Description
Object description
British NCO served with 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders in India, 1928-1932
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders in India, 1928-1932: enlistment in and training with Seaforth Highlanders, 1925; reaction to posting to India; issue of tropical kit; conditions on board HMT Neuralia during voyage from GB to India, 1928; inter-regimental rivalries; punishment for visit to out-of-bound area of Bombay; initial impressions of India; train journey from Bombay to Lahore; description of barracks at Lahore; types of training; mountain warfare training; opinion of Gurkhas.
REEL 2 Contuines: pay including supplements and clothing allowance; kit issue; unsuitability of kilt for tropical conditions; inspection of soldiers' cleanliness on parade; relations with Indian troops; opinion of Sikh troops; opinion of officers and unpopularity of Second Lieutenant Norman Baillie-Stewart; internal security duties during Amritsar Riots; participation in Kajuri Expedition, 1930-1931.
REEL 3 Continues: description of night ambushes; digging in on frontier; punitive operations against tribesmen; tribesmens' poisoning of troops' water supply; discovery of traces of Lord Roberts' expedition into Afghanistan; treatment of troops captured by tribesmen; methods of deterring barrack pests; problems with prickly heat; suitability of rations and messing arrangements; necessary for NCOs to be strict and fair; promotion; standard of barrack hygiene; contracting malaria and sand fly fever.
REEL 4 Continues: medical treatment; daily routine on plains; restriction on troops' movement; incident when guard shot soldier for failing to answer challenge; pets kept by troops; recreational and sporting activities; hockey match against Jhansi Heroes; life of army wives; use of brothels; precautions taken against venereal disease; friendship with British civilians.
REEL 5 Continues: preferred postings; description of Lahore; attitude to posting to Jhansi; pay for barrack servant; relations between troops and servants; disciplining of troops for mistreating Indians; theft in barracks; character of Pathans; annual entry of Indians into Jhansi Fort for religious worship; presence of beggars outside Jhansi Fort; limited contact with British and Indian civilians; relations with Anglo-Indian civilians; question of army's attitude to marriage in India; purpose of British Army in India and anticipation that British rule was permanent.
REEL 6 Continues: reasons for Indian poverty; lack of political discussion amongst troops; newspapers taken; army's failure to replace kit ruined during road-making duties on North West Frontier; access to radio; briefings prior to sending out on active duty; description of Seaforth Highlanders regimental traditions.