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{{ | {{Short description|British soldier and writer (1914–1983)}} | ||
{{other people}} | {{other people}} | ||
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}} | {{Use British English|date=August 2011}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} | ||
{{Infobox writer | {{Infobox writer | ||
| name = John Masters | | name = John Masters | ||
| image = | | image = | ||
| alt = | | alt = | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| birth_name = | | birth_name = | ||
| birth_date = 26 October 1914 | | birth_date = 26 October 1914 | ||
| birth_place = [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], India | | birth_place = [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], India | ||
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| occupation = Soldier and author | | occupation = Soldier and author | ||
| years_active = 1933–1983 | | years_active = 1933–1983 | ||
| genre = [[Historical fiction]]<br/>[[Memoir]] | | genre = [[Historical fiction]]<br />[[Memoir]] | ||
| spouse = Barbara Phoebe Masters (1910-1998) | | spouse = Barbara Phoebe Masters (1910-1998) | ||
| alma_mater = [[Wellington College, Berkshire]]<br/> | | alma_mater = [[Wellington College, Berkshire]]<br /> | ||
[[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]<br/> | [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]<br /> | ||
[[ | [[Staff College, Quetta]] | ||
| module = {{Infobox military person | embed=yes | | module = {{Infobox military person | embed=yes | ||
| allegiance = United Kingdom | | allegiance = United Kingdom | ||
| branch = [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] (1933–1947)<br/>[[British Army]] (1947–1949) | | branch = [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] (1933–1947)<br />[[British Army]] (1947–1949) | ||
| serviceyears = 1933–49 | | serviceyears = 1933–49 | ||
| rank = [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] | | rank = [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] | ||
| awards = [[Distinguished Service Order]] | | awards = [[Distinguished Service Order]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
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==Life== | ==Life== | ||
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2010}} | {{Unreferenced section|date=September 2010}} | ||
Masters was the son of a regular soldier, a [[lieutenant-colonel]] whose family had a long tradition of service in the [[British Indian Army]]. He was educated at [[Wellington College (Berkshire)|Wellington]] and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]. On graduating from Sandhurst in 1933, he was seconded to the [[Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry]] (DCLI) for a year before applying to serve with the [[4th Gurkha Rifles|4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles]]. He saw service on the [[North-West Frontier (military history)|North-West Frontier]] with the 2nd battalion of the regiment, and was rapidly given a variety of appointments within the battalion and the regimental depot. | Masters was the son of a regular soldier, a [[lieutenant-colonel]] whose family had a long tradition of service in the [[British Indian Army]]. He was educated at [[Wellington College (Berkshire)|Wellington]] and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]. On graduating from Sandhurst in 1933, he was seconded to the [[Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry]] (DCLI) for a year before applying to serve with the [[4th Gurkha Rifles|4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles]]. He saw service on the [[North-West Frontier (military history)|North-West Frontier]] with the 2nd battalion of the regiment, and was rapidly given a variety of appointments within the battalion and the regimental depot.<ref>Bugles and a Tiger, pp. 3-69</ref> | ||
In 1938, he organised a hunt for a leopard reported to be roaming the depot at [[Bakloh]], only to find himself facing a full-grown tiger (which killed one of the Gurkhas acting as beaters). He later commented that whatever rank and decorations he was awarded, he was always known to the Gurkhas as "The Sahib who shot the Bakloh tiger".<ref>Bugles and a Tiger, pp.207-212</ref> | In 1938, he organised a hunt for a leopard reported to be roaming the depot at [[Bakloh]], only to find himself facing a full-grown tiger (which killed one of the Gurkhas acting as beaters). He later commented that whatever rank and decorations he was awarded, he was always known to the Gurkhas as "The Sahib who shot the Bakloh tiger".<ref>Bugles and a Tiger, pp.207-212</ref> | ||
In early 1939, he was appointed the [[Adjutant]] of the 2nd battalion of the 4th Gurkhas. During the [[World War II|Second World War]] his battalion was sent to [[Basra]] in Iraq, during the brief [[Anglo-Iraqi War]]. Masters subsequently served in Iraq, [[Syria]], and [[Iran|Persia]] with the battalion, before being briefly seconded as a staff officer in a Line of Communications HQ. In early 1942, he attended the Indian Army's [[ | In early 1939, he was appointed the [[Adjutant]] of the 2nd battalion of the 4th Gurkhas. During the [[World War II|Second World War]] his battalion was sent to [[Basra]] in Iraq, during the brief [[Anglo-Iraqi War]]. Masters subsequently served in Iraq, [[Syria]], and [[Iran|Persia]] with the battalion, before being briefly seconded as a staff officer in a Line of Communications HQ. In early 1942, he attended the Indian Army's [[Staff College at Quetta]]. Here he met the wife of a fellow officer and they began an affair. Even though they later married, there was something of a scandal at the time. | ||
