Empire's Children

"Suddenly light dawned, bells rang in my head and I looked at her in wonder as I understood what she had said... Not only did I understand what she said but I could answer her in English. "Aunt Audrey", I whispered "I don't like milk". " - Alice M

Latest Comments

By IanTroup

I happened to stumble on Lincoln Serwanga's account of growing up in Uganda in the 1960's. I too ws born in Kampala Uganda in 1955 & was schooled there for the 1st 5 years of my life before being brought to Scotland where I entered boarding school for the next 12 years. Surprisingly I have many memories of my early childhood. My parents worked in Banking & were moved around the country quite a bit. We lived in Kampala, Jinja & Soroti amongst other towns. I can remember the night when the Coup kicked off in 1970 & we found ourselves in the centre of the troubles in Kampala in the dead of night trying to get home to Kololo hills. It was quite a time! I have even foound photographs of our old house on Google Earth! Isn't the Internet fantastic!!

By johnc

Is your grandfather WH Arden Wood? I trust you are aware of the work he did in leading the All India Committee for European and Eurasian Education to London in April 1911. I have necessary detail if you are interested. I am researching the establishment of a school that was a focus of this mission and his associate Rev John Breeden who became the Founding Principal of the school. The school is approaching its Centenary year and I would like to consolidate the data we have on the work done in England 1911- 1914, the support of the King, support of Lords Curzon, Roberts, Elgin, Minto, Lansdowne, Kitchner & Archbishops of Armagh, Canterbury and York. Generous financially support by Sir Robert Laidlaw MP enabled the construction of the school named Laidlaw Memorial (originally St George's Homes in South India) regards, johnc

By draketalbot

Hi Isaac I ws interested to read your story. My x3 great grandfather, Peter Barr, was a sergeant in the Royal Artillery and stationed in St Helena for 8 years, from 1835 -1844. He was married and two children were born in St Helena in approx. 1838 and 1841. I found Peter Barr's Army discharge papers yesterday in the National Archives and have made a copy, plus I found other refs. to him in other RA archives. I believe that the records of baptisms of children born in St Helena are kept in the British Library, in the India and Africa Library, but I haven't had a chance to go there yet. I hope to this coming week. Do let me nkow if any of this is relevant or of interest to you. Jonathan

By susan

I agree with Jwalking - I would be fascinated to have some insights through first hand accounts of people who experienced Burma when it was part of the Empire and the China connection would also be pretty current!

By jwalking

What about Burma / Myanmar, seems to be a very topical one, and it would be interesting to look at the country's history and how that has shaped some of the issues that are there today.