Vickers, Arthur William Langston (Oral history)

British staff officer served as Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster Sergeant with 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1951-1952

REEL 1 Recollections of period as Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster Sergeant with 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1951-1952: background to posting to Korea; degree of knowledge of Korean War; role as Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster Sergeant; degree of confidence in being able to fulfil duties; formation of division from three Commonwealth brigades; problems of lack of standardisation of equipment; problems with Bedford QL trucks; setting up vehicle rebuilding line in Kure, Japan; amount of ammunition needed for Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Field Gun during an attack; problems with replacement Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Guns supplied from Singapore, Federation of Malaya; opinion of American knowledge of Commonwealth armies, co-operation and of United States Marines. REEL 2 Continues: interference from London; question of staff in London ignorance of local conditions; early clothing shortages; question of some units being unfit on arrival; administration and training of new battalions; need for new battalions to be informed of static defences, active patrolling, field hygiene and night operations; major offensives; construction of defensive lines; Australian use of infra-red night sights; clothing and climate; low occurrences of frostbite in division; use of laundry in Seoul; divisional morale; opinion of division; speed and accuracy of artillery support; American fire control methods. REEL 3 Continues: character of divisional commander Major General James Cassels; formation of divisional headquarters staff; move to forward area; value of training received at Staff College, Camberley in GB; absorption of Independent Bdes into Commonwealth Div; role of Major General James Cassels in bringing division together; challenge of bringing brigades under divisional control; Cassels relations with Americans; opinion of orders relayed at United States Corps Headquarters; daily routine at divisional headquarters; Major General James Cassels' style of management including visits to forward positions, grasp of detail; opinion of Brigadier William Pike, Commander Royal Artillery. REEL 4 Continues: medical services provided by Indian Field Ambulance; casualty evacuation; question of amount of surgery taking place in Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) and subsequent solution to problem; role of Royal Army Service Corps contingents; racial incident between New Zealand Maori driver and United States Marine Corps Sergeant; role of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; difficulties with ordnance; shortages; the Provost service and problems in Canadian run detention centre; need to harmonise punishments between different national contingents; pay and allowances; lack of real disciplinary problems; propaganda and psychological warfare; divisional newspaper, 'Crown News'; use of Korean porters; daily routine; dealing with visitors and journalists; honours and awards. REEL 5 Continues: move of Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH); impressions of French, Puerto-Rican and Turkish contingents; Turkish continent's use of rest camp at Inchon; divisional welfare fund; opinion of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops and artillery fire; liaison with Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm Hawker Sea Fury squadron; use of South African officers in division; Indian Army liaison officer; United States Air Force and artillery liaison officers; response time of Fleet Air Arm Hawker Sea Furies; national continents characteristics in division; behaviour of American troops; living conditions; food and alcohol supplies; attitude to serving in Korea; pursuing ornithology hobby and state of fitness; leave in Japan; character of Seoul.