The Journal of the United Service Institution of India

United Service Institution of India

The United Service Institution of India, located in Simla, started publishing its own journal, The Journal of the United Service Institution of India, from 1871 – a quarterly published in the months of January, April, July and October. The journal was issued postage-free to the members of the Institution all over the world. G.M. Stewart was its editor in the late 1930s. The journal published articles, service notes, letters to the editor, and book reviews. Each issue started with the ‘Secretary’s Notes’, which included the rules of the journal, a list of new members of the Institution, a brief description of the Reading Room and Library of the Institution, information about various Promotion and Staff College Examinations, and details of medals and competitions. The editorial essays were mostly written on contemporary affairs and international politics. The key themes were the army, police, air force, war, munitions and communication. Published articles included John Ewart’s ‘Police Work in India’; N.S. Rawat’s ‘Educating Our Sons for an Army Career’; R.H. Peck’s ‘Expansion and Problems of the Royal Air Force in Great Britain’; W.G. Hingston’s ‘Shooting in Albania’; L.M. Peet’s ‘Some Observations on the Principles of Military and Air Force Law, and on Courts-Martial’; and Alexander Inglis’ ‘The Influence of the Press in Great Britain and America’. The journal’s regular sections included ‘Letters to the Editor’, ‘Reviews’, and ‘Miscellaneous Service Notes’. The last section provided detailed information about the army in England and India. The Council of the Institution held a ‘Gold Medal Prize Essay Competition’ every year, and the best essay was published in the January issue of the following year.