Carter, Albert (Oral history)

British NCO served with 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters, 148th (Territorial) Infantry Bde in Norway, 1940

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as NCO with 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters, 148th (Territorial) Infantry Bde in Norway, 1940: activities prior to embarkation for Norway; voyage from GB to Norway; arrival in Norway; firing on German paratroopers from train; shooting of Quisling officer on train; purification of water; degree of training prior to deployment to Norway; opinion of Bren Gun; discovery of destination on board ship; personal kit and clothing; foraging for food and clothing in abandoned shops; sleep during voyage; sailors' cure for seasickness; situation in Andalsnes; torpedoing of supply ship MV Cedarbank; air raid alarms; move by lorry to Sjoua; capture of officers; vehicle convoy to farm house billet; patrolling; demolition of bridge; preparations of sangar. REEL 2 Continues: arrival of German forces; German attack on farmhouse; escape from farmhouse along railway; encounter with German patrol in wood; arrival at fjord and picking up by submarine; transfer to HMS Sheffield; further detail of German attack on farmhouse; decision to withdraw from farmhouse; overnight stops in woods; lack of ammunition; mortar fire in woods; bivouac on coast; reception on board HMS Sheffield; greeting by General Edmund Ironside on River Clyde; state of uniform and boots; debriefing and leave; battalion strength after campaign; further details of bridge demolition; nature of campaign; value of basic training and camping skills learnt in Boy Scout movement.