Description
Object description
British NCO served with 109 Field Bty, 33rd Field Regt in GB, North West Europe, Egypt and Palestine, 1939-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Barnet, London, 1919-1938: social circumstances; education; work at film processing factory and as milkman; cycling activities; reasons for volunteering and rejection from Royal Marines on grounds of eyesight; initial recruitment to Middlesex Regt and change to Royal Artillery after father's intervention. Recollections of period at Royal Artillery Depot, Woolwich, 12/1938-3/1939: kitting out; barracks accommodation; food rations; question of bullying; polishing boots; drill; PT; 25pdr gun drill; fire orders and method of registering targets; sentry drill; kit inspections; pay.
REEL 2 Continues: relationship with instructors; passing out parade. Period with 109 Field Bty, 33rd Field Regt at Troubridge Barracks, 3/1939-9/1939: church parades as Roman Catholic; relationship with ORs; training as signaller; stories of officer's problems getting guns into position and bingo sessions during firing camp at Oakhampton; outbreak of war, 3/91/1939. Recollections of period in Lille area, France, 9/1939-5/1940: seasickness during Channel crossing; billets; cold weather; relationship with French civilians and visits to estaminets. Recollections of operations in Belgium and France, 5/1940: advance to Louvain; role as command post telephonist; personal morale; command post dugout; gas alarm; Lysander OP aircraft; retreat into France; scavenging for food; food rations; refugees and question of fifth columnists; attack of dihoreah; destruction of equipment; move to Dunkirk beach area; story of drunk soldier; failed attempt to get away in rowing boat; evacuation by yacht and destroyer from Le Panne.
REEL 3 Continues: evacuation aboard destroyer; sending telegram to family; train journey to Brecon. Various aspects of period in GB, 1940-1944: re-assembly of unit; coastal defence role at Bridport; experiments in firing 25pdr from CLT; training role in Scotland; problems with seasickness; promotion to sergeant, 1943; death of father, 1942; visit from Montgomery; story of visiting pub with officer prior to sealing of camp; embarkation on LCT. Aspects of operations in North West Europe, 1944-1947: seasickness during Channel crossing, 5/6/1944; role firing 105mm Self Propelled Guns from LCT during landing at Queen Beach, Sword Beach, 6/6/1944; leadership of Colonel Hussey; move inland; story of running over mine whilst returning to beach for ammunition; story of problems with heavy German fire whilst laying telephone line to forward OP Sherman after being given wrong map reference; story of ammunition truck driver taking German prisoners, 6/6/1944; developing role scavenging to supplement unit food supplies; advance into Belgium and re-equipment with 25pdrs; advance into Germany; RAF ???.
REEL 4 Continues: anti-personnel mines; purchase of extra foods; relationship with German civilians; VE Day, 8/5/1945; role collecting forced labourers from German farms; story of searching farm for weapons; GB leave and changes to unit personnel on return; decision to stay with unit. Periods in Egypt and Palestine, 10/1945-1/1947: flight out with advance party to Egypt; initial movements and establishing Bitter Lakes Camp; role as battery quartermaster; unit move to guard duties in Palestine; problems with Arab civilians stealing from camp and fatality; question of guard duties; recreational tour; story of breaking regulations by travelling on Canal road with future wife and consequent demotion to sergeant; story of problem with arm; amusing story of parrot; nature of sergeants' mess; seasickness during troopship voyage during return to GB. Demobilisation, 1/1947. Post-war career: background to decision not to re-enlist; difficulty in find in employment; various jobs.