Description

Given by Mrs. R. Montgomery

Mysore, Bihar and Orissa 1927-1931

Microfilm No 54

Letters written by Brigadier E.J. Montgomery, C.B., C.B.E., to his parents after he went out to India as a 2nd Lt. in the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, Bangalore, and papers connected with his later work as Personal Assistant in Mysore and Private Secretary in Bihar and Orissa.

1. Initial journey to Ootacamund and posting as Personal Assistant to the Resident, Mysore:
   • 21 April 1927. Letter describing journey by car from Bangalore to Ootacamund on weekend leave with friends and illustrated by numerous photographs. Goes fishing etc. Contrast with the plains.
   • April 1927?. Probably May 1927. Stays in 100 year old Georgian style bungalow at Hunsur. Arrives at Murkal Forest offices and bungalow. Shooting.
   • 2 June 1927. Ordered to go as Personal Assistant to the Resident, Mysore. Needs Full Dress and Morning Coat.
   • 16 June 1927. Government House, Mysore. Describes work as P.A. to Mr. Pears, the Resident. ‘Living like Royalty’. Sees Birthday Procession, introduced to the Maharajah. Experience of dinner party arrangements. Plays polo against Raja of Bobilli’s team.
   • 29 June 1927. The Residency, Bangalore. Waiting for Viceroy’s arrival. Gives brief description of variety of work. Two cuttings, one from Madras Mail of August 1927 about polo matches.
   • 11 August 1927. The Residency, Bangalore. Parents coming out to India.
   • Second page of a letter. Has arrived in Ootacamund. Describes the Ooty Hunt Point to Point Races.
   • 27 September 1927. Guest House, Venkatagiri Town. Maharaja’s guests. Describes private army and polo team. Arrangements for parents’ visit.
   • 18 October 1927. Government House, Mysore. Attended Mysore Dasara. Advises parents on dress. Arranged dinner party for 46.
   • 22 October 1927. Description of necessity for a bearer to meet them at Madras. Describes his own servant. Has attended Legislative Assembly.
2. Letters to his parents when Personal Assistant to the Resident at Mysore, Mr. Pears, and when Private Secretary to the Governor of Bihar and Orissa, Sir Hugh Stephenson: 1928.
   • 8 February 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Polo match against Mysore Cavalry.
   • 1 March 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Dance at The Residency arranged by Montgomery. Programme enclosed.
   • 22 March 1928. Arrangements for Indian States Committees and other functions.
   • ?April 1928. Beauvoir Mercara. Shooting – Personal
   • 16 April 1928. Chief Commissioner’s Camp, Nagarhole. Shooting.
   • 9 May 1928. Awdrey House, Fernhill, Nilgiris. Horses: new secretary, Mr. Lothian.
   • 16 May 1928. Awdrey House, Fernhill, Nilgiris. Hectic social life. Dines very formally at Government House. New Resident, Mr. Crump. Conference on Bangalore water supply.
   • 23 May 1928. Awdrey House, Fernhill, Nilgiris. Numerous dances: hunting: an incident of bad manners. State Ball at Government House coming. Quandary about joining Foreign and Political Department.
   • 7 June 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Anonymous letter received about H.L.I.
   • 14 June 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Organizing dances and the C in C.’s visit.
   • 20 June 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Social Events. Organisation. Horse show and polo.
   • 4 July 1928 Residency, Bangalore. R.C.C. dance fairly successful. Incidents at horse show, and with the Resident.
   • 26 July 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Presentation of colours by C. in C. Problem of possibility of new job as. A.D.C. en route for Military Secretaryship.
   • 29 July 1928. Residency, Bangalore. More about future career; organising dance. S. Indian Railway strike mentioned. Future programme – Regimental dance at Residency and then on tour with the Resident:
   • 9 August 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Riots in Mysore State against Diwan, results and consequences. Programme for following months with Resident. Has musical evening. Proposal to bring his bearer with him on leave.
   • 16 August 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Is asked to be Private Secretary and Military Secretary combined to Sir Hugh Stephenson, Governor of Bihar and Orissa.
   • 23 August 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Short note about new job.
   • 30 August 1928. Residency, Bangalore. Young people’s dance. More about new job.
   • 18 September 1928. Madras Club. En route for new job. Has to buy new kit. Regimental ball a success.
   • 20 September 1928. Calcutta. En route for Ranchi.
