Description
Object description
British officer served with 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regt in India 1929-1935 and Sudan 1935-1936; served with Sierra Leone Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force in Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Gold Coast, British West Africa, 1943-1951
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1909-1928: family; education. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regt in India and Sudan, 1929-1936: sporting activities; service in India, 1929-1935; attending courses; service in Sudan, 1935-1936. Recollections of period as officer with Sierra Leone Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force in Sierra Leone, Britsh West Africa, 1936-1941: background to secondment to Sierra Leone Regt, 1938: reasons for applying for secondment; interview; kitting out and preparations; voyage from GB to Sierra Leone; added responsibilities due to officers' leave; vaccinations and quinine; influence of lifestyle on health; pay and allowances; medical provision. African troops' lifestyle including medical problems, improved diet in army, drinking habits, accommodation, religion and illustration of 'ju ju'; location of African troops' accommodation.
REEL 2 Continues: origin of evening parade; christianity and education amongst African troops; recruitment; purpose of patrols; role of advance messengers; use of African porters; organisation of patrols; British NCOs' baggage and accommodation on patrol; accommodation; food; African servants; daily routine; sporting activities with African troops; African troops' standard of drill; African troops' discipline including effects of personal problems, corporal punishment initiated by African sergeant-major and other punishments.
REEL 3 Continues: training African recruits; use of British training methods; night exercises; wet climate and use of drill sheds; health and sanitary precautions; contact with European civilians; conditions on patrol; relations with other British officers, African NCOs and African troops; standard of conduct expected of British personnel; relations with African troops; instruction of African troops in English language; preparations for Second World War including introduction of Rhodesian officers, expansion, shortage of weapons and issue of boots.
REEL 4 Continues: question of gas precautions; duties; supply situation; role informing African troops of progress of Second World War; club facilities; sporting activities; advice of new British officers. Aspects of period as officer with Sierra Leone Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force in Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Nigeria, British West Africa, 1943-1951: posting to School of Infantry and Education, Teshie, Gold Coast, 1947; necessity of supervision to counter pilfering; lifestyle; riots in Accra, Gold Coast, 2/1948-3/1948; African troops' reaction to demobilisation; posting to Ibadan, Nigeria, 1949 including married accommodation; wife's return to GB to have baby; background to end of service in British West Africa.