Description
Object description
British private served with 2nd Bn Gloucester Regt in GB, 1942; private and NCO served with 1/4th Bn Essex Regt, 5th Indian Infantry Bde, 4th Indian Infantry Div in North Africa, Italy and Greece, 1942-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Grovesend, GB, 1922-1942: family; education, employment; aircraft crash in area. Aspects of period as private with 2nd Bn Gloucester Regt in GB, 1942: journey to Gloucester; memories of NCOs; issue of kit; pattern of training; going absent without leave from church parades; opinion of training; move to Woodhall Spa; weapons training; posting to Essex Regiment; embarkation leave; opinion of posting. Aspects of voyage aboard RMS Queen Mary from Greenock, GB, to Port Said, Egypt, 1942: embarkation; conditions onboard including duties, rations, daily routine, seasickness, population of ship and leisure activities; escort on leaving Durban, South Africa; knowledge of destination; relations with crew Aspects of operations as private with 1/4th Bn Essex Regt, 5th Indian Infantry Bde, 4th Indian Infantry Div in North Africa, 1942-1943: climate; duties as driver on petrol convoys including cover taken from Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; opinion of tank crews; opinion of General Bernard Montgomery; further details of petrol convoys; problems with sand and heat; contact with New Zealand anti-aircraft crews.
REEL 2 Continues: relations with Australian troops; surrender of German Army in Tunisia, 5/1943; liberation of wine; memories of Gurkhas; opinion of Italian troops; period in Cairo, Egypt and invasion training. Aspects of operations as private with 1/4th Bn Essex Regt, 5th Indian Infantry Bde, 4th Indian Infantry Div in Italy, 1943-1945: voyage to and landing at Taranto; climate; items taken on truck; scenes of fighting; delivery of rations at Monte Cassino; activities of front line troops; collection of stranded troops; later return to Monte Cassino; advance north; state of German POWs; problem with using tanks in Italy; reliability of supplies; state of Milan; relations with civilians; invasion training. Aspects of period as NCO with 1/4th Bn Essex Regt, 5th Indian Infantry Bde, 4th Indian Infantry Div in Greece, 1945-1946: landing at Piraeus; shelling and reconnaissance to find location of firing; relations with civilians and postings in Greece; distribution of Red Cross parcels; contact with ELAS; facilities in accommodation; relations with civilians; opinion of posting; journey to GB; VE Day celebrations, 5/1945; question of posting in India.
REEL 3 Continues: period in Colchester prior to demobilisation; demobilisation; description of journey home; items of kit kept; story of visit to Vatican City including meeting with Pope Pius XII in Italy. 1944; importance of religion; memories of padre; memories of Private Rolf Nathan; promotions; return to civilian employment, 1946; attitude towards military service.