Description
Object description
British NCO served as driver with 3rd Bn Monmouthshire Regt, 159th Infantry Bde, 11th Armoured Div in North West Europe, 6/1944-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of operations as NCO with 3rd Bn Monmouthshire Regt, 159th Infantry Bde, 11th Armoured Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: waterproofing vehicles prior to move to Normandy; landing on Juno Beach, 9/6/1944; discovery of German remote controlled tank on Juno Beach; near accident with British tank; sight of bombing of Caen; move to Carpiquet; attempts to break through surrounding Germans; opinion of German forces; behaviour of French civilians towards British troops; destruction of German Tiger Tank blocking crossing on River Seine. Recollections of operations with 3rd Bn Monmouthshire Regt, 159th Infantry Bde, 11th Armoured Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-5/1945: capture of Amiens, France, 9/1944; sight of refuges on roads; orders to move to Antwerp, Belgium issued on Vimy Ridge, France.
REEL 2 Continues: reception received from Belgian civilians; entering Antwerp, Belgium; treatment of collaborators by Belgians; reception received and fraternisation with civilians in Antwerp, Belgium; appearance of German prisoners of war; capture of German prisoners of war; medical attention given to wounded German; opinion of discipline of German troops in comparison with British in relations with civilians; coping with winter conditions, 1944-1945; minor wound in mouth; sight of airborne landings; entry in Lübeck, Germany, 5/1945.
REEL 3 Continues: surrounding Glücksburg Castle. Germany; handling Displaced Persons being sent east; shooting of Displaced Person by Soviet Army officer; reluctance of Displaced Persons to being removed eastwards; hanging of Germans by groups of Displaced Persons; degree of knowledge of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, Germany; contact with former inmates of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, Germany; relations with German civilians; relations with Canadian and American troops; looting carried out by British troops and behaviour of his Trinidadian NCO; Allied air superiority; German use of teenagers in armed forces; prior recollection of narrow escape from shell fire in Normandy, France.
REEL 4 Continues: morale of British troops; reaction to German Ardennes Offensive, 12/1944; Victoria Crosses won in 11th Armoured Div; prior recollection of volunteering for British Army, 3/9/1939.