Description
Object description
British NCO served with Y (Yeomanry) Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, 1941-1943; served with N Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in Italy, 1944
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as NCO with Y (Yeomanry) Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, 1941-1943: transfer to unit from Yorkshire Hussars; type of man required by Long Range Desert Group; clothing worn; cases of personnel being returned to unit; nature of road watch; operating road watches; signalling intelligence to Eighth Army; detection by Axis forces; use of camouflage; water rationing; flies; desert sores; contracting malaria at Siwa Oasis, Egypt; attacks on road and their effects on Axis troops; his role as driver; impressions of David Lloyd Owen.
REEL 2 Continues: duties as driver and characteristics of vehicles; crossing stone belt in desert; driving over sand sea; pleasures of water facilities at Siwa Oasis, Egypt and Kufra Oasis, Libya; reasons for not shaving; nature of bases at Siwa Oasis, Egypt and Kufra Oasis, Libya; accidental shooting up of patrol by South African Air Force fighter aircraft; use of Waco YKC and ZGC-7 aircraft; horse play with Very light on leave in Cairo, Egypt; disappearance of Italian agent transported to Marada.
REEL 3 Continues: capture of Italian agent and his treatment; navigational system used; rescue of patrol in difficulties, 1942; plan for raid on Tobruk, Libya and its execution, 9/1942; sight of battlefield after tank battle at Sidi Rezegh, Libya; plans to evacuate Long Range Desert Group to Rhodesia during German offensive, summer 1942; crossing Qattara Depression; degree of threat from Axis forces; wounding of David Lloyd Owen in German Air Force attack at Kufra Oasis, Libya, 10/1942; David Lloyd Owen's return to unit.
REEL 4 Continues: use of jeeps; capture of Italian horses at Tripoli, Libya, 1943; reorganisation in Lebanon, 1943. Aspects of operations as NCO with N Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in Italy, 1944: bravery of commanding officer; his capture by Germans north of Rome; treatment on capture; role of Long Range Desert Group in Italy; preference for service in desert.