Tyson, Percival Goodman (Oral history)

British private served with 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 150th Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 1939-1940; NCO served with 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 69th Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and North West Europe, 1941-1944

REEL 1 Aspects of period as private with 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regt in GB, 1938-1939: reasons for joining Territorial Army, 1938; opinion of training received; call up for mobilisation, 1/9/1939. Recollections of operations as private with 4th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 150th Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 1939-1940: duties on Gort Line; living conditions; German attack, 5/1940; opinion of refugees; retreat to Dunkirk, France; situation on Bray Dunes near Dunkirk, France; evacuation by Royal Navy destroyer; discipline of troops on beaches; voyage across English Channel. Recollections of operations as NCO with 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 69th Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North Africa, 1941-1943: voyage from GB to Egypt; duties in Cyprus, 1941; opinion of Egyptians; ‘box’ system used at Gazala, Libya, 1942. REEL 2 Continues: breakout from box, Libya, 6/1942; joining up with 4th Indian Infantry Div after breakout from Gazala; German attack on 4th Indian Infantry Div; casualties and morale; opinion of General Erwin Rommel; impressions of General Bernard Montgomery; re-equipping of division prior to Battle of El Alamein, 1942; artillery barrage during Battle of El Alamein, 23/10/1942; encountering Axis POWs during advance into Libya, 11/1942; character of advance into Libya, 11/1942. REEL 3 Continues: advance towards Mareth Line in Tunisia; living conditions in desert especially flies. Aspects of operations as NCO with 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 69th Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Sicily, Italy, 1943: landing near Syracuse, 7/1943; in action at Primosole Bridge, 16/7/1943; fighting on slopes of Mount Etna; conditions for civilians. Recollections of operations as NCO with 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 69th Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 1944: preparations for D-Day landings; crossing English Channel; landing on Gold Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944. REEL 4 Continues: advance inland against German resistance from Gold Beach; infantry co-operation with tanks; entry into Bayeux, France; use of air recognition panels; behaviour of SS POWs; sustaining wounds from mortar fire in Normandy; return to unit after hospitalisation in GB; death of Lance Sergeant Leonard Davey in Normandy, France, 11/6/1944; prior recollection of death of Sergeant Frederick Thackeray in Sicily, Italy, 18/07/1943; duties in GB, 1945 after disbandment of division in Belgium, 12/1944.