Bengal, Assam, C.P., Bihar & Orissa. Sikkim,
Govt. of India (Simla and New Delhi).
Posted to Meshed, Iran.
1937 – 1941
Letters home. November 1937 – October 1941:
CALCUTTA
| 3.1 | • 11.11.1937. Calcutta |
| 3.2 | • 13.11.1937. Stays with Col. and Mrs. Robson at Hastings House Alipore. Moves into palatial house. Newly formed Agency. Is Provincial Commissioner of Police. |
| 3.3 | • 20.11.1937. Describes Hastings House, and coming visit to States. |
| 3.4 | • 24.11.1937. Jashpurnagar. Met by Regent Rani. People mostly aboriginal. Visits schools, offices and jails. Communications bad. |
| 3.5 | • 27.11.1937. Ambikapur, Surguja State. Entertained by Maharaja of Surguja. Describes reception and entertainment. Dharamjargarh, Udaipur State, C.I. Under minority administration. Mentions a Mrs. Macpherson who lives in palace. Comment on lack of economic development in State, through lack of roads. Raigarh State. Entertainments & inspection. Leave via Sarangarh to Raipur. Stay in Chiefs’ College (Rajkumar) with Principal, T. Pearce-Smith. Scouts Assoc., entertained by boys. Comment on importance of Chiefs’ College. |
| 3.6 | • 9.12.1937. Calcutta. Outlines future programme of tours. |
| 3.7 | • 19.12.1937. Describes house. Shares with Ronald Daubeny — A.D.C. to Robson, formerly A.D.C. to Willingdons. |
| 3.8 | • 23.12.1937. On tour. Bandh. State dinner. Harbhanga Camp. Christmas dinner. Amusements. Daspalla. State banquet – more amusements. |
| 3.9 | • 31.12.1937. Tour. Dhenkanal. Describes Raja and social events. Animals. Talcher State – Raja. Writes memorandum at request of Gilbert Laithwaite on deteriorating situation in Sinkiang. |
| 3.10 | • 16.1.1938. Calcutta. |
| 3.11 | • 23.1.1938. Social. |
| 3.12 | • 30.1.1938. |
| 3.13 | • 3.2.1938. Orderly murdered. |
| 3.14 | • 13.2.1938. Torchlight tattoo of 1/15th Punjab Regiment. |
| 3.15 | • 19.2.1938. Meets Father Douglas of the Oxford Mission — impressed with his work. |
| 3.16 | • 24.2.1938. On tour: Bastar State – Maharajah – schools etc., visited. Jagdalpur. Palace banquet – tribal dancing by Parjas Murias and Marias. Opening of new hospital. Visits Chitrakot and Tirathgarh. Sati stones. |
| 3.17 | • 2.3.1938. Raipur. Continuing tour. Raja. – young man of aboriginal stock. Chhuikhadan State, badly run, almost bankrupt. |
| 3.18 | • 13.3.1938. Calcutta. Protests about rent of house and occupier’s tax being deducted from his salary. |
| 3.19 | • 17.3.1938. Describes Holi Festival. |
| 3.20 | • 27.3.1938. Comments on rush for concessions in Orissa. Refers to a 5 month old strike at a cotton mill in Nandgaon – feels English employees have exploited workers. |
| 3.21 | • 3.4.1938. |
| 3.22 | • 17.4.1938. Comments on Indian Christians. |
| 3.23 | • 18.4.1938. |
| 3.24 | • 24.4.1938. |
| 3.25 | • 4.5.1938. Shillong. Describes journey. Accompanies Colonel Robson. |
| 3.26 | • 12.5.1938. Social. |
| 3.27 | • 20.5.1938. Khasi festival. Fancy Dress Ball. |
| 3.28 | • 29.5.1938. |
| 3.29 | • 5.6.1938. |
| 3.30 | • 12.6.1938. Examines Budgets of certain States with Colonel Robson. |
| 3.31 | • 19.6.1938. |
| 3.32 | • 24.6.1938. The Governor, Sir Robert Reid, departs to take over Governorship of Bengal. Mr. Hogg takes over. |
| 3.33 | • 3.7.1938. Refers to murder trial. |
| 3.34 | • 10.7.1938. Conference on Boundary dispute between Assam and Tripura ends. in deadlock. |
| 3.35 | • 17.7.1938. |
| 3.36 | • 23.7.1938. Serious political situation arisen in Nilgiri State. Floods cut main railway line from Shillong to Calcutta. |
| 3.37 | • 30.7.1938. Nilgiri situation seems settled. |
| 3.38 | • 6.8.1938. |
| 3.39 | • (No 39) |
| 3.40 | • 20.8.1938. Comments on administration. |
