IWM interview

British private served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in GB, 1940-1941; officer served with 19th (Super Heavy Battery), Royal Artillery in GB, 1941-1943; served with 13th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 6/1943-12/1943

REEL 1 Background in Banstead, GB, 1918-1939: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in GB, 1940-1941: call up, 5/1940; processing of recruits at Woolwich; how his boxing prowess led to suggestion that he should take a commission; opinion of training; witnessing machine gunning of unidentified parachutist by Canadian troops over Borden, 9/1940; anticipation of German invasion, 1940; sight of bomb damage in London area and reaction to bombing; attitude towards Germans and aircrews carrying out bombing. REEL 2 Continues: severe damage to parent’s home in Banstead. Aspects of period on 121 OCTU at Catterick Camp in GB, 1941: selection for commission into Royal Artillery; NCO-officer cadet relations. Recollections of period as officer with 19th (Super Heavy Battery), Royal Artillery in GB, 1941-1943: coastal defence role; description of 12 inch howitzers mounted on railway bogies; composition of gun crews; location of two guns at Hailsham; moving of guns from Catterick to Hailsham; damage caused to local residents by firing of guns; practice firing of guns. REEL 3 Continues: lessons learnt from firing guns on exercise; ease with which he handled responsibility of duties; degree of inconvenience to people of Hailsham; use of observation post in Pevensey Castle; firing plan in case of invasion; good state of repair of guns; misfire problem on his gun; degree of alertness needed by unit in case of German invasion. Aspects of period as officer with 13th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 6/1943-12/1943: formation of unit at Tonbridge; unit guns; reasons why he did not go to France in 1944; role as Motor Transport officer; reaction to reading of quote from American author Studs Terkel about intensity of war.