Edward Lamb on the better pay and conditions for white Europeans colleagues. by bristolmuseums

This is an excerpt of the interview with Edward Lamb in the British Empire and Commonwealth collection. BECC OH 0547.

Transcription:

We heard from the boys who used to go home on to the railways, “Oh so-and-so’s father is an engine driver, oh but his pay is higher because he’s European.” He was an ex-soldier who’s signed on in India after seven years and they got chances on the railways, but their pay was much higher than the Anglo-Indians, an Anglo-Indian’s father, grandfather, might have worked for the railway, for the simple reason that he was born in India, whether he was Anglo-Indian or Domicile European, it didn’t matter. If you were born in India you got less pay than a man who was signed off the colours in India.

He was European, he was over you and he was over you. He might have been junior to you in service. He gave you orders though, he got the best bungalow. Oh yes.

(Interviewer: Almost certainly less well educated)

Of course, of course, of course. That’s what my first boss instilled into me, you know John, this fellow Johnny Roberts, he said “Never, never take your hat off to any European again” and I obeyed Johnny, you know.

This audio was digitised by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage, a national project led by the British Library and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Find out more about the project - www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/tag/uosh

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