| 3.41 | • 28.8.1938. Further trouble in Nilgiri State. |
| 3.42 | • 4.9.1938. Calcutta. New Political Agent, Captain Bazalgette. |
| 3.43 | • 11.9.1938. Renewed agitation in Nilgiri. Disturbances also in Hindol, Tigina, Pallahara, Talchar, Bandh, Dhenkanal. |
| 3.44 | • 18.9.1938. Rebellion in Dhenkanal. Capital in danger. Insufficient police, urgent request for troops and police. |
| 3.45 | • 25.9.1938. Visits Dhenkanal – troops under Brigadier Goldjoap (?) and Captain Bazalgette attempting to establish law and order. Conferences with Raja, and Governor of Orissa. |
| 3.46 | • 2.10.1938. British troops left the States. Serious strike situation in Nandgaon State arisen. |
| 3.47 | • 9.10.1938. Signs of lessening trouble. |
| 3.48 | • 11.10.1938. More trouble in Dhenkanal. |
| 3.49 | • 16.10.1938. Conferring with Herbert, a Joint Secretary in Government of India on States’ situation. Captain Bazalgette goes again to Dhenkanal. |
| 3.50 | • 23.10.1938. Both London Telegraph and Indian press inaccurate on situation in the States. Violence continues. Comments on Raja of Dhenkanal. |
| 3.51 | • 30.10.1938. Confirmed in the Political Department. |
| 3.52 | • 6.11.1938. |
| 3.53 | • 13.11.1938. Refunded on Occupiers Tax. |
| 3.54 | • 20.11.1938. Cuttack – to discuss situation in Orissa State with Congress Ministers. New Under Secretary, Mr. Ahmad arrives to share house. |
| 3.55 | • 26.11.1938. Bastar. Mill strike at Nandgaon continues. Troops called in. |
| 3.56 | • 4.12.1938. Visits Muria, Parja and Maria villages. |
| 3.57 | • 8.12.1938. Keonjhar State. Describes visits to Raja, the Courts and Public offices. Also visits to Saraikela and Kharsawan States – descriptive. |
| 3.58 | • 16.12.1938. Calcutta. Bad news from Kashgar – all Swedish missionaries have had to leave and most of the British subjects. Many local inhabitants murdered. |
| 3.59 | • 25.12.1938. Tour with Col. Robson to Raipur. Bad report of affairs in Nandgaon State. Nagpur – consults with Governor of Central Provinces; Sir Francis Wylie; General Council Meeting of the Chiefs Colleges at Rajkumar. Lunch with Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow. Viceregal Ball. Other social events. |
| 3.60 | • 1.1.1939. State entry of Governor and Viceroy and Procession along the Racecourse. Governor’s Ball. Viceroy’s Garden Party. |
| 3.61 | • 6.1.1939. Major Bazalgette, Political agent murdered by mob in Ranpur. |
| 3.62 | • 9.1.1939. More on Major Bazalgette’s murder and circumstances. |
| 3.63 | • 22.1.1939. Major Searle arrives to succeed Major Bazalgette. Attends, with Colonel Robson, Conference in. Puri with senior Army Officers to discuss troop employment in Orissa Stales. Comments on Mr. Ahmad. |
| 3.64 | • 29.1.1939. Attends a Bhattachari Display. |
| 3.65 | • 5.2.1939. |
| 3.66 | • 14.2.1939. |
| 3.67 | • 19.2.1939. |
| 3.68 | • 24.2.1939. New Delhi. Saddened at Lord Brabourne’s death. Bad health – attended to by Colonel Elliott, the Viceroy’s Surgeon. Describes Investiture. Comment on personalities in Government circles. |
| 3.69 | • 6.3.1939. Calcutta. |
| 3.70 | • 16.3.1939. On tour nearly every weekend. Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Paipur, Mayurbhanj. Refers to Viceroy’s order for gunmen to protect them on tours to the States. Also to Mrs. Lorrimer’s book, Language hunting in the Kara Koram. |
| 3.71 | • 21.3.1939. Entertained at .5.urbhanj by Maharajah. Excavation of Khiching – 2nd Century. H.A.N.B. is ex-officio Political Agent for Tripura State. |
| 3.72 | • 30.3.1939. Describes visit to Maharajah of Tripura. |
| 3.73 | • 9.4.1939. Arrival of Colonel and Mrs. Barton to replace Colonel Robson. |
