Description
Object description
British private with Gloucestershire Regt Depot in GB, 1938- 1939; private and NCO served with 2nd Bn Gloucestershire Regt in GB and France, 1939-1940; POW in Germany, 1940-1945; NCO, private and officer with various units in GB, 1945-1978
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1920-1938: father's service in army; family move to GB and places lived; civilian work and education; initial attempts to join army and joining of Gloucestershire Regiment. Aspects of period as private with Gloucestershire Regt Depot in GB, 8/1938-1/1939: wait for squad to form at Horfield Barracks in Bristol; background of recruits; membership of 4th Battalion; changes to kit and formation including sports; attitude to approaching war; best recruit award. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 2nd Bn Gloucestershire Regt in GB, 1/1939-10/1939: posting to Plymouth; reactions on joining regiment; army education; pattern of training; details of Seaton Barracks; reception from sergeant major; period as batman; courses undertaken; outbreak of war; reasons for avoiding sailors; story of fight; reaction to posting abroad; posting to Bridport; opinion and firing of 25mm Hotchkiss anti-tank gun; make-up and roles of gun team; training with gun; voyage to France; use of gas cape. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Gloucestershire Regt in France, 10/1939- 5/1940: details of places posted in France; accommodation; rations; coping with winter conditions at Halstroff on Maginot Line; story of fighting patrol led by Lieutenant Mackenzie; reaction to seeing first dead soldier; arrival of Territorial Battalions.
REEL 2 Continues: make-up of brigade; leisure activities; digging of defences; promotion to sergeant; relationship with civilians; contact with French troops including at Waterloo. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Gloucestershire Regt in France, 5/1940- 6/1940: scenes on road during withdrawal; state of Cassel on arrival; details of position taken and French artillery support; equipment shortages; orders given to take position in Zuytpeene; attack from German tanks en route to Zuytpeene and withdrawal; Royal Artillery attack on German tanks; story of Captain Paul Dixie's death; reporting of death; opinion and memories of Captain Dixie; damage done to German tanks at Cassel; knowledge of German and French tanks; description of listening patrols undertaken; story of pork; news of withdrawal from Cassel; firing of Boyes anti-tank rifle; destruction of weapons; withdrawal from Cassel; fire faced from Germans and treatment given to wounded soldier; story of death of militiaman; problems gaining accommodation; sighting of German motorcyclists.
REEL 3 Continues: story of capture, 3/6/1940. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1940: initial treatment and sleep gained; comrades captured alongside; scenes and impressions of German troops; opinion of luck in capture; journey through German lines; treatment from guards including carrying of German kit; story of French POW asking for rations; story of rations on boat in Netherlands. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 1940-1945: arrival and processing at Stalag VIII B; reactions to situation; story of refusal of chance to escape; sleeping arrangements; posting to working party Abeitskommando E8 in Krappitz; accommodation; selection of cooks and senior NCO; story of becoming senior NCO; details of working party; contact with Polish workers and civilians; description of court martial in Torgau and imprisonment; talk with cellmate; ill discipline in jail; self-harm among POWs; executions; background of prisoners; story of working party with Belgians and death of Jimmy Fitzgerald; relationship with German prisoners; story of letter written to senior NCO at Stalag VIII B; story of cigarette gained at Graudenz jail.
REEL 4 Continues: story of medical treatment for faked complaint; story of brief stay at Stalag XX B; arrival at Stalag XX A; involvement in transfer of secret radio to Stalag 383; sports; papers signed and reason for movement from Stalag 383; accommodation at Stalag III A; story of interrogation about radio and punishment received; sabotage of boots bound for Eastern Front; story of attack on German guard; death of German worker; help given to depressed POW; items received from Red Cross including contents of Red Cross parcels; story of Red Cross parcel thefts in Stalag III A; contact with German civilians and post-war visit to Berlin; arrival of Russian Army, 22/4/1945; news of war; treatment from Russians; knocking out of Russian troops; burial of dead; contact with Russian POWs; story of Royal Air Force POWs.
REEL 5 Continues: rations received from Russians; physical state; extra rations on return home; organisation of departure from camp; departure of German guards; details of journey west to US Army; delousing; activities during period in Brussels including story of fight; reception on arrival at Worthing; reception on arrival home and fates of brothers during war; leave. Aspects of period as NCO, private and officer in GB, 1945-1978: period with 7th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment; opinion of National Servicemen and other recruits; memories of Private John Morley and Private Shakespeare; period with 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment including marriage; health problems in Bermuda and evacuation to GB via New York; details of voyage to GB aboard Queen Mary including medical treatment; medical downgrading; arrival at Southampton and journey to Hindhead; leave.
REEL 6 Continues: postings in Gloucester and Colchester; postings and duties as drill sergeant major; changes in army since joining; attempt to gain posting in Kenya; posting with Depot; story of training troops for parade and posting in Cyprus; departure from army; background to joining Territorial Army; details of service with Territorial Army including promotions to officer. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1960: civilian work; membership of old comrades association; story of trains entertainment in POW Camp; details of show; methods of coping in solitary confinement; fitness in camps; mail sent and received; contact with American POWs.
REEL 7 Continues: opinion of German troops; knowledge of Holocaust; opinion of medical treatment received in Bermuda and by son in Hong Kong; sports including shooting; mental effects of service; details of pension; opinion of treatment of modern troops; contact with old comrades; opinion of battle at Cassel; return visits to Cassel; story of gaining gravestones for previously unknown soldiers at Cassel.