir lovely - stayed in hotel. Also stayed there with missionary doctor who was a friend of her sister. Missionaries went where there were already some Christians. Typical day on North West Frontier. Early call al 6 am and wash children. Went out before breakfast when hot or after breakfast if cooler. Had a lie-down after lunch, Then children were with parents for an hour. Very tiring for her - children all night. 4-5 Indian servants, including bearer who looked after the Colonel. She did not learn any of the language - they wanted the children to speak English. Very hot and the days seemed long when they could not go out of the bungalow because of it. No serious health problems for the children. A "blackie-white" doctor (Eurasian) on hand who looked after the troops. Met no other Eurasians. Did not go out of the fort to camp, although the father did - children too young. Some unrest but always three soldiers sleeping in the dining room. On walks, had bearer and children's nurse, Gurkha batman and guard. These native servants were good with the children. Went out with a donkey down to the parade ground where soldiers were. Bill (aged 3-4) on donkey and baby in pushchair. Bill taken up hillside climbing. Isolated there with mail coming and going only once a week. On arrival, journey up hill from railway to the fort about ten miles. Miss Rogerson was carried up with the baby in her arms and Bill on a donkey. Food supposedly anglicised - cooks could do certain amount of English food, eggs etc. Camps very well provided with food. Mrs Bernard got stores about once a month or so delivered from general store in the city. In Delhi, she and the servants shopped. A different life there. No more time off, though. Mrs Bernard did a lot of social entertaining so Miss Rogerson looked after the children. She did not mind -got some time to herself when they went to bed. Had no time to belong to the club - had to be on duty with the children when the Bernards went off to social functions. Miss Rogerson enjoyed the life. Had been a gardener for Mrs Bernard's father. When Mrs Bernard (Audrey) came home from the Land Army, she was bored and came to talk to Miss Rogerson in the garden. They became friends. No garden in India - no time with the two children. Elder child went to school out there. No school at the fort but went to school when they went to the hills for the hot weather. Schools run by English people.
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: C63/129-130]
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA4
hierarchy_sequence OA4.0017

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