Description
Object description
British officers served with Women's Royal Army Corps attached to Royal Corps of Transport/Royal Logistics Corps in Cyprus, 1991; served with 307 Bty, <South Notts Hussars), 100 Regt, RA in GB, 1996-2000; detached as civilian military officer with L/N Battery, 1st Regt, RHA, Kosovo, 2000-2000; period detached to 1st Regt, EHA in GB and Canada, 2001-2002; period with 307 Bty, <South Notts Hussars), 100 Regt, RA in GB, 2002-2005; period attached to East Midlands OTC, Beeston, GB, 2005-2006
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Loughborough, 1973-1991: family background; education and adventure training; background to interest in taking army short service limited commission. Attending Regular Commissions Board at Westbury, 1991: interview; command tasks; assault courses; assessment. Recollections of attending Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, 10/1991-11/1991: prior ignorance of army; kitting out; question of mixed-sex nature of course; barracks room accommodation; polishing boots ands ironing uniform; webbing and kit; PT and orienteering exercise; section and platoon tactical exercises; wireless training; lectures; weapons training on SA80 and Browning pistol.
REEL 2 Continues: drill and passing out parade; question of behaviour in officers' mess; relationship with cadets and instructors; question of adequacy of training; commission into Women's Royal Army Corps. Recollections of attachment to Royal Corps of Transport/Cyprus Logistics Unit, Logistics Corps at Akritiri, Cyprus, 11/1991-9/1992: preconceptions; reception; room accommodation; reorganisation into CLU; role and composition of unit; visits to sub-units and lack of specific responsibilities; role running fleet of cars; daily routine; relationship with Cypriot workers; relationship with officers; social life and drinking habits; officers; mess summer ball.
REEL 3 Continues: sports parachute training course including prior ground training, method of stalling parachute on landing, packing parachute, first jump from light aircraft, free fall jumps and enjoyment of course. Period studying business studies and activities with OTC at Bristol University, 9/1992-7/1995: drinking habits; relationship with students; approach to course; question of maintaining rank; background to selection of artillery branch of OTC; basic infantry training; selection of Gun Troop; method of dropping Light 105mm gun into action; role as No 2 in gun team; opinion of Light gun; question of gun maintenance; nature of weekend firing camps and annual camps; reconnaissance role establishing gun positions; command post training and attending OTC courses camp at Otterburn Camp.
REEL 4 Continues: command post training and attending OTC courses camp at Otterburn Camp including story of runaway Land Rover, method of using artillery fire data computer, manual calculations system, method of establishing CP and prompted calculations; gap year; role as troop commander; decision to leave army. Recollections of period with 307 Bty, <South Notts Hussars>, Royal Artillery at Bulwell Barracks, Nottingham, 1996-2002: background to recruitment and interview with Major Vernon Rees, 11/1996; first impressions of unit; assignment to CP; opinion of Staff Sergeant Andy Bushnell and Lance Bombardier Toni Seagrave; opinion of FH70 155mm gun; opinion of Staff Sergeant Guy Smith including story of drinking in Bullwell pubs and question of his disciplinary methods; opinion of Sergeants Paul Bell, Steve Wake and Lance Bombardier Dave Young.
REEL 5 Continues: stories of Bombardier Dave Young's practical jokes; opinion of Sergeants Rob Bowen and Rob Bowler; windsurfing adventure training at Weymouth; opinion of Sergeant Sam Jordan and Lieutenant Richard King; divisional exercises Iron Eagle including stories of encounter with tanks while acting as forward guns and attachment acting as battle casualty to 7th Regt, Royal Horse Artillery; nature of drill nights and weekend firing and battery parties on Salisbury Plain; relationship with NCOs and ORs.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Bombardier Dave Timms and opinion of Major Vernon Rees commanding unit, 1995-1998; story of watching Lady Diana's funeral after officers' mess party; nature of officers' mess guest nights and adapted dress uniform; Knightsbridge and Armistice Dinners; opinion of Major Jeremy Higgins commanding unit, 1998-2002; attending annual camp at Arlen Camp, Belgium, 1999, including role with makeshift reconnaissance party identifying gun positions, story of establishing gun position in village and reception from Belgian civilians, advantages of firing on unfamiliar gun ranges, battlefield tour, opinion of Captain Trevor Perse, relationship with regiment and opinion of regimental headquarters.
REEL 7 Continues: attending annual camp at Arlen Camp, Belgium, 1999, including background to incident with Major Jeremy Higgins, subsequent recall from battlefield tour by helicopter, suspension from duty, decision to remain in camp, confinement to room, support from senior NCOs, flying trip and party with Army Air Corps and return to GB; interview with Royal Military Police in London; attending disciplinary hearing with Major Jeremy Higgins in front of Major General Webb-Carter at Horse Guards Parade, London, 11/1999, resulting fine and reactions; attending Exercise Purple Warrior on Falklands Islands, 2/2000, including minimal role as Reconnaissance Officer; registering targets and firing on joint exercise with infantry.
REEL 8 Continues: attending Exercise Purple Warrior on Falklands Islands, 2/2000, including precautions necessary when firing on joint exercise with infantry, camp, battlefield tour, period in Mount Pleasant Camp, cleaning guns, wildlife, visit to Port Stanley and final party; attending course as battery reconnaissance officer with AS90s of 1st Regt, Royal Horse Artillery at Tidworth Barracks; background to volunteering for attachment for attachment to 1st RHA for Kosovo tour. Recollections of period as Civilian Military Officer with L/N Battery, 1st Regt, RHA at Podehevo Camp, Kossova, 7/2000-10/2000: prior operational at CMO training on attachment to Chestnut Troop; preparations and packing kit; flight out, 7/2000; first impressions and reception; nature of camp; question of adequacy of briefing form previous CMO; interpreter; duties assisting civilians informed by intelligence gathered by patrols; liaison with charities; stories illustrating severe nature of cases.
REEL 9 Continues: offer of extended detachment with unit and training in driving tracked vehicles; story of accident while driving 432 APC during driving lesson, 13/10/2000; review of resulting serious injuries to self and other passengers and consequent evacuation to GB, 10/2000. Period in Haslar Hospital, Portsmouth, 10/2000-11/2000: state of injuries and medical treatment; visitors. Period on convalescent leave, 10/2000-12/2000. Period with 1st Regt, RHA, Tidworth Barracks, 1/2001-3/2002: light duties; medical re-gradings; duties as troop commander; detachment as safety officer during Operation Medman in Canada, 6/2001-8/2001, including story accident and casualties on firing range and purchase of car for officers' mess recreational use; nature of confidential reports; reactions to leaving unit, 3/2002. Civilian work, 2002-2006. Period as Forward observation officer with 307 Bty, <SNH>, 100 Regt, Bulwell Barracks, Nottingham, 2002-2005: role training OP party including Signaller Daniel Hardingham; importance of working on basic OP skills.
REEL 10 Continues: question of OP equipment and reliability; opinion of Major Ian Oldershaw commanding unit, 2002-2006; question of character of Battery Commanders; effects of accident on memory; question of call up to Iraq; period on non-attendance, 2004-2005; story of developing Bells Palsy and consequent hospitalisation during annual camp, ca 1998; story of getting drunk at camp; question of possible return to unit, 2005. Period as officer attached to East Midlands University OTC, Beeston, 2005-2006: training duties; concentration on infantry skills; enjoyment of military service.