The Hampshire Family Historian | Volume 49 No.4 | March 2023

Local Group Programmes

policy which strongly discouraged women from travelling to India. However, there are instances of highly motivated women setting up businesses, undertaking charity work and becoming explorers at this time. Later the policy was relaxed for the wives of the military - and then completely reversed when they encouraged single women with a year’s allowance. The idea was for them to find a husband and settle in India within a year. Those travelling out were known as the Fishing Fleet. If they failed, they were obliged to return to Britain. The role of the women was to support their British husbands, whether in the military or civilian professions. They had to integrate with the community for support, particularly if they were in remote countryside where the distance to the nearest doctor or plantation was large. To run a household the Memsahib could employ many locals as servants. For this she had to be authoritative and commanding or advantage could be taken. The jobs given to the servants depended on the Indian caste system and religion which restricted who could do what. Life could be quite arduous with disease, wild animals and the heat. Child mortality for those less than 5 years old was very high. Children were looked after by their Ayah (nursemaid). With time on the Memsahib’s hands, apathy and boredom could easily set in. Social clubs, sports and hobbies provided an answer. Some women went to India not to get married but to practise professions that they would not have been able to in Britain, becoming doctors, midwives and missionaries. Strong bonds developed on both sides between the household and the servants. When threatened by a possible Japanese invasion and during partition, many servants wanted to stay with the family despite putting themselves at risk. An interesting talk which was illustrated by numerous examples with many from her own family archive. Jenny recommends the British India Society website https://www.fibis.org/ . Forthcoming Meetings: All meetings at 7:30pm

Members’ Evening

March 14th April 11th

Chandlers Ford Brickworks

Jim Beckett John Pitman

What the Butler Saw

May 9th

Supermarine at Hursley Park: From Spitfire to Scimitar

June 13th

Dave Key Tony Cross

Hampshire Memorials

July 11th

For all the latest news visit… www.hgs-familyhistory.com

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