Thornton, Leslie (Oral history)

British private served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1937-1938; served as instructor at Durham Light Infantry Depot 1938-1939; served as instructor at Special Training Centre, Lochailort, 1949-1942; NCO served with 70th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1942-1943; served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, Middle East, Greece and Austria, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Haverton Hill, Durham, GB, 1916-1937: death of father in First World War, 1914-1918; family circumstances; childhood games; step father's loss of finger accident as riveter in shipyards; step-father's gangrene in foot, amputation of leg and death in accident, 1945; education; illustrations of discipline at school and home; work as greengrocer's errand boy and promotion in stages to shop manager, 1930-1932; reasons for joining army and reactions of parents, 7/1937; Boys Brigade and church activities. REEL 2 Continues: Recruitment at Recruiting Office, Middlesbrough, 6/1937. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during training with Ladysmith Squad, Durham Light Infantry Depot at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne, 6/1937-12/1937: reception; issue of uniform; relationship with Northumberland Fusiliers; kitting out; formation of squad; barrack room and beds; method of creasing trousers; restrictions on going out of barracks and problems in fitting puttees; cleaning barrack room; kit inspections; canteen; pay; cleaning wash-house and barracks; food rations; reactions to army lifestyle. REEL 3 Continues: disciplinary offences, procedure and punishments; removal of unsuitable recruits; medical; fatigues and fire picket; sporting activities; physical training and effects on physique; swimming training; football; ban on gambling; recreational visits to Newcastle including prior inspections, relationship with civilians and question of liaisons with women; pay parades; leave; morning routine; drill; weapons training including rifle, Lewis gun, grenades and bayonet. REEL 4 Continues: weapons training including bayonet; pysical training; lunch; afternoon routine including preparing kit and fatigues; evening routine; gas mask training; uniforms worn; tactical training; route marches; fieldcraft; squad system and permanent depot staff; standing to attention; Armistice Parade; learning history of regiment and pride in unit; opinion of various officers and NCOs; question of bullying. REEL 5 Continues: different types of recruits; practical jokes; relationship with officers and NCOs; enjoyment of training; winning athletics award. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle during period with C Coy, 2nd Bn, Durham Light Infantry at Inkerman Barracks, Woking, 12/1937-11/1938: prior awareness of posting; reception; post-depot training; barrack accommodation; kit inspections and barrack cleaning; medical; service rifle issue; nature of discipline; guard duties and award of stick; sporting activities; gambling; visits to Woking including regulations on civilian clothes worn, , relationship with civilians and fights with other units; sports day competition; question of liaison with women; leave; status of promotion to lance corporal, 3/1938. REEL 6 Continues: promotion to lance corporal, 3/1938; duties as corporal; period as company clerk; under-strength nature of unit; role and composition of rifle companies; weapons training including 2" mortar; nature of exercises on Salisbury Plain, 8/1938; illustration of under-strength nature of unit; nature of exercises in Salisbury Plain, ca 8/1938, including duties as bicycle orderly, limited perspective of other ranks and church parade; specialist sections; questions of relevance of training and approach of war; organisation and composition of unit; pride in unit; educational certificates; regimental history; opinion of various NCOs including Signal Sergeant Harry Qualthrow, Provost Sergeant John Henry, Bugle Major Tommy Mason; officers' nicknames. REEL 7 Continues: particular characters and relationship with older other ranks; acting as officers servant with working party attending Royal Tournament at Olympia; relationship with older other ranks following promotion to lance corporal; church parades; question of approach of war. Recollections of period as instructor with Ladysmith Squad, Durham Light Infantry Depot, Fenham Barracks, 11/1938-9/1939: prior sports knee injury; discouragement of marriage; supplementary service system; barrack room accommodation with recruits; practising giving drill orders; relationship with recruits; duties as orderly corporal; sporting activities; leave; relationship with Other Ranks; duties on promotion to corporal, 3/1939; officers; police investigation into murder of prostitute and initial misplaced suspicion of Corporal Rasmussen; story of visit to Durham; practical jokes; militia system and call up, 7/1939; call up of long service reservist NCOs due to shortage of officers. REEL 8 Continues: call up of long service reservist NCOs due to shortage of officers and introduction of platoon sergeant major; construction of militia