Description
Object description
C J Woodward was a member of The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and talks about his service in the First and Second World Wars, and his experience of troopships. T H Cosgrove, a former member of The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, and A A Phillips, a former member of The Royal Irish Fusiliers, talk together about their experiences in India and Sudan.
Content description
I. Mr Woodward was born in 1899 and joined the Army during the First World War at the age of sixteen. He went to France, under age, with the Machine Gun Corps and was among the early entrants to that Corps. He operated a Vickers machine gun in the Somme area, and he describes the organisation of machine gun Companies at that time, also the operational relationship with the infantry battalions to whom they were attached. After the War, Mr Woodward was posted to India and Mesopotamia, still serving with the Machine Gun Corps. Later he served with the Army of Occupation in Germany and also, for a short time, as part of an International Brigade in a peacekeeping role in Silesia. In World War II, he was recalled to service with a TA battalion and describes the evacuation from France through Cherbourg. He spent the rest of the War on transport ships as an RSM.
Content description
II. This is an interview with two Pensioners (T H Cosgrove and A A Phillips) simultaneously about their experiences in the peacetime Army in India, the Sudan. Egypt and Palestine. They describe their enlistment in the early 1930's. their journeys by troop ship to India and the pattern of training and recreation there. together with the relationship between troops and the civilian community. There are some interesting comments on protection from heatstroke and on the system of regimental catering contractors.
Content description
The discussion then turns to the Sudan in the mid-1930's. where two regiments were stationed on either side of the river at Khartoum. and facilities were provided for a change of climate in the Red Sea hills. The local European community appreciated the military presence (in the aftermath of a local rebellion). There were no fresh vegetables in the rations, and the NAAFI ran the canteen arrangements. The British troops had much respect for the Sudanese forces.
Content description
The interviewer goes on to draw out some comments from Mr Phillips and Mr Cosgrove about their preferences for service in India, Egypt or Palestine. Mr Cosgrove concludes with some details of the very structured relationships between NCO's and men before the 1939/45 war - when it was not the done thing for a Lance Corporal to sit down for drinks with a private, and when a Sergeant Major would admonish a Sergeant for talking in a relaxed manner to a Lance Corporal.
Physical description
Betamax