Girl Guides being inspected at Peterhof, Simla by the Vicereine the Countess of Reading, 1921/22

A small group snapshots taken on the occasion of Lady Reading, wife of the Viceroy, the Earl of Reading inspecting a troop of Girl Guides and Bluebirds in 1921/22. The social significance of this meeting at the Viceregal residence of Peterhof in the summer capital of Simla lies especially in the efforts of Lady Reading and Lady Hailey in making this movement inter racial and the photographs show both English and Indian girls. A note on the back of one photograph explains this and shows that the ladies were trying to bring together Hindu, Moslem, and Christian girls. Gemma Hailey, who appears in the photographs and ran the troop sadly died later in 1922. sep7/2  SOLD  12th September 2023

Provenance: From a small archive of material descended from Sir W. Malcolm Hailey.

Sir William Malcolm Hailey, K.C.S.I., C.I.E.. Later 1st Baron Hailey, G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., P.C. [1872-1969] who rose to become Chief Commissioner of Delhi [1914], Governor of the Punjab [1924], and Governor of the United Provinces [1928]. In 1934 he left the U.P., taking his first leave outside India, being raised to the Peerage in 1936, advising the home government on India affairs. [see Dictionary of National Biography 1961-1970].