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An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman [261v] (522/1291)
The record is made up of 2 files (630 folios). It was created in 1898-1914. It was written in English and Persian. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
JOHN GORDON LORIMER, C.I.E.
[Reprinted from Notes on Cover of Record for St, Android's
United Free Church, Edinburgh, March 1914]
A t the close of his sermon from Jeremiah xiv., 8, on the
forenoon of Sunday, 15th February, Dr. Macgregorsaid:—
I have spoken to you as a people not ignorant of trouble,
partly because I know how widespread throughout the Congre
gation is the sense of something like dismay because of the
death of Gordon Lorimer. Our friends on whom the blow
immediately has fallen count for so much in our common life
that what touches them seems to touch us all. We rejoiced in
their gladness, we were proud with them to hear of his
advancement, and we congratulated ourselves that a servant of
the Empire so strenuous and trusted and competent should to
this extent belong to our household.
The inimitable words used by Mr Asquith about his friend
and opponent Alfred Lyttelton might confidently be applied
to Gordon Lorimer:—‘He was such a man as every father
would like his son to be.’ He started out on life with the most
fortunate endowment. He had the happy knack of taking
hold of all he touched by the right end, and to this he joined
an unusual power of rapid and accurate work. Whatever he
had to do was done with tact, clear-sightedness, courage, and
capacity, and though he had risen already to a position of
prominence it was obvious that work on a far larger scale was
lying in front of him.
In a life so crowded, he might easily have found no room
for things he bad learned as a child. But he came of a sound
stock in which certain steadfast gifts of character have con
tinually appeared, and, true to his family tradition, he showed
himself simple, affectionate, reverent in all his ways. Wher
ever he was stationed, he let it be seen that he was frankly and
unambiguously a Christian man ; if no chaplain was with him,
he led his companions in their worship ; and the worth of such
a witness, from a man so trusted and admired, could scarcely
be exaggerated.
The hopes which have been cherished about him are
frustrate now. The gallant life is summed up and concluded.
We give thanks for all he crowded into it of public service,
of family affection, of godly example. And reverently we think
of those for whom the world to-day seems empty because he
has gone from it.
About this item
- Content
This file consists of two separate physical files as follows:
1) An account of a journey in Kashmir in 1898-99 written by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer of the Indian Army. His account is entitled 'Three Months of Privilege Leave'. It contains his observations on the languages, peoples, transport, flora and fauna, trade and climate of the region. There are occasional edits and corrections to the original text marked in red pen. The Persian language material in the file is a proverb written on folio 194.
In addition to this travel diary, the following is enclosed: an essay by Lorimer entitled 'Modern Education' dated 9 February 1895 (folios 1-24); two copies of a pamphlet that was published 'for private circulation' in memory of David's brother, John Gordon Lorimer, following his death on 8 February 1914 (folios 255-262); and another essay by Lorimer entitled 'Our Indian N.W. Frontier - a study in a bye-gone Civilisation. A forgotten Chapter of Frontier History' (folios 221-253).
2) Copies of letters that were sent from Emily Overend Lorimer to her parents, Thomas George Overend and Hannah Kingsbury. The letters describe the lives of Emily and her husband, David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer (referred to as 'Lock' in the letters), while living in Bahrain from October 1911 until November 1912 (folios 263-310) and in Kerman from January 1913 until November 1914 (folios 313-634). David served as Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Bahrain 1911-12 and as HM Consul, Kerman and Persian Baluchistan, 1913-14.
The letters discuss a range of topics including Lorimer's observations of local customs, food, climate, scenery and festivals; the couple's domestic life and arrangements (especially their servants, who are often discussed in racialised, insulting language); and her interactions with other non-local residents. Also discussed are Lorimer's reading habits, her and her husband's health, family news and, occasionally, world events and political developments.
On folios 322-324, the file contains a description of a walk around Kerman in March 1914 that is accompanied by a sequence of six small black and white photographs of various points in the journey (folios 315-321).
In addition to these letters, the file also contains a number obituaries and letters of condolence written upon the death of David's brother, John Gordon Lorimer, on 8 February 1914 (folios 299-302, 415-416 and 543-544).
On folio 417, the file contains an obituary of David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer published in an unknown newspaper following his death on 26 February 1962.
- Extent and format
- 2 files (630 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the front cover of volume one (ff 1-262) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume two (ff 263-634); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English and Persian in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman [261v] (522/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946971.0x0000af> [accessed 30 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur D922/1
- Title
- An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman
- Pages
- 257v, 261v
- Author
- St. Andrew's United Free Church, Edinburgh
- Usage terms
- Public Domain