Description
Object description
British private served with Gordon Highlanders Depot in GB, 1943; served with 2nd Bn London Scottish in GB, 1943-1944; served with 1st Bn Tynside Scottish in GB and North West Europe, 1944; served with 5th Bn Black Watch in North West Europe, 1944-1945; served with Army Cookery School in GB, 1946-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Hanley, GB, 1925-1943: family; education; civilian work; joining of army; knowledge of war; reaction of parents to joining army; medical; journey to Aberdeen. Aspects of period as private with Gordon Highlanders Depot in GB, 1943: arrival; details of barracks; background of recruits; memories of NCOs; pattern of training including change of accommodation; leisure activities; story of buying oatcake; relationship with colleagues; training received; details of exercise including attempt to shoot seabirds; background to and details of hospitalisation; period of convalescence; posting to London Scottish at Chichester. Aspects of period as private with 2nd Bn London Scottish in GB, 1943-1944: reception on arrival; posting to Abbotsbury; accommodation; description of period as demonstration platoon at divisional battle schools in Burleigh and Guisborough including relationship with officers and memories of exercises.
REEL 2 Continues: story of journey from Salisbury to Burleigh; return to battalion at Middlesbrough; role of battalion; posting to 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish in Thetford Forest; details of unit; fitness training; knowledge of D-Day; period in camp outside Southampton including reactions to situation and briefing received; details of voyage to Normandy including rations. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Tyneside Scottish in North West Europe, 6/1944-8/1944: arrival and scenes on beach; movement inland including equipment carried; memories of NCOs; background of recruits; activities before first action; knowledge of wider war; scenes on start line in Tessel Wood; start of advance; reactions to shelling; sudden withdrawal; role and description of attack on Brettevillette.
REEL 3 Continues: withdrawal and position held at Rauray crossroads; opposition faced at crossroads; details of counterattack mounted and recovery of lost positions; casualties; sleep gained; rest period including reinforcements; disappearance of officer; reactions during action; period at Giverny; story of reconnaissance patrol with Lieutenant Crockett; capture of Giverny Chateaux; stories of meals organised; relationship with civilians; memories of regiment sergeant major.
REEL 4 Continues: story of patrol at German-occupied chateaux; scenes of craters from air raids; attack on Mezidon-Canon; discovery of hidden alcohol; consumption of alcohol in Normandy; request for use of PIAT to open safe; posting to Black Watch. Aspects of operations as private with 5th Bn Black Watch in North West Europe, 8/1944-2/1945: settling into unit; approach to Le Havre; scenes of withdrawing refugees and troops among them; opinion of German troops; attack on and opposition faced at Le Havre; civilian treatment of collaborators; attack on St Valery; advance to Low Countries; details of posting in Nijmegen corridor; cooking of pork gained from pig farm; story of reconnaissance patrol, 13/10/1944.
REEL 5 Continues: attack on Scheidel including contact with American paratroopers; relationship with US troops; capture of Haren and Spang; advance to The Island near Nijmegen; withdrawal by DUKW; canal crossings; rest period in Berg; posting and journey to Ardennes, 25/12/1944; positions taken on arrival and role; return of Lieutenant Nicholson; description of attack made on Hubermont including use of PIAT and opposition faced; shelling of farmhouse, 13/1/1945, and wounds received by himself and Ian Campbell; climate; contact with American troops in Ardennes; hospitalisation; return to unit; advance into Reichswald and positions taken; story of transporting message; escorting of POWs.
REEL 6 Continues: crossing of Meuse and attack on Gennep; contact with German POWs; advance into Germany and toward Goch including stories of wounding sergeant and own wounding; events during wait for evacuation; medical treatment received; fire faced during evacuation to hospital; period of hospitalisation in Ghent; convalescence in Trentham; background to posting as clerk; details of period with No 8 Holding Bn including duties during disbandment of unit. Aspects of period as NCO with Army Cookery School in GB, 1946-1947: posting in Dundonald; period as ration store man; posting to orderly room; visit from Special Investigations Branch; use of uncollected travel warrants.
REEL 7 Continues: other methods of gaining travel warrants; hospitalisation with hernia; later return to convalescence home; demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1947: civilian work; problems settling into civilian life; mental effects of service; memories of padre; church parades; opinion of 5th Battalion Black Watch medical officer; question of stress; troops suffering from shellshock; opinion of Nebelwerfer fire; opinion of Canadian troops; opinion of British officers; application for officer training; opinion of PIAT gun; membership of Black Watch Association; reflections on service.