Bangs, Peter Joseph (Oral history)

British private served with 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regt in GB and Germany, 1951-1952; NCO served with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1952-1953

REEL 1 Recollections of period of training with 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regt in GB and Germany, 1951-1952: reaction to call up for National Service, 1951; nature of basic training, GB, 1951; move to Berlin, Germany, 1951; duties; relations with German civilians; question of British troops' behaviour; lack of relations with Soviet Army personnel. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt at Minden, Germany, 1952: reaction to joining unit; contrast between unit and 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regt. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Bn Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1952-1953: lack of prior knowledge of Korea; winter clothing issue; aspects of voyage aboard HMT Devonshire from GB to Korea; initial impressions of Pusan; throwing food to children in Pusan shanty town; move to Britannia Camp; move up to front line; sleeping conditions in front line; relief of Australian troops at Yong Dong in Samichon Valley; opinion of Australian troops. REEL 2 Continues: technique for making fires in front line; making beds out of machine guns belts; building 'hutchies'; information about Communist troops received from Australians; problems of changing over units in front line; lack of knowledge of surrounding United Nations' units; pioneer type duties; weather conditions; care of feet in trenches; dangers of fires in trenches; proportion of national servicemen in unit; contrast between national servicemen and regulars; vermin in trenches. REEL 3 Continues: precautions against mosquitoes; adequacy of clothing; reasons for quietness of Yong Dong position. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div on The Hook, Korea, 5/1953: reasons for Chinese activity on The Hook; character of Chinese attack on The Hook; Chinese human wave tactics; personal contact with Chinese; Chinese equipment and weapons; results of attack; casualties after attack; reaction to having to stay behind in rear party; personal morale and battalion casualties. REEL 4 Continues: unit's field of fire. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1952-1953: raid on Chinese positions across Samichon Valley to take prisoner, 3/1953; memories of cease-fire, 7/1953; contact with South Korean troops including Korean Augmentation Troops Commonwealth (KATCOMS); attitude to leaving Korea; duties between cease-fire and leaving.