Heath, Charles Philip (IWM interview)

British officer served with 1st, 2nd, 59th and 135th Siege Batteries, Royal Garrison Artillery in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1918. Served with Changi Fire Command in Singapore 1942; POW of Japanese in Singapore, 1942-1945

REEL 1: Background in Portsmouth, 1893-1914: family; education; training with OTC at Eastbourne College; joined Royal Garrison Artillery, 1/1913; description of training at Woolwich (referred to as 'the shop'); commissioned, 7/1916; role as 2nd Lieutenant with Royal Garrison Artillery battery at Picklecomb Fort, Plymouth; memory of outbreak of war and battery's role as examination battery for civilian ships approaching Plymouth, 1914; story of joining 1st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery and posted to Ammunition Column, 9/1914; description of composition and function of Siege Battery and Ammunition Column; question of training; description of preparations for going to France including provision of saddlery, horses and water carts; question of number of siege batteries. Recollections of operations with 2nd and 59th Siege Batteries Royal Garrison Artillery on Western Front, 1914-1915: description of journey to France and reason for landing at St. Lazare; location of 1st Siege Bde in Soissons area of the Somme. REEL 2 Continues: daily routine and duties of Ammunition Column; moved to Armentieres area and role in charge of wagons; problem of obtaining coal for steam wagons; posted to 2nd Siege Battery and description of preparations for Battle of Neuve Chappelle, 3/1915; story of manning Observation Post at Port Arthur; description of signals and communications systems; location of 2nd Siege Battery and description of opening bombardment; method of cutting wire with different types of shell; protection of Observation Post; memory of troops advancing into Neuve Chappelle along La Bassee road and nature of German opposition. REEL 3 Continues: story of Scottish troops killed by Germans at Neuve Chappelle; posted to 59th Siege Battery and description of role at Aubers Ridge during Battle of Festhubert, 5/1915; casualties and death of friends; opinion of staff arrangements and organisation; description of duties in Observation Post during Battle of Loos, 9/1915; role of 59th Battery in bombardment; story of being slightly wounded after a tea party and nature of injuries. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period in GB, 12/1915-8/1916: role as Adjutant at training camp for Siege Artillery Brigades, Bexhill; description of training new recruits and formation of batteries; question of discipline and punishments. Recollections of operations with 135th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery on Western Front, 1/1917-1918: story of joining as commander of 135th Siege Battery at Combles, France; composition of Battery; story of attack on Bouchavesne and capture of high ground, 1/1917; description of operations around Bouchavesne, Rancourt, Moislaines and Combles. REEL 5 Continues: further description of operations in Moislaines area and problem of bad weather affecting accuracy of firing; description of role in Battle of Arras, 4/1917; movement and re-location of 135th Siege Battery in Arras town; story of exposed Observation Post; description of movements of 135th Battery during Battle of Arras; casualties; question of air reconnaissance; problem of mustard gas and effects of gas on gun crews; story of 135th Battery holding position at southern end of Vimy Ridge during German offensive, 3/1918; question of mechanisation of 135th Siege Battery; problem of moving guns in bad weather; description of bombardment and advance from Gentelles Wood area, summer 1918. REEL 6 Continues: further comments on advance; memory of celebrating news of Armistice, 11/1918; returned to GB, 8/1919; question of relations within Battery and opinion of miners; opinion of General Staff and senior commanders; opinion of rations; question of ammunition supplies; attitude to cases of shell shock; opinion of Canadians and Australians; question of leave and rest periods; reflections on period of service; comments on development of the Siege Battery and improvement in air to ground communications during war. REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of operations with Changi Fire Command in Singapore, 1942: description of role in command of range-finding experimental installation on Isle of Wight, GB, 1939-1942; posted as Lieutenant-Colonel to Singapore to command Changi Fire Command; description of Singapore and nature of coastal defences; role of Changi Fire Command and location of batteries; nature of Japanese spy network; question of effectiveness of coastal defences on Singapore and ability to fire guns; use of mobile field batteries to defend north of Singapore; question of Japanese air supremacy; description of Japanese invasion of Singapore and advance; question of lack of resources allocated to defence of Singapore; role of coastal batteries during Japanese invasion; nature of British and Australian opposition to Japanese and problem of lack of training. REEL 8 Continues: Opinion of Indian Army; description of Japanese invasion and advance into Singapore; problem of range of guns in coastal batteries; communications system; story of destroying guns and conversion of Changi Fire Command into infantry; description of surrender; reaction to surrender and question of morale; opinion of conduct of Japanese forces; story of being marched 14 miles to Changi and memory of men singing on march. REEL 9 Continues: Recollections of period as POW of Japanese in Changi and River Valley Road camps, Singapore, 1942-1945: description of organisation of Changi camp; accommodation; security and camp hierarchy; transferred to River Valley Road camp, 5/1942; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; sanitary facilities; nature of clothing and footwear; story of barefoot running exercise organised by Japanese to prove men did not need boots; opinion of rations; amusing story of Australians and rice ration; problem of weight loss; description of catering facilities; question of pay; story of gallstone and treatment in hospital; memory of Dr Julian Taylor. REEL 10 Continues: description of conditions in Changi and River Valley Road camps; state of health of men; medical facilities and dental treatment; comparison of treatment of officers and men by Japanese; story of three men being executed by firing squad after trying to escape; attitude to Japanese; question of separation of officers and men; amusing story of Australians and Buddhist priests; question of clandestine wireless sets in camps; story of three British officers caught with wireless set and nature of punishment. REEL 11 Continues: description of work done by POWs and question of fitness of men to work; question of sabotage while working; opinion of Australians; social and sporting activities; question of celebrating Christmas; opinion of parsons and religious services; educational classes and lectures; question of Japanese indoctrination and propaganda; relations between different nationalities; comparison of Italians and Austrians; story of wearing First World War Italian medal; memory of being awarded DSO in 1917; communication with home; memory of end of war and hearing news of atomic bomb, 8/1945; reaction of Japanese guards to end of war; story of trying to trace wife and daughter after release and assistance from Lord and Lady Mountbatten. REEL 12 Continues: conclusion of story about wife and daughter; attitude to dropping of atomic bombs; description of mental and physical condition at end of captivity; memory of Japanese troops surrendering; amusing story of butter; description of arrival in Colombo and meeting son; attitude to Germans and Japanese; reflections on period as POW. Comparison of role of artillery and infantry; opinion of Montgomery; relations between artillery and signals; story of Indian Lancers damaging signal wires on Western Front.