Staying Fresh In The British Raj?

[OV1kenobi]

My late grandfather (born in 1890, died in 1982) once told me that when he was a young British officer serving in India during the early part of the twentieth century, it was not uncommon to shower and change uniforms up to six times per day, due to the heat and humidity.

I could never imagine taking hygiene to that extreme level, but apparently, British Imperial officers serving in The Raj did so - as my grandfather claimed. After all, it would be dishonorable for one holding The King's Commission to appear anywhere foul and malodorous.

My grandfather mentioned that he and his fellow officers made much use of a soap he referred to as "Brown Windsor" followed by an after shower splash. I believe he mentioned years ago that it was something produced by Yardley.

I wonder what it was?

In his case, it was something readily available from about 1910 to about 1930.

I really would love to find that stuff if it is still available. Aside from a personal nostalgia factor, I believe it would be quite useful today during a hot, humid Oklahoma day. After all, if it was good enough for India....

I really would like to know what my grandfather might have used to shave with, the type of soap he used during his frequent showers, and especially, what sort of aftershave/cologne he might have used to finish it all off with.

Just to experience those fragrances would be absolutely wonderful from a historical perspective alone!

Yes, I was born as a grandchild late in his life. I am 51 years old and my grandfather was 67 years old when I came into this world the day after Christmas, 1957.

Regards,

David

 

[galopede]

The only Brown Windsor I know is a soup! Brown Windsor Soup

Looked up the soap and it does/did exist. here's a place that makes it and gives some of the ingredients: Brown Windsor Soap

Just one character difference between soup and soap so be careful how you spell it!

The soap I remember was White Windsor and it's all we ever seemed to have as a lad in Cardiff 50 years ago!

No idea who made it and I found out later in life that my father "liberated" it from his telephone engineer's office!

Gareth

 

[philamac]

My late grandfather (born in 1890, died in 1982) once told me that when he was a young British officer serving in India during the early part of the twentieth century, it was not uncommon to shower and change uniforms up to six times per day, due to the heat and humidity.

I could never imagine taking hygiene to that extreme level, but apparently, British Imperial officers serving in The Raj did so - as my grandfather claimed. After all, it would be dishonorable for one holding The King's Commission to appear anywhere foul and malodorous.

That hygiene regime was probably made possible mainly due to the availability of cheap labour for laundries, servants etc. My grandfather served in China in the 1920's and 30's. Non-Commissioned-Officers, junior civil servants, customs officials etc lived very well in spacious houses with gardens and servants to do the domestic chores, look after children etc. Officers would have been even better off.

David, am I correct to assume that in the period you refer to many officers would have been unable to serve without a private income to pay for uniforms, mess bills, polo ponies etc?

 

[mdunn]

you might even try emailing yardley.

if you get the right kind of person who finds it interesting too they might be able to turn up lots of interesting information.