Description
Object description
British NCO served with 22nd (London) Armoured Car Coy (Westminster Dragoons), Royal Tank Corps and 22nd (Westminster Dragoons) Bn, Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1932-1938; officer served with 42nd Royal Tank Regt in GB, 1938-1940; served as staff officer with 8th Armoured Div in GB, 1940-1941 and with Armoured Fighting Vehicle Branch, Headquarters, New Zealand Army in New Zealand, 1941-1943
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as NCO with 22nd (London) Armoured Car Coy (Westminster Dragoons), Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1932-1935: civilian employment; reasons for joining Territorial Army, 1932; enlistment arrangements with unit, 23/2/1932; attendance and conduct requirements; enlistment procedures; issue of uniform and equipment; friction between cavalry and Royal Tank Corps and attitude of unit towards it; role of armoured cars; anecdote about Queen Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) and mechanisation.
REEL 2 Continues: recruit requirements and status; foot, section and arms drill; opinion of quality of regimental staff; passing out parade; gunnery instruction and weekend range courses; difficulty of firing from armoured cars on move; comparison between unit and Royal Tank Corps gunnery standards; amusing story of visit of Brigadier Merton Beckwith-Smith to training camp.
REEL 3 Continues: attitude of regular army towards Territorial Army; machine gun team qualifications; special status of London Territorial Army units; independent spirit of Territorial Army; rivalry between London Territorial Army units; story about Northamptonshire Yeomanry at training camp; explanation of bounty system; multi-trade crew training; driving, maintenance and wireless instruction; average length of training period; method of driving armoured car.
REEL 4 Continues: fall-out rate and training standards in unit; question of pre-war equipment inadequacies; vehicles operated in unit and maintenance problems; annual camps, 1932-1933; character of loop patrols; character of summer training camp, 1932; importance of comradeship in Royal Tank Corps and Territorial Army units; exercise programme, 1933; limited scope of tactical exercises; efficiency of despatch riders; map reading standards. Recollections of period as NCO with 22nd (Westminster Dragoons) Bn Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1935-1938: first camp at Lulworth Camp, 1935.
REEL 5 Continues: training on tanks after incorporation of unit into Royal Tank Regt, 1935; description of RYPA; driving and gunnery training for light tank service; introduction of black overalls; John Fuller's tactical ideas; roles of heavy and light tanks; method of riding at ease during Royal Tank Corps exercises, 1936; amusing story relating to Major General Percy Hobart's hat; Major-General Percy Hobart's role during exercises; memories of Baille-Stewart Case; question of equipment shortages and deficiencies prior to outbreak of Second World War and effect of formation of Royal Armoured Corps.
REEL 6 Continues: restrictions on use operating tanks in London; story of opening fire on fitter's tent; use of experimental cooking stoves; social activities; attending gunnery instructor course; introduction of officer producing scheme; selection for officer training. Aspects of period as officer with 42nd Bn Royal Tank Regt in GB, 1938-1940: transfer to unit; character of unit in comparison with Westminster Dragoons; amusing story of attending medical; duties on outbreak of Second World War; duties in GB, 1939-1940; attendance of gas courses.
REEL 7 Continues: posting as staff officer to 8th Armoured Div, 1940. Aspects of period as staff officer with Armoured Fighting Vehicle Branch, Army Headquarters in New Zealand, 1941-1943: posting to New Zealand Army Headquarters; problems transporting family; duties as armoured fighting vehicle adviser supervising training and equipment supply; liaison with United States forces based in New Zealand; tactical training; logistical support for 3rd New Zealand Div; standard of New Zealand tank crews.
