Anderson, Robert Charles Beckett (Oral history)

British officer served with 9th and 2nd Bns Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on Western Front, 1915-1918; served with 2nd Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Ireland, 1920-1922; served with 2nd Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in New Zealand, Jamaica, China, Hong Kong and India, 1925-1935; served with Hong Kong Defence Force, 1936-1939

REEL 1: Family background and education, 1895-1914; reaction to outbreak of war, 8/1914. Aspects of operations as officer with 9th and 2nd Bns Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on Western Front, 1915-1918: wounded at Ypres, Belgium, 23/Sep/1915; commission; description of operations in Somme and Arras areas; wounded, 23/Apr/1917 and returned to GB for medical treatment; story of Sinn Fein ambush in Ireland; memories of Armistice Day, 11/1918; role in quelling mutiny among troops; posted to Ireland, 1920. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Ireland, 1920-1922: description of operations against Sinn Fein including raids on villages; posted to Isle of Wight. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in New Zealand and Jamaica, 1925-1929: story of taking regimental band to New Zealand; posted to Jamaica, 9/1927. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in China, 9/1929-4/1930: description of journey to China via Panama Canal and Honolulu aboard SS City of Marseilles; memories of Shanghai and Chinwangtao; problem of cold weather and piper's drones freezing up; description of accommodation; first encounter with Japanese; description of Peking legation guard; sporting activities; posted to Hong Kong, 4/1930. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Hong Kong and China, 4/1930-10/1936: in camp at San Wai; leave; description of role during anti-Japanese riots in Hong Kong, 10/1931; co-operation with police; providing protection for Japanese; description of march through streets of Kowloon; question of anti-Japanese atrocities; plans for dealing with emergencies; assembly and embarkation of troops for Shanghai, 6/1932; story of record-breaking voyage; stationed at Majestic Hotel; description of fires in Chapei; division of defence forces at perimeter of International Settlement; relations with Japanese troops; departure of Chinese and Japanese troops; peace offering from Chinese; daily routine and duties; posted back to Hong Kong; daily life in Hong Kong; annual parade; leave in Japan and unfriendly welcome; posted back to Shanghai; memory of King's Birthday Parade; social activities in Shanghai and Zero Clubs. REEL 3 Continues: posted to Bombay, India, 1933-1934. Aspects of period as officer with Hong Kong Defence Force, 1936-1939: story of being appointed Adjutant, Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force, 1935; composition and equipment of Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force; problem of recruitment; weapons; question of vulnerability of pill boxes; memory of King's Birthday Parade; holiday in Tsingtao; story of German conspiracy; attempts to go inland; liaison with China Command; memory of annual dinner, 1938; formation of Chinese coy of Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force; appointed Commandant of Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force; co-operation and manoeuvres with Shanghai Volunteers and other forces in Hong Kong. REEL 4 Continues: description of combined exercises; question of awareness of threat to Hong Kong and defensibility.