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Object description
British officer served with 1st Bn Rajputana Rifles and Zhob Militia, Indian Army in India, 1945-1947; served with Tochi Scouts, Pakistan Army, as ADC to Governor of North West Frontier Province and with Chitral Scouts, Pakistan Army in Pakistan, 1947-1950
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1926-1944: family; education. Recollections of period as officer with 1st Bn Rajputana Rifles and Zhob Militia, Indian Army in India, 1945-1947: background commissioning into regiment after attending Officer Cadet Training Unit at Mhow; character of unit; posting to unit at Fort Sandeman, 1945; story of post-war visit to regiment; lack of tension between Muslim and Hindu troops, 1945; column to Sambaza; secondment to Zhob Militia; duties in tribal territory; role as adjutant with headquarters section; purchasing horses at horse fairs; hearing of rising at Poonch District during leave in Kashmir, 1947; return to Fort Sandeman; nature of communal tension in Punjab. Recollections of period as officer with Tochi Scouts, Pakistan Army and as ADC to Governor of North West Frontier Province in Pakistan, 1947-1950: background to secondment toTochi Scouts; opinion of Field Marshal Archibald Wavell; events in Kashmir immediately post Partition, 1947.
REEL 2 Continues: outbreak of fighting in Kashmir, 1947; how India took control of Kashmir; incorporation of Gilgit into Pakistan; establishment of ceasefire line and Indo-Pakistan tensions; problems of keeping Pakistan together when Muhammed Jinnah died, 11/9/1948. Recollections of period as officer with Chitral Scouts, Pakistan Army in Pakistan, 1948-1950: transfer to Chitral Scouts; Pakistani relations with Soviet Union and US; removal of ruler of Chitral; role in arresting assistant political agent; stability of Chitral area, 1949-1950; further details of removal of ruler of Chitral; end of contract, 1950.
REEL 3 Continues: story of escorting Ian Stephens, editor of 'The Statesman' newspaper in Chitral; mountaineering exploits; memories of Said Ahmed; character of population in Chitral; attitude to serving in Chitral.
