John Still (author)

John Still (1880–1941) was a British archaeologist and author, known for his discoveries at Sigiriya and his book "The Jungle Tide".

John Still
Born1880
Lambeth, England
Died(1941-09-09)September 9, 1941
Port Alfred, South Africa
NationalityBritish
OccupationTea planter, archaeologist and author
Known for"The Jungle Tide"
Spouse(s)Winifred Mary née Evans
ChildrenEileen Alice, John

Biography

Still was born in 1880 in Lambeth, England, the only son of Canon John Still (1845–1914) (Canon of Norwich, Rector of Hethersett, and Vicar of Ketteringham) and Anna Elizabeth, née Nihill (1853–1894).[1] He was educated at Winchester College.

Still emigrated to British Ceylon in 1897, where he worked as a tea planter near Dickoya. In 1911 he was appointed as an assistant to Norman Rowsell of the Ceylon Labour Commission and he was also a Secretary of the Ceylon Planters Society. He also became an Archaeological Surveyor and Assistant Archaeological Commissioner (1 January 1902–31 December 1907)[2] in the Department of Archaeology, under the supervision of H. C. P. Bell.[3]

Still is associated with the discoveries at Sigiriya in which he played an active role. He also discovered the ruins of the Lotus Bath at Polonnaruwa. He wrote several works on the history of Sri Lanka including "Ancient Capitals of Ceylon", "Tantrimalai", and "Index to the Mahavamsa".

Still served as a second lieutenant in the 6th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, which took part in the Suvla Bay Landing of the Gallipoli Campaign on 6 August 1915. He was captured by the Turkish forces on 9 August 1915 and spent three years and 84 days as a prisoner of war.[4] His book “A Prisoner in Turkey”, published by The Bodley Head, was an account of his experiences as a prisoner in a Turkish prison camp. Whilst in captivity he wrote the book "Poems in Captivity", which was published by John Lane of London in 1919.[5]

Still married Winifred Mary (known as Alice) née Evans and they had two children, Eileen Alice (1916–1992) and John (1919–1941).[6]

Still’s most well-known book is "The Jungle Tide" which was published in 1930 and was one of four textbooks prescribed for English literature in the Sri Lankan Senior School Certificate (English) Examination in the 1940s.

In 1939 Still moved to Rhodesia to live near his son. He remained in Africa for the rest of his life as a practising Buddhist. He suffered from diabetes and died in Port Alfred, South Africa on 9 September 1941.[7]

Bibliography
  • Still, John (1907). Ancient Capitals of Ceylon: Historical Sketches & Guide. H.W. Cave.
  • Still, John (1907). Index to the Mahawansa: Together with Chronological Table of Wars and Genealogical Trees. Colombo: H. C. Cottle - Government Printer.
  • Still, John (1910). "The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland". Tantrimalai: Some Archaeological Observations and Deductions. Colombo: Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. 22 (63): 73–101.
  • Still, John (1919). Poems in Captivity. London: John Lane & Co.
  • Still, John (1920). A Prisoner in Turkey. London: The Bodley Head/John Lane & Co.
  • Still, John (1930). The Jungle Tide. London: W. Blackwood & Sons Limited.

See also

References
  1. Venn, John (Ed) (2011). Alumni Cantabrigienses: A Biographical List of All Known Students, Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge, from the Earliest Times to 1900, Volume 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 43. ISBN 9781108036160.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Wright, Arnold (Ed) (1907). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources. Asian Educational Services. p. 139. ISBN 9788120613355.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. "History of the Department of Archaeology". Department of Archaeology. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "More on John Still and his books". The Sunday Times. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  5. Devendra, Tissa (12 February 2016). "John Still's 'Poems in Captivity'". The Island. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  6. "Still, John". Winchester College. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  7. Munidasa, K.G.H. (10 October 2010). "John Still : Planter who paved the way for Minneriya". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  • Childs, David; Whelpton, Vivien (2011). British & Irish Poets of the Gallipoli Campaign, 1915, Heirs Of Achilles. Cecil Woolf Press.
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