Interview with Carlyle Edmund Seppings [sound recording]

This material is held atSchool of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London

Scope and Content

Seppings interviewed about his life in Burma until 1950. Background and education in Burma; university at Rangoon and attitudes to Burmese people; outbreak of World War 2 and joining Burma rifles; 1st Burma campaign, especially action at Sittang Bridge; Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the Inter Services Liaison Department (SILD); account of his SOE work, including 3 undercover missions behind enemy lines and other commando work; end of War and recruitment into Burma Police; operations against bandits and Communist forces pre Burmese independence; contacts with nationalist leader Aung San and assassination of same; his investigations; memories of U Saw, politician executed for the assassination; Burmese independence; dealing with insurgents in Arakan district until he resigns in 1950; memories of Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, Governor of Burma 1941-46; opinion of Earl Mountbatten policy on Burmese independence and present-day relations between Britain and Burma; assesses British rule.

Administrative / Biographical History

Carlyle Edmund Seppings - Indian Army and Inter Services Liason Department 1940-1945. Burma Police 1945-1950.

Access Information

Sound recording currently unavailable at SOAS Library due to preservation reasons. Researchers can access a copy of this audio recording at the British Library Listening & Viewing Service. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.

Closed

Note

The last tape of low sound quality due to battery running down.

Conditions Governing Use

Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist

Copyright held by British Library

Custodial History

Recorded as part of the ’Memories of the British in India’ project by India Office Library & Records [subsequently the Oriental and India Office Collection, British Library]. This recording was previously held at SOAS Library as part of the 'British in India Oral Archive Project' collection [Reference OA2], removed from this collection in August 2014 to reflect the recording’s alternative provenance as part of the ‘Memories of the British in India’ project.

Location of Originals

Original sound recording of interview available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service [Reference: C63/02-10]