   • 26 September 1928. Government House, Ranchi. Brief note about new job. Buys cine camera.
   • 1 October 1928. Government House, Ranchi. Preparing for Viceroy’s visit. Remarks about work, people and the place. Difference from Bangalore – describes work.
   • 6 October 1928 (Mistakenly dated 6 September). In Camp Netarhat. Brief letter about work and daily life.
   • 16 October 1928. Government House, Ranchi. Describes taking over office and changes necessary.Printed Programme for the visit of H.?. Sir Hugh Stephenson, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., I.C.S., Governor of Bihar and Orissa to Gaya and Return to Patna 31 October – 3 November 1928 drawn up by E.J.M. Enclosed is a letter dated 30 October 1928 mentioning it and polo.
   • 29 November 1928. Government House, Ranchi. Describes Fête for Patna and Provincial Infant Welfare Centre. Takes first film.
   • 6 December 1928. Governor’s Camp, Bihar and Orissa. On tour. Not much reception at Muzzaffapur owing to partial hartal. Describes dedication to work of the Governor and others like him. Work of arranging a Garden Party and reasons for arrangements.
   • 13 December 1928. Government House, Patna. Has been on leave. Talks of films. Simon Commission at Government Rouse. Gives account of daily routine.
   • 20 December 1928. Government House, Patna. ‘Inside’ view of Simon Commission and other individuals in the household. Printed programme for the visit of His Excellency Sir Hugh Stephenson, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., I.C.S., Governor of Bihar and Orissa to Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar States. 4-6 January 1929. (This includes the detailed arrangements for transport of servants and baggage.)
   • 3 January 1929. Government House, Patna. Describes the shoot and enumerates bag. Takes film. Work of P.S. on special train.
   • 7 January 1929. 2 duplicated sheets of Durbar Proceedings: Mayurbhanj State.
   • 8 January 1929. Governor’s Camp, Bihar and Orissa. From Mayurbhanj, Belgaria Palace. Describes the various forms of dress he has to wear – other arrangements.
   • 16 January 1929. Governor’s Camp, Bihar and Orissa. Tour in Orissa States – describes tiger shoot. Personal affairs and arrangements.
   • 18 January 1929. Government House, Patna. Inside view of household affairs.
   • 31. January 1929. Government House, Patna. Personal animosities. Annual Police Parade in Full Dress Mounted and other ceremonies.
   • 2 February 1929. Governor’s Camp, Bihar and Orissa. Describes Patna week, events and ceremonies. In camp for shoot at Bagaha. 60 elephants. Draws plan for panther shoot and describes it in detail. Takes film of it. Asked to remain as P.S.
   • 14 February 1929. Government House, Patna. Personal matters regarding work and future.
   • 19 February 1929. Government House, Patna. Is Hon. Sec. and Treasurer of the St. Andrews Colonial Homes, Kalimpong run by Dr. Graham. Collecting money for the Homes. Going on leave to Regt. in Cawnpore.
   • 28 February 1929 Regt. H.Q., Cawnpore, (2nd Battalion H.L.I.) Goes to Delhi first, calls, sees new Viceregal Lodge, and Finals of Prince of Wales Cup Polo. Attends Viceregal Ball, Horse Show, sees Fort etc., and the Taj Mahal.
   • 6 March 1929. Government House, Patna Comments on Swarajists.
   • 7 March 1929. Government House, Patna. Personal relations in household.
   • 14 March 1929. Government House, Patna. Personal matters only.
   • 15 March 1929. Government House, Patna. Smallpox outbreak preventive measures.
   • 21 March 1929. Government House, Patna. Personal.
   • 28 March 1929. Government House, Patna. Bishop of Calcutta has been staying. Some thefts, and a series of rows among the servants and in the office.
   • 3 April 1929. Government House, Patna. A letter by the first air mail (envelope missing). Going to Puri for a week. News of his band.
   • 18 April 1929. Government House, Patna. Busy with change of Governors (Stephensons on leave). Getting one lac rps. for furnishing New Government House, Ranchi. Gives an hour to hour account of that particular day’s work.
   • 23 April 1929. Government House, Patna. Instructions to his parents for their meeting with the Stephensons who are on leave.
   • 1 May 1929. Government House, Patna. Leaving for Ranchi. Temperature 106º. The Acting Governor, the Siftons have arrived. Comments on them.
   • 2-5 May 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Still hot. Replacements in staff and local news.
   • 20-22 May 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Has been shooting in Netarhat. Very hot. Arranging banquet and ball for the King’s Birthday and writing Standing Orders for the Staff.
