Description
Object description
British civilian in Hyderabad, India, 1939-1943; NCO served with Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) in India and Burma, 8/1943-12/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as civilian in Hyderabad, India and GB, 1924-1943: family origins; parent's life in India; voyage from GB to India, 9/1939-10/1939; memories of childhood in India; character of Hyderabad State; significance of name Bruce to family; education in GB; attitude towards return to India, 1939; social hierarchy and inter-communal relations in India.
REEL 2 Continues: taking driving and maintenance course at Nizam State Railways and Road Transport Department workshops; father's fund raising activities; teaching British children in nursery school. Recollections of period as NCO with Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) in India and Burma, 1943-1945: background to joining Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); impressions of famine in Calcutta, India; journey to Shillong, India, 8/1943; memories of Nin Taylor and Lois St John; background on recruits; uniforms worn and kit; description of and duties in mobile canteens; attitude of troops towards unit personnel; degree of organisation in unit; sight of gliders of Second Chindit Expedition at Imphal, India; degree of awareness of mobile libraries; visiting positions on Tiddim Road, Burma.
REEL 3 Continues: move to Jorhat, India; contracting malaria; move to Imphal; distance travelled in mobile canteens; visit from Vera Lynn; move towards Milestone 33/34 near Kohima, India; sight of body of dead Japanese; opinion of medical services available to troops in Dimapur, India; treatment of Japanese POWs by British troops; rations; impressions aftermath of Battle of Kohima, India; impressions of Lord Louis Mountbatten at Imphal, India; evacuation to Dimapur, India; contact with Chindits at Dimapur; recruitment of Burmese women into Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); evacuation from Imphal, India, 18/3/1944; living conditions; medical problems; relations between troops and Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma).
REEL 4 Continues: attitude of troops towards General William Slim; social activities; prior recollection of mother inviting wounded troops to home in Hyderabad, India; meeting future husband; marriage, 8/1944; pregnancy and leaving Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma), 12/1944. Aspects of period as civilian in India, 1945-1948: links with India political figures; question of inter-communal violence. Attitude to having served with Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) in Second World War.