Description
Object description
British officer served with 2nd Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in Palestine and Egypt, 1934-1940; served with 2nd Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, 11th Indian Infantry Bde, 4th Indian Infantry Div in Sudan and Eritrea, 1940-1941
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1914-1934: family; education; joining Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, 1934. Aspects of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in Palestine and Egypt, 1934-1940: nature of Arab Revolt in Palestine; riots in Jaffa, Palestine; policing duties during riots and at night; attitude of Arabs; anti-British riots in Cairo, Egypt; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, 11th Indian Infantry Bde, 4th Indian Infantry Div in Sudan and Eritrea, 1941: need for campaign; move to railhead junction in Sudan; living conditions at Kassala, Sudan; strength of unit; unit equipment; composition of brigade; efficiency of unit.
REEL 2 Continues: failure of Italians to hold Keru Gorge, Eritrea; Italian cavalry charge; intelligence gained from local populace; nature of rations; use of grenades to kill guinea fowl; capture of Gibraltar position at Agordat, Eritrea; his intelligence gathering work; willingness of prisoners of war to talk; impact of Italian tanks on Battle at Agordat; arrival of Allied air support; bombing of Indian troops in Sudan; limitations on use of tanks; initial narrow escape of Italian forces at Keren, Eritrea; opinion of role of Sudanese Defence Force mountain battery; unit's attempt to establish themselves on Cameron Ridge, Eritrea; unit casualties; health problems.
REEL 3 Continues: unsuitability of wearing shorts; opinion of work of Cypriot mule company; presence of Shifta irregulars; confusion caused by baboons; casualties during final assault; his withdrawal from the campaign; alleged premonitions of death; movement of bodies after death; logistics during campaign; unit morale; effect of shelling on morale; receipt of mail; informing relatives of bereavements; personal morale on battlefield; emptiness of country; absence of Union Flag amongst troops.