After passing the Staff College, Masters next served as [[brigade major]] in the [[114th Indian Infantry Brigade]] before being "poached" by [[Walter David Alexander Lentaigne|Joe Lentaigne]], another officer from the 4th Gurkhas, to be brigade major in [[111th Indian Infantry Brigade]], a [[Chindit]] formation. From March | After passing the Staff College, Masters next served as [[brigade major]] in the [[114th Indian Infantry Brigade]] before being "poached" by [[Walter David Alexander Lentaigne|Joe Lentaigne]], another officer from the 4th Gurkhas, to be brigade major in [[111th Indian Infantry Brigade]], a [[Chindit]] formation. From March 1944, the brigade served behind the Japanese lines in [[Burma]]. On the death of General [[Orde Wingate]] on 24 April, Lentaigne became the Chindits' overall commander and Masters commanded the main body of 111 Brigade. | ||
In May, the brigade was ordered to hold a position code-named 'Blackpool' near [[Mogaung]] in northern Burma. The isolated position was attacked with great intensity for seventeen days and eventually the brigade was forced to withdraw. Masters felt obliged to order the medical orderlies to shoot 19 of his own men, casualties who had no hope of recovery or rescue. Masters later wrote about these events in the second volume of his autobiography, ''The Road Past Mandalay''. In recognition of his "gallant and distinguished services in Burma", he was in October awarded the DSO.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36730/supplement/4570/data.pdf |title=London Gazette |date=5 October 1944 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk|access-date=2020 | In May, the brigade was ordered to hold a position code-named 'Blackpool' near [[Mogaung]] in northern Burma. The isolated position was attacked with great intensity for seventeen days and eventually the brigade was forced to withdraw. Masters felt obliged to order the medical orderlies to shoot 19 of his own men, casualties who had no hope of recovery or rescue. Masters later wrote about these events in the second volume of his autobiography, ''The Road Past Mandalay''. In recognition of his "gallant and distinguished services in Burma", he was in October awarded the DSO.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36730/supplement/4570/data.pdf |title=London Gazette |date=5 October 1944 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk|access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref> | ||
After briefly commanding the 3rd battalion of his regiment, Masters subsequently became GSO1 (the [[Chief of staff (military)|Chief of Staff]]) of [[19th Infantry Division (India)|Indian 19th Infantry Division]], which was heavily involved in the [[Burma Campaign 1944-1945|later stages of the Burma Campaign]], until the end of the war. On 17 January 1946<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37433 |date=17 January 1946 |page=494 |supp=y}}</ref> he was awarded an OBE for his service in Burma. After a spell as a staff officer in [[India Command|GHQ India]] in [[Delhi]], he then served as an instructor at the British Army [[Staff College, Camberley]]. He left the army after this posting, and moved to the United States, where he attempted to set up a business promoting walking tours in the [[Himalayas]], one of his hobbies.<ref>A recurrent theme in Masters's work is [[rock climbing]].</ref> The business was not a success and, to make ends meet, he decided to write of his experiences in the army. When his novels proved popular, he became a full-time writer. | After briefly commanding the 3rd battalion of his regiment, Masters subsequently became GSO1 (the [[Chief of staff (military)|Chief of Staff]]) of [[19th Infantry Division (India)|Indian 19th Infantry Division]], which was heavily involved in the [[Burma Campaign 1944-1945|later stages of the Burma Campaign]], until the end of the war. On 17 January 1946<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37433 |date=17 January 1946 |page=494 |supp=y}}</ref> he was awarded an OBE for his service in Burma. After a spell as a staff officer in [[India Command|GHQ India]] in [[Delhi]], he then served as an instructor at the British Army [[Staff College, Camberley]]. He left the army after this posting, and moved to the United States, where he attempted to set up a business promoting walking tours in the [[Himalayas]], one of his hobbies.<ref>A recurrent theme in Masters's work is [[rock climbing]].</ref> The business was not a success and, to make ends meet, he decided to write of his experiences in the army. When his novels proved popular, he became a full-time writer. | ||
