Description
Object description
8 well written ms diaries, January 1940 - August 1946, and a ts memoir (228pp) recording his service in the ranks of the East Surrey Regiment and as an officer with the Royal Artillery in the UK, France, North Africa and Italy, October 1939 - October 1946, including his call up and training at the Regimental Depot, Kingston Barracks, his application for a commission being refused (October 1939 - April 1940); serving overseas in the BEF with the 2nd/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment (37th Brigade, 12th Division) in France and being evacuated from St Nazaire in the GEORGIC (April 1940 - June 1940); in the UK (June 1940 - September 1940); officer training at 162nd OCTU, Bulford and a commission in the Queens Royal Regiment (September 1940 - December 1940); service as a platoon commander and Battalion Weapons Training Officer with the 14th Battalion The Queens (201st Brigade) training on the Sussex coast, near Hull, and on the Isle of Sheppey (January 1941 - November 1941), attending the WTO (Weapon Training Officers) Course at Bisley (August 1941 - October 1941); the conversion of his battalion into the 99th LAA Regiment RA (November 1941 - March 1942) training in the UK (March 1942 - October 1942); journeying overseas to Basrah, Iran (October 1942 - January 1943); active service as part of 31st Indian Armoured Division (PAIFORCE) in Iraq and Iran (December 1942 - April 1942) and in Egypt (May 1943 - July 1943), North Africa (July 1943 - September 1943) and Italy with 12th AA Brigade (September 1943 - September 1944, when his unit was disbanded); notably the landings at Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE, September 1943), the eruption of Vesuvius (October 1943), the Battle of Cassino (March 1944 - April 1944) and the crossing of the Rapido (May 1944); with a Garrison Battalion in Bari and Naples guarding POWs and trains (November 1944 - November 1945); Quartermaster at No 310 Transit Camp in Milan (November 1945 - April 1946); and his eventual demobilisation (April 1946 - October 1946); and commenting on army life; his baptism of fire; French and Italian brothels and prostitutes; his off-duty entertainment, notably dancing; the Blitz on Hull; his fellow officers; the rations; the conditions; the comradeship; a LIAP leave to the UK.; his poor health and frequent hospitalisation; and his attitude towards his war service.
Content description
8 well written ms diaries, January 1940 - August 1946, and a ts memoir (228pp) recording his service in the ranks of the East Surrey Regiment and as an officer with the Royal Artillery in the UK, France, North Africa and Italy, October 1939 - October 1946, including his call up and training at the Regimental Depot, Kingston Barracks, his application for a commission being refused (October 1939 - April 1940); serving overseas in the BEF with the 2nd/6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment (37th Brigade, 12th Division) in France and being evacuated from St Nazaire in the GEORGIC (April 1940 - June 1940); in the UK (June 1940 - September 1940); officer training at 162nd OCTU, Bulford and a commission in the Queens Royal Regiment (September 1940 - December 1940); service as a platoon commander and Battalion Weapons Training Officer with the 14th Battalion The Queens (201st Brigade) training on the Sussex coast, near Hull, and on the Isle of Sheppey (January 1941 - November 1941), attending the WTO (Weapon Training Officers) Course at Bisley (August 1941 - October 1941); the conversion of his battalion into the 99th LAA Regiment RA (November 1941 - March 1942) training in the UK (March 1942 - October 1942); journeying overseas to Basrah, Iran (October 1942 - January 1943); active service as part of 31st Indian Armoured Division (PAIFORCE) in Iraq and Iran (December 1942 - April 1942) and in Egypt (May 1943 - July 1943), North Africa (July 1943 - September 1943) and Italy with 12th AA Brigade (September 1943 - September 1944, when his unit was disbanded); notably the landings at Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE, September 1943), the eruption of Vesuvius (October 1943), the Battle of Cassino (March 1944 - April 1944) and the crossing of the Rapido (May 1944); with a Garrison Battalion in Bari and Naples guarding POWs and trains (November 1944 - November 1945); Quartermaster at No 310 Transit Camp in Milan (November 1945 - April 1946); and his eventual demobilisation (April 1946 - October 1946); and commenting on army life; his baptism of fire; French and Italian brothels and prostitutes; his off-duty entertainment, notably dancing; the Blitz on Hull; his fellow officers; the rations; the conditions; the comradeship; a LIAP leave to the UK.; his poor health and frequent hospitalisation; and his attitude towards his war service.
History note
Cataloguer SNR
History note
Catalogue date 2001-09-21