Recollections of my Indian career
data provider: CONTENTdm
is referenced by: http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch
is part of: UBC Library Digitization Centre Special Projects
creator: Cripps, John Matthew
issued: 2021-04-12
created: 1888
description: Notes on ‘Recollections of My Indian Career’ by General JM Cripps, published in 1888 My great grandfather, JM Cripps published the memoirs of his more than fifty year illustrious career in the Bengal Lancers of colonial India during the British Raj where he saw action in Afghanistan, the Battle of the Sutlej (the Sikh War) and the Great Mutiny of 1857, of which he writes some interesting firsthand descriptions. Recollections was published in 1888 as a vanity volume, and he distributed its thirteen (only) leather-bound, gilt-edged copies to close family members. He married Agnes, my great-grandmother and their daughter Grace was born in Peshawar. Agnes was an accomplished watercolourist and documented her travels in India, Suez, Greece, Florence and England with her paintings. Her original watercolours populated the thirteen volumes. Alas, my original book is the only known copy left in existence. I’m told that a poor photocopy exists in a history museum in New Delhi and another in London, but I lack proof thereof. General Cripp’s daughter, Grace married my grandfather, Dr. Harold Stephens, who served as a field surgeon in the Boer War and who rose to Surgeon Commander of the Royal Navy. For his services to Queen Victoria, he was given farmland in Glenora, near Duncan in Vancouver Island which his son, my father Rupert Edward Cripps Stephens inherited. Mountain Valley Farm was stony and off the beaten path, so in 1950, my parents sold it and carved out of a second growth forest the beautiful 40 acre Goldstream Berry Paradise on Vancouver Island where I grew up, reading this book, but mostly fascinated with great-grandmother’s exquisite watercolours within its leather bound gilt-edged pages, sometimes imagining myself as Mowgli, the wolf child of India from the beloved Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. I have made many visits to the Indian subcontinent, and in 1969 in Old Delhi, married Ratana—a lovely, principled, astute and educated Indian woman, Ratana, which means ‘…
aggregated CHO: https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/specialp/items/1.0396020/source.json
extent: 441 pages : illustrations, photographs
format: image/jpeg
note: JC*ka3 /?^J — RECOLLECTIONS OF MY INDIAN CAREER. Recollections My Indian Career, LIEUT.-GENERAL J. M. CRIPPS, Bengal Staff Corps. READING : Miss E. Langley, Lovejoys Library. PREFACE. QpjN the following pages the reader must expect nothing ^ beyond a plain and simple account of an Indian career in which some few trials were encountered, but which, I can truly say, was in the whole a contented, and ofttimes a very happy one. The story, as it runs on, has been well embellished by carefully-executed water-colour illustrations, which form its main attractions, being, moreover, all the work of my wife. The book is, of course, intended for my children, near relations, and very intimate friends only; for as opinions are very freely expressed about many persons, any wide circulation might cause unpleasantness, and perhaps hurt the feelings of those who^I have no desire to annoy in any way. Some readers may be of opinion that I might well have left out so full a reference to the domestic arrangements of some of the officers of the CONTENTS. Chapter I.—1839 to 1841. Leave England—Madeira—Soldiers on board : their wives— Woman gagged — Teneriffe—Gale off Cape of Good Hope—Sharks—Mutinous soldiers—Suspicious ship— Wrecked—Mrs. Talbot—Abandon wreck—Native brig— Orgies of soldiers—Theft of water—Scotch barque— Reach Calcutta—Quarters in fort—Hudson's family— Cobra—Court of Enquiry—Cadets' Mess—Start for Berhampore : boat wrecked—Second start—Berhampore— 69th Regiment of Native Infantry—Chota hazrees— Lichees — Dr. O'Dwyer — Lieutenant Hatchell — Drill sergeant—Society—Depots of 26th and 49th Regiments— Moorshedabad—Fireworks—My buggy and mare—Posted to 26th Native Infantry—Journey up country : Allahabad, Cawnpore, Agra, Allygurh—Bishop Wilson—Kurnal— March to Ferozepore—Thieves—Meet Major Broadfoot— Ride on a camel—Captain Cowslade : his practical joking—Ferozepore—Captain Lawrence—Officers of the 26th Native Infantry—My house—Dost Mahomed Khan of Cabul—Wrestling and games—Thieve…
note: Annotation near title page.
has type: Narratives
spatial: India
identifier: DS475.2.C75 A3 1888
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0396020
language: English
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: Reading : E. Langley, Lovejoys Library
rights: Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy, or otherwise distribute these images please contact digital.initiatives@ubc.ca.
source: Original Format: University of British Columbia. Library. Rare Books and Special Collections. DS475.2.C75 A3 1888
subject: India -- History -- 19th century
subject: India--History--British occupation, 1765-1947
type: Text