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C.H. MCCALLUM : 1929 ORIGINAL BRITISH ARMY OFFICER MANUSCRIPT DIARY AND EPHEMERA HANDWRITTEN BY THE NEWLY INSTALLED COMMANDER OF THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY IN INDIA

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a super, original manuscript relic and modest archive of ephemera of the British Army presence on the Asian Sub Continent and India specifically. Handwritten and compiled by Colonel C.H. McCallum of the Highland Light Infantry. The group includes a well-filled 1929 diary in which McCallum who had just assumed command of the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry; a hunting 'Game Book' with entries for Scotland and India; a 1960 military journal featuring McCallum's obituary; 1950s passport for McCallum; four photographs of McCallum with family members. The diary covers in great detail preparations and travel to India on the HMT Dorsetshire, then in Cawnpore, Lucknow and other Indian locations the day to day activities of a battalion commander in India. Meetings, courts martial, social scene, gossip etc. Many other officers and dignitaries mentioned, including "...invited to meet Gandhi in morning but could not go as too busy..." Captain Andrew VC is also mentioned. McCallum proves to be a super diarist with a droll style of writing as evidenced by this snippet: "Having, on the 18th Dec 1928, to my most amazement and to the confounding of mine enemies, who had been intriguing vastly against me, been promoted Lt. Colonel to command the 2nd Bn of the Highland Light Infantry, I did thereupon resolve to write a diary...." He further provides a fascinating insight into daily military and social life in India in the Inter-War period. Another choice entry of many include details of a riot by HLI and Gordon's sergeants at a beer bar where an NCO was badly beaten, and subsequent courts martial with "very heavy sentences". McCallum also buys a rifle from Sir Edmund Ironside, "a great bargain". Diary binding is partially detached, covers marked and warn, interior in good condition. A little marking and wear to covers of game book and journal. Passport badly damp damaged. Photographs in good condition. Overall G+. [We note that we also have McCallum's 1918 World War I British Home Service Employment diary which he wrote after he had been invalided home from the European front. Our item number is 0001919.]. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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