Description
Object description
Word-processed memoir (99pp) of his service with the Royal Engineers (February 1940 - December 1945), covering his call up (February 1940) and training at Folkestone (February - June 1940) and Rochester, Kent (April 1940); his posting to the newly-formed Army Troops Company (June 1940) at Aldershot and to Ilminster, Somerset, preparing defences against an invasion (July 1940); the bombing of the troopship ORONSAY in which he had left Glasgow (October 1940); his posting to Douglas, Isle of Man to guard German detainees, and embarkation from Avonmouth, Hampshire, on the WINCHESTER CASTLE (January 1941); his arrival at Port Tewfik, Suez, where he was sent to Tobruk and then Cirenaecia (?Cyrenaica, Libya) to keep the power station working, with the retreat to Sollum (March 1941); following up the advance after Alamein (October 1942) and repairing the damage at Tobruk (January 1943); his return to England on the troopship ORION (November 1943?) and training in preparation for D-Day at Hassocks, Sussex (April 1944); his crossing of the Channel following the advance into Normandy (June 1944) through Belgium, working in Brussels on communication and supply lines (November 1944 - May 1945), and into Germany to Berlin (July 1945); and his application for release through the 'B' scheme (November 1945) which was granted in December 1945. The memoir includes good details of his first reactions to army life (February 1940), conditions in the Western Desert during the retreat and working on repairs to oil pipe lines and storage tanks (July 1941 - January 1942) and various desert defences, entertainment for the troops, the visit by George VI to Tripoli (June 1943), conditions in Bayeux after D-Day and the bombing of Caen (June 1944), the reception of Allied troops by the Belgians and their hospitality (September - October 1944), the celebration of VE Day in Brussels (May 1945), the preparations by his family for his wedding (September 1945), the attitude of Russian troops encountered in Berlin (July 1945) and the Victory Parade in Berlin attended by Churchill, Stalin and Truman (July 1945). Also with the memoir are 3 airgraphs to his parents and girlfriend (August 1941 - February 1943) containing personal information, a printed Christmas card (1943), the printed leaflet issued conveying Montgomery's 'Letter No 3 on Non-Fraternisation' (July 1945), and an unused printed RE training book (August 1942).
Content description
Word-processed memoir (99pp) of his service with the Royal Engineers (February 1940 - December 1945), covering his call up (February 1940) and training at Folkestone (February - June 1940) and Rochester, Kent (April 1940); his posting to the newly-formed Army Troops Company (June 1940) at Aldershot and to Ilminster, Somerset, preparing defences against an invasion (July 1940); the bombing of the troopship ORONSAY in which he had left Glasgow (October 1940); his posting to Douglas, Isle of Man to guard German detainees, and embarkation from Avonmouth, Hampshire, on the WINCHESTER CASTLE (January 1941); his arrival at Port Tewfik, Suez, where he was sent to Tobruk and then Cirenaecia (?Cyrenaica, Libya) to keep the power station working, with the retreat to Sollum (March 1941); following up the advance after Alamein (October 1942) and repairing the damage at Tobruk (January 1943); his return to England on the troopship ORION (November 1943?) and training in preparation for D-Day at Hassocks, Sussex (April 1944); his crossing of the Channel following the advance into Normandy (June 1944) through Belgium, working in Brussels on communication and supply lines (November 1944 - May 1945), and into Germany to Berlin (July 1945); and his application for release through the 'B' scheme (November 1945) which was granted in December 1945. The memoir includes good details of his first reactions to army life (February 1940), conditions in the Western Desert during the retreat and working on repairs to oil pipe lines and storage tanks (July 1941 - January 1942) and various desert defences, entertainment for the troops, the visit by George VI to Tripoli (June 1943), conditions in Bayeux after D-Day and the bombing of Caen (June 1944), the reception of Allied troops by the Belgians and their hospitality (September - October 1944), the celebration of VE Day in Brussels (May 1945), the preparations by his family for his wedding (September 1945), the attitude of Russian troops encountered in Berlin (July 1945) and the Victory Parade in Berlin attended by Churchill, Stalin and Truman (July 1945). Also with the memoir are 3 airgraphs to his parents and girlfriend (August 1941 - February 1943) containing personal information, a printed Christmas card (1943), the printed leaflet issued conveying Montgomery's 'Letter No 3 on Non-Fraternisation' (July 1945), and an unused printed RE training book (August 1942).
History note
Cataloguer PJG
History note
Catalogue date 1995-05-02