| 3.74 | • 16.4.1939. Mrs. Barton sees ghost of Warren Hastings. Meets members of German Consulate including the Vice-Consul Baron von Richthoven and Consul General, Count and Countess Poldewitz. |
| 3.75 | • 23.4.1939. Refers to Gandhi interfering in Talcher State. |
| 3.76 | • 30.4.1939. Refers again to Gandhi re Talcher State and to Miss Agatha Harrison, one of Gandhi’s go-betweens. Settlement accepted. Angered by British Press and The Statesman. |
| 3.77 | • 4.5.1939. Calcutta. |
| 3.78 | • 14.5.1939. Shillong. |
| 3.79 | • 21.5.1939. Shillong. Planning holiday in Kohima. |
| 3.80 | • 28.5.1939. Shillong. |
| 3.81 | • 3.6.1939. Shillong. |
| 3.82 | • 5.6.1939. Kohima. Describes journey. Escorted by a Naga, Nihutuo. Stays with Adams, Assistant Commissioner. Describes visit to Nihutuo’s mother, a prominent personality. Also to Khonoma village. Meets Mr. and Mrs. Supplee, American missionaries. King’s Birthday. Parade by Assam Rifles Battalion. |
| 3.83 | • 9.6.1939. Descriptive. |
| 3.84 | • 25.6.1939. Shillong. |
| 3.85 | • 30.6.1939. Comments briefly on the Prince’s rejection of the Federal Instrument of Accession. |
| 3.86 | • 8.7.1939. Puri, Orissa. Dreadful journey owing to floods. |
| 3.87 | • 16.7.1939. Calcutta. |
| 3.88 | • 20.7.1939. Keonjhargarh. Frictions of a small community. Brief visit to Gangpur State – recent rioting. |
| 3.89 | • 30.7.1939. Calcutta. |
| 3.90 | • 6.8.1939. Col. Barton has two interviews with Viceroy in Puri on situation in States. H.A.N.B. talks with Laithwaite. Memorial doorway erected in Cathedral in memory of Major Bazalgette. |
| 3.91 | • 13.8.1939. H.A.N.B. to be transferred to Indore as Secretary to the Resident for Central India. Gives talk on his experiences in the Political Service to Toc H. |
| 3.92 | • 19.8.1939. Khairagarh. On tour. Much illness. Floods; threat of trouble in Nandgaon State. Strike of Mill hands. |
| 3.93 | • 27.8.1939. Calcutta. Comments briefly on Federation. |
| 3.94 | • 3.9.1939. Excessive work owing to European situation. |
| 3.95 | • 10.9.1939. Indian Congress meeting to decide their attitude to the war. |
| 3.96 | • 17.9.1939. |
| 3.97 | • 24.9.1939. |
| 3.98 | • 1.10.1939. Officers on leave recalled – awful voyage, no fans — dress for dinner every night. Says people are resigned to not seeing England again for years. |
| 3.99 | • 7.10.1939. Darjeeling. |
| 3.100 | • 15.10.1939. |
| 3.101 | • 22.10.1939. Gangtok, Sikkim. Describes journey and village. Hindu festival of Dassehra. |
| 3.102 | • 25.10.1939. Rhenok, Sikkim. Trekking, Pakyong and Rhenok. Return journey to Darjeeling. |
| 3.103 | • 5.11.1939. Calcutta. Mr. Ahmad’s successor as Under Secretary is an orthodox Brahman, Mr. Jha. |
| 3.104 | • 12.11.1939. |
| 3.105 | • 19.11.1939. Arrival of new Governor of Bengal, Sir John Herbert. |
| 3.106 | • 26.11.1939. On tour: Bamra. Mr. Griffin, new Political Agent. Deogarh, Pallahara State – comments critically on. Raja. Bonai State – rich iron ore deposits. Arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Jha. |
| 3.107 | • 1.12.1939. Comments on Mr. Jha. |
| 3.108 | • 5.12.1939. Jashpurnagar – capital of Gangpur State – Rani as Regent, unique in India; .limestone quarries. Jashpur, Udaipur. |
| 3.109 | • 11.12.1939. Surguja. Arrangements at Udaipur Guest House inefficient. Uraons dancing display – dine with Maharajah and two sons. Baikunthpur, capital of Korea State – wealthy Raja owing to coal. |
| 3.110 | • Christmas Eve 1939. Visit of Maharajah of Nepal. Endless social rounds. Visits from two political service men, Captain Mansell from the frontier and Mr. Savidge, Under Secretary in Indian Foreign Office. Nativity play at Oxford Mission. |
