Milanes, Reginald John Felix (Oral history)

British officer served with Frontier Force Rifles in India, 1932-1943; served with 9th Frontier Force Rifles in Burma, 1943-1944; commanded Gilgat Scouts in India, 1944-1947

REEL 1 Background in France and GB, 1912-1932: family origins; education at Wellington College; cadet at Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Voyage to India, 1932. Attrcations of service with Indian Army. Recollections of service with Frontier Force Rifles in India, 1932-1939: composition of 2nd Bn , 1932; joining unit at Jubbulpore; duties and roles; flying to GB for leave, 1936; private trek to Tibet, 1939. Recollections of operations with 2/12 Bn Frontier Force Rifles on North West Frontier, 1939-1940: move to Waziristan; picket duties; organisation of column work. REEL 2 Continues: how unit sweeper carried 'thunder box' on column. Period with 7th Bn Frontier Force Rifles, Shillong, India, 1940- 1941. Period of with 9th Bn Frontier Force Rifles, in India and Ceylon, 1941-1943: move to Jhansi, 1942; formation of 20th Indian Div 1942; jungle warfare training in Ceylon, 1943. Recollections of operations with 9th Bn Frontier Force Rifles in the Imphal area, Burma, 1943-1944: story of wounding in fighting, 18/4/1944; handling by US ambulance driver after wounding; attitude towards Japanese because of their treatment of POWs; capture of Japanese soldier; reaction of unit to Japanese advance into India; opinion of Japanese troops; attitude of sepoys to Japanese; lack of Congress Party influence over Frontier Force Rifles. Lack of evidence of Quit India movement in Jhansi area. Lack in belief that Japanese could conquer India. Recovery from wounds, 1944. REEL 3 Continues Recollections of period with Gilgat Scouts in Gilgat, India, 1944-1947: problems of trekking to Gilgat with family; polo playing; relations with civilians; use of 'Penisula Step' as means of moving fast; responsibility for game in area; diet; work of missionary Canon Biscoe in Kashmir. Recollections of Indian Partition, 1947: violence at Sialkot on night of 14/8/1947-15/8/1947; work among refugees at Sialkot, 8/1947; sight of refugee trains crossing Sindh Desert. Aspects of service with Indian Army, 1932-1947: provisions for subalterns who got into debt; handling of discipline of sepoys.