Description
Object description
British private served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt, 32nd Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India Ceylon and Burma, 3/1942-1/1944; hospitalised for wounds in Burma, India and GB, 1/1944-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1921-1939: family including father's service in First World War; education; employment. Aspects of period as fusilier with 11th Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt) in GB, 5/1939-1/1942: enlistment, 5/1939; attitude to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; guard duties on Blackfriars Bridge, London; formation of mobile anti-parachute unit and nature of duties, 1940; coastal defence duties; issue of tropical kit. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Northampton Regt, 32nd Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India and Ceylon, 3/1942-7/1943: voyage from GB to to India including food and sleeping arrangements; opinion of Australian Army troops in transit in South Africa; arrival at barracks in Secunderabad, India, 3/1942.
REEL 2 Continues: daily routine and nature of training; problem of dysentery; move to Ceylon for jungle training; problem of yellow jaundice and treatment; scorpions; conditions in jungle; problem of black ants; further training with Gurkha and Burmese troops. Recollections of operations as private with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt, 32nd Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India and Burma, 7/1943-1/1944: move into Burma and description of conditions; role firing trench mortar during attack on Imperial Japanese Army bunkers; memories of hearing bagpipes; reaction to being under fire and personal morale; description of being shot in head by sniper, 23/1/1944; nature of wound and medical treatment; reaction to being wounded. Aspects of hospitalisation in Burma and India, 1/1944-8/1944: evacuation of hospital.
REEL 3 Continues: story of nearly being buried alive; operation on brain at Casualty Clearing Station (CCS); effects of injury including paralysis down left side; further medical treatment in hospitals and aboard hospital ships. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt, 32nd Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India and Burma, 7/1943-1/1944: use of bamboo for making booby-traps; opinion of Burmese; route marches through jungle; problem of monsoon and mud; personal hygiene; use of green dye for camouflaging uniform; problem of walking after injury; presence of Chinese National Revolutionary Army troops; problem of mosquito bites and treatment; prior recollection of service in Ceylon; post-war Burma Star Association reunions.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 8/1944-8/1945: return to GB, 8/1944; further treatment for head wound including operation to graft bone from hip; long-term effects of head wound; problem of sleeping and continuing hospital treatment; memories of meeting singer Vera Lynn in London; prior recollection of period in jungle in Ceylon and Burma.