Description
Object description
British officer served with Camel Corps, Sudan Defence Force in Sudan, 1/1938-10/1940; served with Camel Corps, Sudan Defence Force, Gazelle Force in Sudan and Eritrea, 19/1940-4/1941; served with Headquarters, Sudan Defence Force, Khartoum, Sudan and commanded Sudan Defence Force Supply Base, Kufra, Libya, 1941-1943
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1909-1932: family; education. Recollections of period as officer with Camel Corps, Sudan Defence Force in Sudan, 1/1938-10/1940: military service with 2nd Bn Leicestershire Regt prior to secondment to Sudan Defence Force; reasons for secondment to Sudan Defence Force, 1/1938 and effect on career; length of tour and leave; efforts to return to Leicestershire Regt, 1939; learning and using Arabic language; medical examination; kitting out; mess kit; selection interview; voyage from GB to Sudan, 12/1937; posting to No 2 Motor Machine Gun Coy, Camel Corps at El Obeid; accommodation; social life; relations with Sudan Political Service; question of liaisons with Sudanese women.
REEL 2 Continues: memories of Sudanese servants; Sudanese cook, food and kitchen conditions; rules concerning married officers and families; drinking habits; recieving newspapers and mail; medical provision and state of health; layout of camp at El Obeid; Sudanese troops' officers: drinking habits; lack of social contact; role and duties; maintaining Sudanese troops' contact with families.
REEL 3 Continues: Sudanese officers including specific individuals, relations between different generations, loyalty and relations with British officers; degree of knowledge of Sudanese troops' tribal backgrounds; question of reputation of South Sudan; quality of Sudanese troops and NCOs; recruitment methods; Sudanese troops' discipline including role of Sudanese officers and corporal punishment; daily routine and training; problems with signal section; purpose of training exercises; desert techniques; testing Pettit Mounting; Sudanese wartime decorations; organisation of training exercises; Sudanese politeness.
REEL 4 Continues: senior staff visit and their reactions to Sudan Defence Force efficiency and lifestyle; confidence in Sudanese troops. Aspects of period as officer with Camel Corps, Sudan Defence Force in Sudan, 9/1939-10/1940: story of requisitioning lorries on outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; civilian population's reaction to outbreak of Second World War; source of recruits from Sudan Political Service; wartime lifestyle; story of falsifying intelligence reports to avoid unnecessary returns and consequences; tensions in Sudan Defence Force's relationship with 5th Indian Infantry Div, 9/1940-10/1940; use of Sudanese for intelligence operations; arrival of Emperor Haille Selassie; supplies including supply dumping grounds, improvisation and Sudanese troops' rations.
REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of operations as officer with Camel Corps, Sudan Defence Force, Gazelle Force in Sudan and Eritrea, 10/1940-4/1941: border patrols and importance of Sudan; nuisance raids on Italian forces; Italian overestimates of British strength; composition of Gazelle Force; forward role; directions of advance and strategy employed; opinions and illustrations of strategy of Brigadier William Slim, Generals Archibald Wavell and William Platt during East African Campaign; problems in capturing Keren, Eritrea; replacement of General William Platt; incident of being charged by Italian cavalry at Keru, Eritrea; medical provision for casualties; arrangements on capture of Asmara, Eritrea; release of British prisoners of war at Adi Ugri, Ertirea; opinion of German General Erwin Rommel; relations with British and Indian units; opinion of Italian Army troops; Sudanese troops' reaction under fire.
REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with Headquarters, Sudan Defence Force, Khartoum, Sudan and commanding Sudan Defence Force Supply Base at Kufra, Libya, 1941-1943: posting to headquarters; duties as quartermaster organising convoys to Kufra, Libya from Sudan; role of Kufra, Libya as supply base for raiding forces; taking command of Supply Base at Kufra, Libya; role organising supplies for Long Range Desert Group and Special Air Service; question of Special Air Service security leaks; opinion of Major David Stirling; different rations required; use of German jerry cans; importance of mail; quality of Sudanese clerks and officers; enjoyment of Sudanese service and return to Leicestershire Regiment, 12/1943.