   • 28 May 1929. Government House, Ranchl. Small items of news, heat predominating.
   • 20 June 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Small items of news: learning Urdu.; polo, concert etc.
   • 26 June 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Presentation of Addresses at Government House and other small items.
   • 4 July 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Small items.
   • 8 July 1929. Government House, Ranchi. His Standing Orders being printed and circulated. Things running very smoothly. Have King’s Thanksgiving Service – semi-State. Opinion of Bishop’s sermon.
   • 17 July 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Trying to work at Urdu and for Staff College. Work on Government Houses.
   • 29 August 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Stephensons return. More problems.
   • 12 September 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Gives programme for next 3 months. Has leave confirmed.
   • 18 September 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Gets Captaincy. The Governor prorogues Council. Swarajists walk out in protest against Government action over the Golmini Strike, Tinplate Works at Tata Mills. Printed sheet of the Governor’s engagements for October 1929, showing date, hour, engagement and A.D.C.
   • 2 October 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Small items of news. Stage managing a play.
   • 16 October 1929. Government House, Ranchi. Play a success. Team wins Polo tournament.
   • 22 October 1929. Governor’s Camp, Bihar and Orissa. From Netarhat. Shooting – incident of polo photograph being published in The Statesman. Problems of tact.
   • 26 October 1929. Governor’s Camp, Bihar and Orissa. Becoming home sick – problems of furnishing the new house. Shooting with Mr. Peppé. Printed list of the Governor’s engagements for November 1929 – January 1930. Table plan for dinner party, Government House, Calcutta, 24 January 1930 and detailed list of guests. Table plan for dinner party, Government House, Patna, 17 February 1930 and Governor’s ‘speaking’ plan for after dinner.
   • 27 January 1930. Government House, Patna. Brief and small news items.
   • 18 February 1930. Government House, Patna. Reports his Indian Head Assistant ill and also a cutting of a ‘reprehensible’ speech by John Campbell from The Statesman (cutting not enclosed).
   • 4 December 1930. Government House, Patna. Reports clashes between police and villagers in Bihar. Preparing to leave. Visits new jail for Political Prisoners and his opinion of it.
   • 6 December 1930. Government House, Patna Talks of his wedding plans. Very tired of job.
   • 14 December 1930. Government House, Patna. Personal. Quotes from Sir Hugh Stephenson’s report on him.
   • 15 January 1931. Governor’s Camp, Bihar and Orissa. Written from Sonpur Feudatory State, Orissa. Household have anti-rabies injections.
   • 17 January 1931. Government House, Patna. Mentions Round Table Conference and Labour Party. Also trouble in Districts due to economic depression which is exploited by Congress.
   • 29 January 1931. Government House, Patna. Various minor accidents recorded. Records that Parliament are making a mess over India. Only man capable of speaking out is W. Churchill. Opinions of Gandhi, and also treatment of Congress supporters in Jail in Bihar.
   • 5 February 1931. Government House, Patna. News of Patna Week. Newspaper cutting: photograph of Sir Hugh Stephenson and party , with the Maharaja of Sonpur.
   • 8 February 1931. Government House, Patna. Opinion of Round Table Conference delegation’s work vis-a-vis Gandhi. Future plans.
   • 12 February 1931. Government House, Patna. Last letter from Patna. Returning to regiment before wedding.
3. Mrs. Rosemary Montgomery’s letters from India to her parents in England. In 1931 she went out as the bride of an army officer in the 2nd Batt. H.1.I., in U.P.. She was in Cawnpore, Ranikhet, Simla. The letters are descriptions of life in India for a young married woman, domestic, social and environmental. They cover the period April 1931, to September 1932. Arranged in a letters book, pp. 1-140 are original letters, pp. 141-267 are photocopies. Selected letters listed below:
   • p. 6 Plan of their bungalow.
   • p. 37 Visit of Lord and Lady Willingdon.
   • p. 54 Her first visit to Simla.
   • p. 60 Detailed description of the Dahsera.
   • p. 76 An account of Lady Willingdon breakfasting with the Montgomerys on her way from Delhi to Calcutta by air.
   • p. 88 Christmas in Camp (drawn plan of tents) in Bundelcund.
   • p.125 Description of Delhi and Agra ? the Taj in moonlight.