Description
Object description
Word-processed account (56pp, plus 13 pages of copies of photographs, sketch maps and illustrations), entitled 'Remember Your Journey' by Michael Wood (written 2003), covering the period May 1942 – May 1945, from his joining the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) in March 1941, spending a year as an architectural student, reporting to 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion Middlesex Regiment in Chester, training at 24th Machine Gun Training Centre (May – August 1942), promotion to Lance Corporal and waiting for a War Office Selection Board, reporting to No 9 WOSB, Bradbury Barracks, Hereford (November 1942), transfer to the Royal Engineers and pre-OCTU in Dartford and Wrotham, Kent, moving to 97 Class, 140 RE Field Officer Cadet Training Unit at Bowbridge Camp, Newark (February 1943), mountain training in North Wales, passing out (July 1943), posting to 26 Field Company RE (33rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Guards)), moving to London, being warned for overseas service (October 1943), joining draft RGYWX, sailing in an American ship, USAT THOMAS H BARRY, to Philippeville, Algeria (November 1943), moving to Bizerta, crossing to Italy, joining HQRE 5th Infantry Division, near Castel di Sangro (December 1943), details of 5th Division's movements in the previous years, posting to 252 (West Lancashire) Field Company RE (13th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division), Details of officers he served with, the Division joining the X Corps, US 5th Army, crossing the River Garigliano (January 1944), building a Bailey raft, his first time in action, mine clearing, moving to the Anzio Beachhead to relieve 56th Division (March 1944), living in slit trenches, joining US VI Corps, the conditions at Anzio, time in wadis, laying anti-personnel mines under enemy fire (April 1944), being wounded by a mortar, being evacuated to 103 General Hospital, Naples, being treated with penicillin, discharge and convalescence in Sorrento (May 1944), re-joining 252nd Field Company (June 1944), celebrating the fall of Rome, moving to Palestine via Egypt, 21st birthday (October 1944), a bridging camp on the Litani river, transfer to HQRE as Intelligence Officer (October 1944), moving up through France to Belgium for Operation Goldflake, based in Ghent, moving to Uelzen (April 1945), being on leave in the UK at the end of the war, re-joining his unit in Lubeck on VE Day (May 1945), non-fraternisation, looting, occupying Wismar, Germany, seeing Russians, moving to Salzgitter, near Brunswick, and staying there until his release, late 1946, with a post-script saying he decided to apply for a regular commission (1947).
Content description
Word-processed account (56pp, plus 13 pages of copies of photographs, sketch maps and illustrations), entitled 'Remember Your Journey' by Michael Wood (written 2003), covering the period May 1942 – May 1945, from his joining the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) in March 1941, spending a year as an architectural student, reporting to 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion Middlesex Regiment in Chester, training at 24th Machine Gun Training Centre (May – August 1942), promotion to Lance Corporal and waiting for a War Office Selection Board, reporting to No 9 WOSB, Bradbury Barracks, Hereford (November 1942), transfer to the Royal Engineers and pre-OCTU in Dartford and Wrotham, Kent, moving to 97 Class, 140 RE Field Officer Cadet Training Unit at Bowbridge Camp, Newark (February 1943), mountain training in North Wales, passing out (July 1943), posting to 26 Field Company RE (33rd Independent Infantry Brigade (Guards)), moving to London, being warned for overseas service (October 1943), joining draft RGYWX, sailing in an American ship, USAT THOMAS H BARRY, to Philippeville, Algeria (November 1943), moving to Bizerta, crossing to Italy, joining HQRE 5th Infantry Division, near Castel di Sangro (December 1943), details of 5th Division's movements in the previous years, posting to 252 (West Lancashire) Field Company RE (13th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division), Details of officers he served with, the Division joining the X Corps, US 5th Army, crossing the River Garigliano (January 1944), building a Bailey raft, his first time in action, mine clearing, moving to the Anzio Beachhead to relieve 56th Division (March 1944), living in slit trenches, joining US VI Corps, the conditions at Anzio, time in wadis, laying anti-personnel mines under enemy fire (April 1944), being wounded by a mortar, being evacuated to 103 General Hospital, Naples, being treated with penicillin, discharge and convalescence in Sorrento (May 1944), re-joining 252nd Field Company (June 1944), celebrating the fall of Rome, moving to Palestine via Egypt, 21st birthday (October 1944), a bridging camp on the Litani river, transfer to HQRE as Intelligence Officer (October 1944), moving up through France to Belgium for Operation Goldflake, based in Ghent, moving to Uelzen (April 1945), being on leave in the UK at the end of the war, re-joining his unit in Lubeck on VE Day (May 1945), non-fraternisation, looting, occupying Wismar, Germany, seeing Russians, moving to Salzgitter, near Brunswick, and staying there until his release, late 1946, with a post-script saying he decided to apply for a regular commission (1947).
History note
Cataloguer SJO