Description
Object description
British officer served with Anti-Tank Platoon, 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 7/1952-7/1953
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Light Infantry Bde in GB, 1948: call-up for National Service, 1948; pattern of training with Light Infantry Bde Training Depot at Bordon Camp, 1948. Aspects of period with Anti-Tank Platoon, 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry GB and Germany, 1948-1951: move to Dortmund and Berlin, Germany; taking regular short service commission; training at Fylingdales including use of Browning M1919 Machine Gun; opinion of Vickers Machine Gun; nature of anti- tank role and Browning Machine Gun platoon.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations with Anti-Tank Platoon, 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonweatlh Div in Korea, 7/1952-27/7/1953: effect of terrain on positioning of weapons; weapons pits; use of Field Service Pocket Book to dig trenches; prior recollection of voyage aboard HMT EmpireTrooper from GB to Korea via Aden; arrival in Korea, 7/1952; move to Britannia Camp, Wijonbu; issue of winter clothing; tactical and political indoctrination; lack of hostility towards Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; strength of platoon; relations with NCOs; move into front line; wet conditions in Jan's Land position; use of advanced party.
REEL 3 Continues: Chinese use of tannoy system; strength of divisional firepower; Chinese People's Volunteer Army positions; construction of 'hootchies' and fighting pits; company and platoon defensive areas; problems of inaccurately marked minefields; unit headquarters; standing patrols; Royal Artillery spotters; wireless and line communications.
REEL 4 Continues: adapting to front line conditions; use of mock line at Britannia Camp, Wijonbu; length of time in front line and reserve; taking over from Australians at Jan's Land position; accuracy of Chinese mortaring; battalion casualties; reasons for standing patrols; Chinese artillery; preparations for Chinese People's Volunteer Army attacks; different types of patrols; reaction to patrolling especially through minefield gaps; terrain.
REEL 5 Continues: Chinese People's Volunteer Army patrols; nature of fighting patrols; finding evidence of Chinese People's Volunteer Army patrols; ambush patrols; flora around positions; distance covered by patrols; scheduling patrols; question of troops being trigger happy; arms and equipment used on patrol including stun grenades; question of self inflicted wounds; carrying out daylight casualty seeking patrol; incident of officer taking out helicopter landing strips to spell ER during Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation, 6/1953; responsibility of NCOs for snatch patrols; night vision.
REEL 6 Continues: effect on unit of casualties; casualty evacuation; wounding by artillery fire; evacuation by 25th Canadian Field Ambulance; logistic arrangements; role of batmen; relations with company commanders; contrast in personalities of company commanders; question of amount of sleep needed; opinion of Colonel Peter Jeffries; question of lack of visits by brigadier; contact with GB; organisation of leave periods in Korea and Japan.
