Mowbray, Stanley John Omar (Oral history)

British officer served with Royal Sussex Regt in India 1929-1935 and Sudan 1935-1936 and with Sierra Leone Bn, Royal West African Frontier Force in Sierra Leone 1936-1941, Nigeria and Gold Coast 1943-1951, including Accra riots ca 1947

REEL 1 Early background. Service with Royal Sussex Regiment: sporting activities; India service, 1929-35; courses; Sudan service, 1935-36. Background to secondment to Sierra Leone Battalion, Royal West African Frontier Force, 1938: reasons applied; interview. Kitting out and preparations. Voyage out to Sierra Leone. Increased responsibilities due to officers' leave. Vaccinations and quinine. Influence of lifestyle on health. Pay and allowances. Medical provision. African troops' lifestyle: medical problems; improved diet in army; drinking habits; accommodation; religion and illustration of 'ju ju'; location of accommodation. REEL 2 Origin of evening parade. Christianity and education amongst African troops. Recruitment. Aspects of patrols: purpose; villagers' reactions; role of advance messengers; African porters; organisation; British NCOs' baggage and accommodation. Lifestyle: accommodation; food; African servants; daily routine; sporting activities with African troops. African troops' standard of drill. African troops' discipline: aspects relating to personal problems; corporal punishment initiated by African sergeant-major; other punishments. REEL 3 Training African recruits; British methods; night exercises. Sierra Leone's wet climate and use of drill sheds. Health and sanitary precautions. Contacts with European civilians. Conditions on patrol. Relationship with British officers, African NCOs and African troops. Standard of conduct expected of British personnel. Relationship with African troops. Instruction of African troops in English. Preparations for war: Rhodesian officers; expansion; shortage of weapons; issue of boots. REEL 4 Question of gas precautions. Practising duties; supply situation. Informing African troops of progress of war. Recreations: club facilities; sporting activities. Advice of new British officers. Posting to School of Infantry and Education, Teshi, Gold Coast, 1947. Necessity of supervision to counter pilfering. Lifestyle. Recollections of Accra riots, ca 1947. African troops' reactions to demobilisation. Return to Ibadan posting, 1949: married accommodation; wife's return to GB for baby; background to end of posting.