Birks, Horace Leslie (Oral history)

British officer served with Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps in GB, 1916-1917; served with 2nd Coy, D Bn Tank Corps, 1st Tank Bde on Western Front, 1917; served with Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1918-1924; served with 1st Armoured Car Coy, Royal Tank Corps in India, 1924-1926; served as staff officer at Quetta Staff College in India, 1927-1928; served with 6th Armoured Car Coy, Royal Tank Corps in India, 1929-1930; served as staff officer with Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1931-1934; served with 1st Light Bn Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1934; served as staff officer at War Office, London, GB, 1934-1937

REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1897-1915: family; education; reasons for enlistment with London Rifle Bde. Recollections of training as officer with Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps in GB, 1916-1917: question of how experiences as NCO with Rifle Bde during Battle of the Somme, 1916 effected his views on warfare; selection for tank training; machine gun training at Pirbright Camp; driving and maintenance course at Bovington Camp; gunnery course at Lulworth; first experience of driving tank; use of pigeons; opinion of training. REEL 2 Continues: description of training establishment at Bovington Camp including courses and instructors; driving and gunnery training; firing on the move and from stationary positions. Recollections of operations as officer with 2 Coy, D Bn, Tank Corps, 1st Tank Bde on Western Front, 1917: joining unit; use of Mark II Tank; organisation of battalion; duties of tank commander and crew; preference for 'male' tanks; lack of tactical role for tanks; question of motivation; degree of mechanical knowledge amongst tank crews; attack on St Julien; problems with Lewis Machine Gun and tank reliability. REEL 3 Continues: limited visibility through observation flaps and periscopes; danger of splash caused by penetration fire through gaps in tank hull; description of ancillary equipment; salvage procedure for abandoned tanks; attack on Poelcapelle, 17/10/1917; unit morale; preparations for action at Cambrai including preparation of fascines, briefing and security; move to start line. REEL 4 Continues: preparations for attack at Cambrai, 1917; move up to start line; attack at Cambrai; casualties amongst crew and damage to tank at Cambrai; unit morale after Cambrai; opinion of J F C Fuller. Recollections of period as officer with Tank Corps in GB, 1918-1924: decision to remain with Tank Corps after 1918; training White Russians at Bovington Camp, 1919; post-war uncertainty about future of Tank Corps and role of tanks; unit establishment at Bovington Camp, 1919; memories of General Sir Hugh Jamieson and commandants at Royal Tank Corps Centre at Bovington. REEL 5 Continues: flag signaling procedure; driver and maintenance organisation; friction between armoured car and tank staff; organisation of driver and maintenance and gunnery training; driving instructor duties; relative merits of firing on the move or from stationary position; reaction to permanent establishment of Tank Corps; reasons for promotion blockage; quality of officers; NCOs and other rank recruits. REEL 6 Continues: George Lindsay's revitalisation of training programme; stabilising effect of permanent establishment; attitude of Royal Tank Corps to mechanisation of cavalry. Recollections of period as officer with 1st Armoured Car Coy, Royal Tank Corps in India, 1924-1929: posting to unit at Quetta, 1924; duties; attitude of Indian Army officers towards Royal Tank Corps; garrison life and duties; obtaining place at Quetta Staff College, 1927. REEL 7 Continues: meeting with Brigadier Percy Hobart; posting to 6th Armoured Car Coy, 1929-1930. Recollections of period as staff officer with Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1930-1934: initial posting to 2nd Bn Royal Tank Corps, 1930; staff appointment to Western Command, 1931; question of army's indifference to mechanised warfare; duties during summer manoeuvres; John Burnett-Stuart's attitude towards tanks; effectiveness of tanks; question of Basil Liddell-Hart's interest in tanks. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Light Bn, Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1934: background to posting to unit; attending Mobile Force exercise, 1934; Percy Hobart's tactical ideas, 1934. REEL 8 Continues: gunnery techniques; Mobile Force exercises. Recollections of period as staff officer with War Office in London, GB, 1934-1937: staff duties; problems in tank design; officer selection procedure; formation of Royal Armoured Corps; opinion of Inspector of the Tank Corps Hugh Elles; Percy Hobart's personality and his ideas on mechanised warfare; question of hostility of War Office towards mechanisation. Aspects of period as tank instructor at Quetta Staff College in India, 1937-1939: posting to Quetta, 1937; question of hostility of Indian Army to mechanisation. REEL 9 Continues: appointment to General Percy Hobart's 7th Armoured Div in Egypt. Story of General Percy Hobart's dismissal from his command.