Barclay, Francis Peter (Oral history)

British officer commanded A Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div in GB, France and Belgium, 9/1939-5/1940

REEL 1 Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in GB and India, 1929-1938: reasons for enlistment; pattern of postings. Recollections of period as officer with 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in Gibraltar and GB, 1937-1939: lecture from Colonel Eric Hayes warning of imminence of war, 1938; discussions with German officer during period in Gibraltar, 1938-1939; question of briefing troops; expectations of war; nature of training; mobilisation at Bordon Camp, 8/1939; re-absorption of British Army reservists; origins of troops; state of unit; success of platoon sergeant-major system; unit organisation; armament of unit including Boys Anti-Tank Rifle, Bren Gun and Thompson Machine Gun; battledress; transport; route marches. REEL 2 Continues: communications; use of cloth models in briefing other ranks; gas training; morale and discipline; importance as company commander in knowing all individuals in company; role of sport; tactical importance of platoon; progression of training; command structure; unannounced visit by King George VI during training exercise at Bordon Camp; tactical principles in company attack. Aspects of period commanding A Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div at Le Mans, France, 9/1939: journey from GB to France; travelling in lorry convoy; accommodation including relations with French billet owner and French attitude to war. Recollections of period commanding A Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div at Rumegies, France, 10/1939-2/1940: digging defensive positions on Gort Line. REEL 3 Continues: use of fortified posts in trees; barbed wire; organisation and siting of defensive positions; communications; artillery support signals; absence of contact with neighbouring French Army unit; accommodation; effect of trenches on agricultural drainage systems; nature of terrain; supplementing rations by shooting game; company concert party; sentries and patrols; leave; letters received from GB; role of chaplain; absence of briefing as to overall role of British Expeditionary Force in war; attitude of Very Important Person (VIP) visitors and amusing incident during visit by Winston Churchill; effects of cold weather. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of period commanding A Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div in Maginot Line, France, 2/1940: composition of Maginot Line; absence of French Army patrol activity; slit trenches; refusal of French Artillery to fire at German observation post; account of reconnaisance patrol across No Mans Land and penetrating German lines including narrow escape from grenade, nature of German positions and withdrawal under heavy fire; selection of patrol personnel; question of German Army patrols; attitude of French Army troops in Maginot Line; officer lost on patrol who returned through French Army lines; visit round main fortifications of Maginot Line and stance of French Army troops. Aspects of period commanding A Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div at Orchies, France, 3/1940-5/1940: training; vehicle lights; exercises in preparation for move up to River Dyle, Belgium in event of German attack; platoon training; accommodation. REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of operations as commanding A Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div in Belgium, 5/1940: move to Dyle Line defences at Wavre, 10/5/1940: opinion of performance of Belgian Army; news of German attack, 10/5/1940; lorry convoy and anti-aircraft defences; nature of German Air Force attacks; reception from Belgian refugees; retreating Belgian Army troops; prior clandestine reconnaissance of Dyle Line in civilian clothes, 1939; role manning outpost positions on far side of River Dyle; story of digging defensive positions at chateau and Belgian civilian owners unawareness of situation; withdrawal of 17/21st Lancers; ambush of German Army motorcyclists; retirement across River Dyle; state of communications; nature and siting of outpost defensive positions covering main road; German Army fire and build up of forces; ambush of German Army motorcyclists; acting as covering party for demolition of bridge; battalion dispositions and digging in as reserve company; company morale; story of organising attack on village occupied by 1st Bn Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) obeying orders from commanding officer who thought that village had been captured by German. REEL 6 Continues: background to commanding officer's subsequent removal from command; company attack plan and support fire for attack; illustration of benefits of training. Recollections of operations commanding A Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div during withdrawal from Dyle Line to Tournai, Belgium, 5/1940: absence of interference from German Army; role as rearguard company; offensive patrolling; inflexible nature of German military methods; efficient anti-aircraft drill during German Air Force attacks; question of performance of Royal Air Force; absence of contact with Belgian and French Army units; question of strategic situation during retreat; absence of Ordnance SBML 2 Inch Mortar ammunition; maintenance of ration supply; effects of presence of civilian refugees; question of Fifth Column activity; German propaganda leaflets; state of morale. REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of operations as commanding A Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div during defensive action on Albert-Turnhout Canal near Tournai, Belgium, 5/1940: situation and nature of defensive positions; impromptu ferreting session; German Army preparations to cross canal and successful ambush; wounding by German Army mortar fire; use of door as stretcher; successful efforts by Company Sergeant-Major George Gristock and squad to protect threatened right flank; eating jellified brandy pills at first aid post; posthumous award of Victoria Cross to Company Sergeant-Major George Gristock; German Army mortar fire; numbers ambushed on crossing canal; use of door as stretcher. Recollections of medical evacuation aboard HMHS Paris from Calais to GB, 29/5/1940: story of losing pet dog; evacuation in improvised ambulance and German tank's respect for Red Cross; movements on hospital train to Dunkirk and Boulogne to try and locate hospital ship; crossing No Mans Land in hospital train on entering Calais; arrival of units to defend Calais; German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attack on mole at Calais; embarkation on hospital ship, 29/5/1940; reception on arrival in GB. Reflections on operations in France and Belguim, 5/1940: importance of unit morale; question of adequacy of equipment and training; absence of tactical flexibility amongst British officers; role of unit in aiding Dunkirk Evacuation.