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===History of the British in India=== | ===History of the British in India=== | ||
Apart from the autobiographical works mentioned above, Masters is also known for his historical novels set in India. Seven of these portray members of successive generations of the Savage family serving in the British and Indian Armies in India, in an attempt to trace the history of the British in India through the life of one family. In chronological order of events (but not in order of publication) these novels are: | Apart from the autobiographical works mentioned above, Masters is also known for his historical novels set in India. Seven of these portray members of successive generations of the Savage family serving in the British and Indian Armies in India, in an attempt to trace the history of the British in India through the life of one family. In chronological order of events (but not in order of publication) these novels are: | ||
* ''Coromandel!'' (1955): a 17th-century English youth runs away to sea and ends up in India. | |||
*''Coromandel!'' (1955): a 17th-century English youth runs away to sea and ends up in India. | * ''[[The Deceivers (Masters novel)|The Deceivers]]'' (1952): an English officer goes undercover to root out the ritual murders of [[Thuggee]]. | ||
*''[[The Deceivers (Masters novel)|The Deceivers]]'' (1952): an English officer goes undercover to root out the ritual murders of [[Thuggee]]. | * ''[[Nightrunners of Bengal]]'' (1951): a tale of the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian Rebellion]] of 1857. | ||
*''[[Nightrunners of Bengal]]'' (1951): a tale of the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian Rebellion]] of 1857. | * ''[[The Lotus and the Wind]]'' (1953): a tale of [[The Great Game]] of British and Russian agents on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|Northwest Frontier]]. | ||
*''[[The Lotus and the Wind]]'' (1953): a tale of [[The Great Game]] of British and Russian agents on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|Northwest Frontier]]. | * ''[[Far, Far the Mountain Peak]]'' (1957): a tale of [[mountaineering]] and the [[World War I|First World War]]. | ||
*''[[Far, Far the Mountain Peak]]'' (1957): a tale of [[mountaineering]] and the [[World War I|First World War]]. | * ''[[Bhowani Junction]]'' (1954): a romance set in a railway town at the time of [[Indian independence movement|Indian calls for independence]] and the [[Partition of India]]. | ||
*''[[Bhowani Junction]]'' (1954): a romance set in a railway town at the time of [[Indian independence movement|Indian calls for independence]] and the [[Partition of India]]. | * ''[[To the Coral Strand]]'' (1962): the story of an ex-officer who refuses to go gracefully after [[Partition of India|Indian independence]]. | ||
*''[[To the Coral Strand]]'' (1962): the story of an ex-officer who refuses to go gracefully after [[Partition of India|Indian independence]]. | * ''[[The Ravi Lancers]]'' (1972): an offshoot of the series, set in the First World War, with one of the protagonists related to the Savages but having a different name. | ||
*''[[The Ravi Lancers]]'' (1972): an offshoot of the series, set in the First World War, with one of the protagonists related to the Savages but having a different name. | * ''[[The Himalayan Concerto]]'' (1972): another offshoot, as the protagonist isn't named Savage, a 1970s Cold War thriller about spying on a planned Chinese invasion of India. | ||
*''[[The Himalayan Concerto]]'' (1972): another offshoot, as the protagonist isn't named Savage, a 1970s Cold War thriller about spying on a planned Chinese invasion of India. | |||
One of Masters's last Indian novels, ''[[The Venus of Konpara]]'', is notable for the fact that its principal characters are Indians. The Savage family play no role in the storyline, though it is hinted that a minor unidentified character is a family member. It is set in the nineteenth century during the British ''Raj'', but explores the history of [[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]] and [[Dravidian people|Dravidian]] identities in the country.{{fact|date=February 2021}} | One of Masters's last Indian novels, ''[[The Venus of Konpara]]'', is notable for the fact that its principal characters are Indians. The Savage family play no role in the storyline, though it is hinted that a minor unidentified character is a family member. It is set in the nineteenth century during the British ''Raj'', but explores the history of [[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]] and [[Dravidian people|Dravidian]] identities in the country.{{fact|date=February 2021}} | ||
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[[Category:Writers in British India]] | [[Category:Writers in British India]] | ||
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Quetta]] | [[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Quetta]] | ||
[[Category:British | [[Category:British Indian Army officers]] | ||
[[Category:Academics of the Staff College, Camberley]] | |||
[[Category:Military personnel of British India]] | |||
[[Category:British emigrants to the United States]] | |||
[[Category:People from Santa Fe, New Mexico]] | |||