| 3.111 | • 31.12.1939. Calcutta. Viceregal Garden Party. Lunches with Mr. Groth, American Consul, meets missionaries recently returned from Kashgar, and hears harrowing stories of their plight; his friends liquidated. Chinese employees had to remain in Consulate. |
| 3.112 | • 6.1.1940. Rajnandgaon. Social events in Calcutta for New Year. Tour – Raipur – Personnel in Viceroy’s party. Comments on Raja of Nandgaon State. Prime Minister an Englishman. |
| 3.113 | • 13.1.1940. Camp Sarangarh. Still on tour – Kawardha — entertained by Raja. Raipur, Sarangarh – palace built on modern lines. (Photo-cutting from The Statesman showing Viceroy at Rajkumar College.) |
| 3.114 | • 21.1.1940. Calcutta. |
| 3.115 | • 29.1.1940. Daspalla State. |
| 3.116 | • 4.2.1940. Calcutta. Previous tour itinerary and events. Sambalpur, Rairakhol, Athmallik, Bandh,. Tikarpura, Daspalla, Narsinghpur – excellent work done for lepers – Nayagarh. Old temple at Kantilo. Cuttack -murderers of Major Bazalgette still awaiting execution. |
| 3.117 | • 11.2.1940. Continuing personal difficulties. Walter Boulton Cathedral Chaplain. |
| 3.118 | • 25.2.1940. Antagarh, Bastar State. Appreciative description of the State & people. Kalahandi State visit postponed owing to smallpox. Dancing display by aboriginal tribes, Khonds. To Jagdalpur for official visit. Sports for aboriginal tribes, Murias and Marias, Parjas & Gadbas. Return to Kanker via Antagarh, and Abujhmar hills. Meet the Hill Marias, & see their dancing. |
| 3.119 | • 29.2.1940. Calcutta. Describes end to the Tour. More dancing at Kanker by Gond women.- Job he hoped for had fallen through. |
| 3.120 | • 3.3.1940. Job in Bastar State has fallen through. More on personal relationships. |
| 3.121 | • 10.3.1940. Gives large party. |
| 3.122 | • 18.3.1940. Alipore. Continues description of Tour. To Puri, stays with Governor Sir John Hubback; to Vizianagraw & to Kalahandi where Kharita ceremony performed, most impressive. |
| 3.123 | • Part of letter. |
| 3.124 | • 31.3.1940. |
| 3.125 | • Missing. |
| 3.126 | • 14.4.1940. |
| 3.127 | • 20.4.1940. |
| 3.128 | • 28.4.1940. |
| 3.129 | • 5.5.1940. (letters during this period all comment on anxiety about the war). Depart for Shillong. |
| 3.130 | • 12.5.1940. Shillong. Leave seems doubtful. |
| 3.131 | • 19.5.1940. |
| 3.132 | • 26.5.1940. |
| 3.133 | • 2.6.1940. H.A.N.B. to be relieved by a Captain Cooke. |
| 3.134 | • 9.6.1940. Leave postponed. |
| 3.135 | • 16.6.1940. Offered a post under Government of India in Political section of Home Department. |
| 3.136 | • 23.6.1940. |
| 3.137 | • 30.6.1940. Calcutta. |
| 3.138 | • 7.7.1940. Major Cooke arrives. |
NEW DELHI AND SIMLA
| 3.139 | • 14.7.1940. Simla, Hotel Cecil. Town very full. |
| 3.140 | • 21.7.1940. Mahasu, Wildflower Hall Hotel. Weekend holiday. |
| 3.141 | • 28.7.1940. Simla, United Service Club. Comment on servant, Napoleon. Talks with Mr. Gerald Simms, an Under Secretary who explains something of the work. |
| 3.142 | • 4.7.1940. Works in a building called ‘Gorton Castle’. Cannot say much of his work owing to censorship. |
| 3.143 | • 11.8.1940. Feels hardly affected by the war. |
| 3.144 | • 18.8.1940. |
| 3.145 | • 25.8.1940. Meets old friends. Feels lucky to be in such a beautiful place. |
| 3.146 | • 1.9.1940. Netherlands Sunday in India – at the request of Dutch Consul General to pray for Queen Wilhemina and the Dutch people. |
| 147-152 | Mostly social. |
| 3.153 | • 20.10.1940. York Road, New Delhi. Staying with Major and Mrs. Hancock. He is Department Secretary in Political Department, H.A.N.B. works at Secretariat. |
