Hassack, Leslie (Oral history)

British NCO served with Royal Army Service Corps seconded to Sudan Defence Force in Sudan 1934-1940

REEL 1 Recollections of period as officer with Royal Army Service Corps attached to Sudan Defence Force in Sudan, 1934-1940: background and apprenticeship with Royal Army Service Corps; secondment to Mechanical Transport Department, Sudan Defence Force at Khartoum, Sudan, 1934; technical excellence required; reasons; interviews; workshop routine; posting as fitter to No 2 Motor Machine Gun Company, Sudan Camel Corps; Sudan Defence Force at El Obeid including machine gun companies; breaking up tribal dispute over boundary illustrating unit's role; status of British NCOs; transport arrangements for British officers; description of accommodation. REEL 2 Continues: situation at El Obeid and workshop's role in maintaining convoys to El Fahr; system of grades and status as Sudan government officials; pay; lifestyle; use of credit; nature of British NCOs' social life and relationship with British officers; daily routine; relationship with local European community; posting to newly formed No 4 Motor Machine Gun Company at Bara, 1936; description of transport and problems in desert conditions. REEL 3 Continues: driving conditions and accidents; bush fire whilst transporting fuel; problems teaching Sudanese drivers to control skids; lack of convoy discipline; discipline of Sudanese troops and use of corporal punishment; stories illustrating Sudanese attitude and response to ill health; relationship with Sudanese officers and troops. REEL 4 Continues: description of Sudanese troops' parties; dancing; whipping initiation ceremony; Sudanese troops' accommodation and Bara village; relationship with Sudanese officers and dislike of cadet trained type; contacts with Indian division during Second World War illustrating comfortable conditions on patrol and situation and status as British NCO; story of African civilian tracker's efforts to capture workshop thief. REEL 5 Continues: African civilian tracker's success in catching thief; training area; initial mechanised weaponry; introduction of Bren gun and armoured cars; story of testing Boyes anti-tank rifle; drinking habits; recreations; tracking lessons; dangers from snakes and scorpions; story of reconnaissance in Nuba Mountains during which British officer committed suicide; necessity of coping with loneliness.