Description
Object description
British private served with 5th Bn Parachute Regt, 2nd Parachute Bde, 1st Airborne Div in French Algeria and Tunisia, 6/1943-12/1943; served with 5th Bn Parachute Regt, 2nd Independent Parachute Bde in Italy, France and Greece, 12/1943-1/1945; served with 5th Parachute Regt, 2nd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Palestine, 1945-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army, 1942-1943: background to enlistment; opinion of Ordnance BL 4.2 Inch Mortar; volunteering for Parachute Regt and selection interview. Aspects of training as private with Parachute Regt in GB, 1943: overcoming his fear of heights; explanation of term 'ringing the bell' when jumping from aircraft; move to Airborne Forces Depot, Hardwick Hall; obstacle course training; design of parachute badge. Aspects of period as private with 5th Bn Parachute Regt, 2nd Parachute Bde, 1st Airborne Div in French Algeria and Tunisia, 6/1943-12/1943: move to French Algeria; on stranded train in Tunisian countryside, 6/1943.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of American organisation of airborne operations at Sicily, Italy 7/1943; reasons for transfer to 5th Bn; accident with Sten Gun during loading on vehicles, 8/1943; question of personal attutude to discipline. Recollections of operations as private with 5th Bn Parachute Regt, 2nd Independent Parachute Bde in Italy, 1943-1944: move to Italy; punishment for being Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL) in Naples; move to Monte Cassino; conditions in line at Monte Cassino.
REEL 3 Continues: unit casualties at Monte Cassino; question of returning to front line from reserve; casualties during shelling of 'The Mole' position, early 1944; respect shown to altar in ruined church; escorting German prisoner of war back to battalion headquarters; how he became commanding officer's batman; fear of booby traps in captured German position in farmhouse; problem with infected arm; opinion of German troops.
REEL 4 Continues: capture of paratroopers at Casauli; German patrol attack, 2/1944-3/1944; sight of bombing of Monte Cassino; his opinion of need to capture prisoner during patrols; opinion of Italian Alpini troops; opinion of Projector Infantry Anti-Tank (PIAT). Aspects of operations as private with 5th Bn Parachute Regt, 2nd Independent Parachute Bde in South of France, 8/1944: jumping from aircraft; acquisition of German motorcycle combination; sight of French Resistance revenge; relations with French civilians. Recollections of operations as private with 5th Bn Parachute Regt, 2nd Independent Parachute Bde in Greece, 1944-1945: reception on arrival, 12/1944.
REEL 5 Continues: sight of Soviet Army troops on Greek-Bulgarian border; street fighting against Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) forces in Athens; support for British forces by Greeks in Athens; capture of female Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) fighters; attitude towards street fighting; use of brothels in Italy and French Algeria. Aspects of operations as private with 5th Bn Parachute Regt, 2nd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Palestine, 1945-1947: attitude of British troops towards Jews.
REEL 6 Continues: attitude of Jews towards British airborne troops; hostility of Jews in Tel Aviv towards airborne forces; relative peacefulness of Gaza.