| 3.154 | • 27.10.1940. Eastern Group Conference begins. |
| 3.155 | • 3.11.1940. |
| 3.156 | • 10.11.1940. Good library in Secretariat. |
| 3.157 | • 24.11.1940. |
| 3.158 | • 1.12.1940. Social. |
| 3.159 | • 8.12.1940. Social. |
| 3.160 | • 15.12.1940. Four weeks of sea-mail arrive. |
| 3.161 | • 22.12.1940. |
| 3.162 | • 29.12.1940. Jaipur State House. Holiday. Descriptive -Maharajah’s stables – 200 horses. Old capital of Amber. |
| 3.163 | • 5.1.1941. New Delhi. |
| 3.164 | • 12.1.1941. Two officers from Department killed in air crash. Takes over new section – including the reception and accommodation of evacuees and refugees. |
| 3.165 | • 19.1.1941. |
| 3.166 | • 26.1.1941. Describes normal day. Census preparations -much bitterness and accusations of corruption between communities. New Commander in Chief of India – Sir Claude Auchinleck arrived. |
| 3.167 | • 2.2.1941. |
| 3.168 | • 9.2.1941. |
| 3.169 | • 16.2.1941. Move to Simla postponed. 100 officers to stay in Delhi through summer. |
| 3.170 | • 23.2.1941. Lists choices open to him for leave. |
| 3.171 | • 2.3.1941. No mail since January from home – cables -Viceroys Annual Garden Party. |
| 3.172 | • 9.3.1941. Receives cable from home. |
| 3.173 | • 16.3.1941. Sir Reginald Maxwell’s daughter stays. Sir Claude Auchinleck making a great impression. |
| 3.174 | • 23.3.1941. |
| 3.175 | • 31.3.1941. Udaipur. Short leave. Stays with Resident, Mr. and Mrs. Todd. Spring Festival Ganguar – descriptive. |
| 3.176 | • 6.4.1941. New Delhi. Being treated for dysentry at the Willingdon Nursing home. |
| 3.177 | • 13.4.1941. |
| 3.178 | • 20.4.1941. |
| 3.179 | • 27.4.1941. Simla. Journey by car – 240 miles. |
| 3.180 | • 4.5.1941. Napoleon – his servant – 6 weeks leave. |
| 3.181 | • 11.5.1941. Airmail letters to England temporarily stopped — other routes considered. |
| 3.182 | • 18.5.1941. His immediate superior, Mr. Frampton, in Bombay arranging reception for evacuees from Iraq. |
| 3.183 | • 25.5.1941. Elected to the Black Hearts – exclusive bachelors society – descriptive. |
| 3.184 | • 1.6.1941. Napoleon’s leave extended. Now owns radio. |
| 3.185 | • 8.6.1941. |
| 3.186 | • 15.6.1941. |
| 3.187 | • 22.6.1941. Increase in work. |
| 3.188 | • 29.6.1941. Refugees to India include Greeks, Yugoslavs, Maltese, Free French, British subjects from all over Middle East. |
| 3.189 | • 6.7.1941. Political Department want him back in August. |
| 3.190 | • 13.7.1941. Comments on the attitudes of those who are permanently with the Government Administration. Comments on Sir Claude Auchinleck. |
| 3.191 | • 20.7.1941. Comments on his future transfer. |
| 3.192 | • 27.7.1941. No prospect of leave. Blackout in Simla. |
| 3.193 | • 3.8.1941. Sir Francis Wylie’s appointment as Minister in Kabul a surprise. |
| 3.194 | • 10.8.1941. Made Additional Department Secretary for a month. |
| 3.195 | • 17.8.1941. Lord Willingdon’s Memorial Service – personal comments. |
| 3.196 | • 24.8.1941. Prefers work as Department Secretary to Under Secretary as has more authority. |
| 3.197 | • 31.8.1941. Black Heart dinner – feels lavishness is out of place in war time. |
| 3.198 | • 14.9.1941. Illness. |
| 3.199 | • 21.9.1941. Instructs his Indian relief – Shankar – in his duties. |
| 3.200 | • 28.9.1941. Still awaiting new posting under the Political Department. |
| 3.201 | • 5.10.1941. New Delhi. Posted to Meshed, Iran. Describes post, personnel and proposed journey. Very pleased about new job. |
| 3.202 | • 14.10.1941. The Residency, Quetta, Baluchistan. Staying with Sir Aubrey Metcalfe, Chief Commissioner. Packing up. Taking his servant, Napoleon. Quetta after earth-quake. |
