Douglas, Gawain Thomas Alexander 'Gavin' (Oral history)

British officer served with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 15th Lancers, 11th PAVO Cavalry and as ADC to Governor of Madras in India, 1935-1940; trained as pilot with RAF in India, 1941-1942; served as flying instructor with RAF in India, 1943-1944; trained with 74 Operational Training Unit, RAF in Palestine, 1944; served with 28 and 60 Sqdns, RAF in Burma, 1/1945-5/1945; commanded 34 Sqdn in Burma, 5/1945-10/1945; commanded 28 Sqdn, RAF in Burma and Malaya, 1945- 1946; commanded 152 Sqdn, RAF on North West Frontier of India, 1946-1947

REEL 1 Background in Tiensin, Hong Kong, China and GB, 1914-1933: memories of early life in Tiensin; father's employment; encounter with Russian émigré; details of his birth during mother's return to GB; holiday excursions to seaside and Great Wall of China; post war visits to Tiensin; move to Hong Kong. REEL 2 Continues: return voyage to GB, 1923; education; reasons for move to Guernsey; further details of education on Guernsey; interest in pursuing military career; membership of OTC. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Royal Military College, Sandhurst in GB, 1933-1934: officer selection; decision to join cavalry; reasons for popularity of postings to Indian Army. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in India, 1935-1936: posting to regiment; character of regiment; popularity of polo. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with 15th Lancers, 11th PAVO Cavalry and as ADC to Governor of Madras in India, 1936- 1940: posting to 15th Lancers at Meerut; fate of fellow officer who contracted polio; subjects not spoken of in mess; nature of civilian unrest; awareness of Indian politics; story of meeting Gandhi when ADC to Governor of Madras; contact with Indian Maharajas; marriage, 1941; role as ADC to Governor of Madras; memories of Lord Erskine. REEL 4 Continues: first flight in light aircraft; learning to fly; memories of declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; atmosphere during Phoney War in India, 1939-1940; mechanisation of cavalry regiments; effect of war in North Africa on India. Aspects of training as pilot with RAF in India, 1941-1942: background to secondment to RAF; pattern of flying training in Hawker Audax; contracting malaria and jaundice. Aspects of period of as flying instructor and training with RAF in India, Egypt and Palestine, 1943-1944: role as instructor. REEL 5 Continues: future senior Indian officers he taught; grounding after beating up airfield; posting to Middle East, 6/1944; conditions at Shalufa; social activities in Cairo; account of visit to King Farouk's private nightclub. REEL 6 Continues: contrast between ethos of army and RAF; democratic nature of RAF; training with 74 Operational Training Unit at Petah Tiqva in Palestine, 7/1944-9/1944; comparison between Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire; converting onto an aircraft and effect of aerobatics on body; contrast in relations with Arabs and Jewish civilians; return to India. Recollections of operations as pilot with 28 Sqdn, RAF in Burma, 1/1945- 2/1945: journey by truck through Kabaw Valley to Tamu; character of squadron. REEL 7 Continues: familiarisation flight; story of problems during first operational hostile reconnaissance flight on River Irrawaddy, 14/1/1945; story of flight commander Flight Lieutenant 'Bob' Johnson's return to base through jungle after being shoot down; photo-reconnaissance role of squadron. Recollections of operations as pilot with 60 Sqdn in Burma, 2/1945-5/1945: reasons for requesting transfer to squadron; condition of squadron on arrival, 2/1945; methods employed to improve squadron morale. REEL 8 Continues: account of being shot down after attack on Japanese positions near Mount Popa; aid received from Burmese civilians after crash landing; contact with British troops and souvenir taken from aircraft; hospitalisation and realisation of narrow escape from crash; background to taking command of 34 Sqdn, RAF. REEL 9 Continues: account of post-war search for female lead to star in film version of 'Purple Plain'; post-war discovery of that he had received a broken neck during crash and subsequent medical treatment. REEL 10 Continues: Recollections of operations commanding 34 Sqdn, RAF in Burma, 5/1945-10/1945: problems of using Republic P 47 Thunderbolt in ground attack role; familiarisation with aircraft; characteristics of Republic P 47 Thunderbolt; attacks on retreating Japanese; loss of flight sergeant; reaction to Japanese surrender; handing over squadron, 10/1945; duties as squadron leader; contact with Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) personnel; meeting with Lord Louis Mountbatten; receiving cigarette and alcohol rations. REEL 11 Continues: contrast between RAF and army discipline during Second World War. Aspects of period commanding 28 Sqdn, RAF in Burma and Malaya, 1945-1946: flight from Burma to Malaya; effects of demobilisation on squadron; duties in Malaya. Aspects of period commanding 152 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1946-1947: taking command of squadron; duties on North West Frontier; method of attacking villages; fate of old women used to obtain compensation by tribesmen. REEL 12 Continues: life on North West Frontier; handing over to Indian Air Force; nature of Partition; story of witnessing civil unrest in New Dehli during Partition; encounter with refugees fleeing Old Dehli. Aspects of period as officer with 11th PAVO Cavalry in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 11/1947-2/1948: rejoining regiment in Rawalpindi, 11/1947. REEL 13 Continues: question of remaining with regiment or taking demobilisation; obtaining employment in Calcutta; sight of aftermath of racial atrocities from air during flight to Calcutta; incident of British officers and their families who were killed during Partition; attempted robbery at London railway station during leave in GB 1946; attending dinner in London restaurant, 1946; background to returning to army after RAF service; work in India after 1947. REEL 14 Continues: Aspects of period commanding 152 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1946-1947: use of rocket firing Hawker Tempest; in high speed dive during rocket firing demonstration; leaflet drop warning to unruly village; Pathans killing of old women to obtain compensation for bombing of villages. Aspects of period as civilian manager on dams projects in Pakistan, from 1960: background to obtaining employment on dam project; funding of dam project; journey to site of dam; reasons for lack of skills amongst Pakistani workforce and their attempts to obtain more pay. REEL 15 Continues: opinion of Pathans; question of poppy growing in Pakistan; origins of Taliban; quarrel between Pakistan and India over river water feeding dams; building camp for employees on second dam; description of camp's facilities; 24 work on dams; nature of work on Italian dam project. REEL 16 Continues: Reflections on period in India: opinion of British rule in India; lack of corruption amongst British officials; opinion of progress since Independence; situation in Pakistan; story of meeting future wife in India.