Chambers, George Pearson (Oral history)

British officer served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in GB, France and Belgium, 9/1939-6/1940; served with 8th Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, Cyprus, Iraq, North Africa, Italy and North West Europe, 6/1940-11/1944

REEL 1 Background in Newcastle upon Tyne, GB, 1911-1938: education; employment with Lloyds Bank. Aspects of period as signals officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in GB, 1938-1940: reasons for joining 8th Battalion; story of send-off from Durham for journey to Oxfordshire; equipment in signals platoon; relations with civilians in Charlbury. Aspects of period as signals officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in France, 1/1940-5/1940: journey to Cherbourg via Southampton; period in Saint-Rémy-du-Plain; use of baths in French Army barracks at Le Mans; accommodation; transport exercises; move to Gondecourt; digging of anti-tank trenches; activities of signals platoon; No 18 Wireless Set; leave in GB. Aspects of operations as signals officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940-6/1940: move into Belgium and withdrawal to Arras, France; Belgian refugees; air activity; opinion of tanks; discussion about prisoners taken; details of isolation at Warlus, France; fatigue among troops; memories of Father Dougham; story of Lewis Gun brought back to GB; crossing English Channel; opinion of German troops; morale. Aspects of period as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 6/1940-5/1941: conditions during exercises on Exmoor; organisation of officers mess; story of NCO on charge at Honiton; opinion of Regimental Sergeant-Major Arthur Jennings; role as adjutant. Aspects of voyage aboard the HMT Duchess of Richmond from Gourock, GB, to Port Said, Egypt, 5/1941-7/1941: conditions on ship; length of voyage. REEL 2 Continues: convoy escort; arrival in Port Said; conditions in engine room. Aspects of period in transit in Egypt, 7/1941: period in Quassassin Camp; journey to Cyprus and role of battalion. Aspects of period as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Cyprus, 7/1941-11/1941: disembarkation at Famagusta; activities on airfield in Nicosia; story of disappearance of regimental sergeant major after night drinking; cost of alcohol and problems from brandy; rain in Cyprus. Aspects of period as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Palestine and Iraq, 11/1941-2/1942: journey to Haifa, Palestine, 11/1941; route taken through Iraq; stop in Habbaniyah, Iraq; journey through Baghdad, Iraq; conditions in northern Iraq and methods for keeping warm; journey to Gazala Line in Libya. Recollections of operations as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North Africa, 1942-1943: arrival in positions; patrols; water rations; problems with flies; need for care with beer; climatic extremes of day and night; description of breakout from box; arrival in El Alamein Line, Egypt; conference with General Bernard Montgomery and change in morale; first position in line; description of attack made; wounding and evacuation to Cairo, Egypt; treatment for jaundice in Jerusalem, Palestine; return to battalion at Benghazi, Libya; posting as company commander with Headquarters Company; opinion of platoon commanders; terrain outside Benghazi, Libya; story of mushrooms eaten for breakfast; water rations; opinion of Axis troops. REEL 3 Continues: terrain in Tunisia; being relieved by 4th Indian Infantry Div at Enfidaville, Tunisia; journey to Alexandria, Egypt; in camp at Alexandria, Egypt; exercise in Gulf of Aqaba. Aspects of operations as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div on Sicily, Italy, 1943: embarkation on landing craft; opinion of maps; approach to and disembarkation on beach; move inland; arrival at Primosole Bridge; action at Primosole Bridge; deaths of Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Clarke and Major William Robinson of 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry during visit to battalion headquarters; role at Primosole Bridge; slow advance to Messina; morale; talk recieved from General Bernard Montgomery at Taormina; leisure activities in Sicily. Aspects of period as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 11/1943-6/1944: arrival in Gourock; posting in Haverhill; leave; exercise in Southwold; air raid; time in camp at Nightingale Wood; inspections in Nightingale Wood including story of General Dwight D Eisenhower's visit; embarkation on landing craft, 6/1944. Aspects of operations as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8//1944: transportation of Universal Carriers; landing in Normandy; advance through Normandy; morale of battalion; memories of Brigadier Ronald Senior; difficulties faced in the Bocage; fatigue of troops; problems with German Tiger Tanks; arrival of Ordnance QF 6 and 17 Pounder Anti-Tank Guns. REEL 4 Continues: casualties from German mortars; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Lidwill; action at Villers Bocage; horse transport wreckage in Falaise Gap. Aspects of operations as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde. 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-11/1944: advance through northern France; period in Gondecourt; memories of Ian English and Chris Beattie; arrival in Brussels, Belgium; rations and accommodation; Battle at Geel, Belgium, 9/1944; attempt to reach Arnhem, Netherlands; crossing of bridge near Nijmegen, Netherlands; period in Nijmegen, Netherlands; state of battalion; reason for return to GB, 11/1944. Aspects of period as officer with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry (Reserve) Div in GB, 1944-1945: start of period as training battalion; reactions to change in role; posting in Keighley; street fighting exercise in Newcastle upon Tyne; disbandment of battalion at Harrogate; return to work after demobilisation; rejoining battalion; leaving battalion after move to Liverpool; importance of battalion and reunions.