camp at Fenham; condensed militia training period and effect on instructors; question of adequacy of militia training on posting to units; question of approach of war; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939, including air raid alarm and changing relationship with civilians; mobilisation of reservists and reactions to transfer of personnel between Durham Light Infantry and Northumberland Fusiliers; question of length and result of war; shortages of equipment; state of morale and attitude to Germans. Recollections of period with Durham Light Infantry Depot at Brancepeth Castle, GB, 9/1939-10/1939: necessity of move; prior unoccupied state of castle and digging up lawns for latrines; weapons training course at Small Arms School at Bisley, 10/1939; promotion to lance sergeant. Period as instructor with detached training companies at Willington and Spennymoor, 10/1939-6/1940: sergeants' mess in pub; billets; relationship with civilians; drill training on streets. REEL 9 Continues: establishing road blocks; opinion of recruits; effects of war on disciplinary offences; officers and NCOs; food rations; nature of training and using quarries as rifle ranges; question of loyalty to Durham; promotion to sergeant on move to Spennymoor; stories illustrating relationship with civilians; football activities; drafts to active service battalion; meeting future wife; behaviour of Dunkirk veterans, 6/1940; reactions to Dunkirk evacuation; moving anti-aircraft ammunition; issue of Ross P17 rifles; poles in fields to stop German aircraft landing. Period as instructor training special service units at Special Training Centre at Lochailort, 6/1940-7/1942: origins of instructors; use of live ammunition; prior course from former Shanghai US police commissioners in techniques of hand to hand combat and small arms; nature of camp; wet conditions; food rations supplemented by canteen. REEL 10 Continues: prior course from former Shanghai US police commissioners in techniques of hand to hand combat and small arms; training in fieldcraft from local ghillies; food rations supplemented by canteen; mail censorship and use of green envelopes; training parties of NCOs and officers; specialist training courses including rifle, signal, explosives and engineering, map reading, French and transport improvisation methods, experimental testing of sticky tank bomb, 69 stun grenade, phosphorus grenade and 75 anti-tank grenade; story of escape exercise; small arms and grenade ranges; stories of accidents and fatalities during training including minor wrist shrapnel wound; shooting deer; promotion to quartermaster sergeant instructor; story of getting into difficulties and fatality during mountain exercise; river crossings; weapon demonstrations. REEL 11 Continues: weapon capability demonstrations including Bren gun, Boyes anti-tank rifle, 2" mortar, rifle grenade and rapid rifle technique rifle, poaching fish using hand grenades; landing and endurance exercise on Isle of Skye; long distance mountain exercises; VIP students and visitors; discipline; base staff; sergeants' mess; football game with professional players; horse rides to visit friend; story of accident on train during leave; minimal contacts with civilians; officers; question of disciplinary problems controlling officers attending course; story of meeting Captain Richard Annand VC and his deafness. REEL 12 Continues: story of argument with designer of assault courses and his subsequent accident on course; story of drunken medical officer attacking NCO in sergeants' mess and subsequent secrecy; story of drunken officers mess games; story of Canadian officer's attack of appendicitis; story of close escape during hand grenade throwing practice; demonstrations from lumberjack in felling trees; story of drunken RAF pilot's forced landing; send off for Colonel Howard on closure of centre. Period at Commando Depot at Achnacarry, 7/1942: refusal to accept reduction in rank; reactions to collection of corpse following explosion of ammunition hut. Period at No 4 Infantry Training Camp, Brancepeth Castle, GB, 8/1942-10/1942: duties in charge of Holding Company; necessity of learning duties of company sergeant major; interview with Colonel Peter Jeffreys. Recollections of period with C Company, 70th (Young Soldiers) Bn, Durham Light Infantry at Westwick Camp, Barnard Castle and Tow Law, 10/1942-8/943: age and origins of recruits; hut accommodation; necessity of learning duties of company sergeant major; unit's role as demonstration battalion to School of Infantry; relationship with other ranks; drill parades; sporting activities and boxing match; drinking in sergeants' mess rather than in pubs to avoid possible clashes with other ranks. REEL 13 Continues: leave; compassionate leave on birth of child; prior marriage, demonstration attack covered by mortar fire watched by Churchill; use of live artillery shells and consequent casualties; method of organising demonstration company attack and formations employed; communications, question of air support; composition of unit; opinion of Colonel G S Fillingham and stories illustrating his eccentric disciplinary methods; opinion of Colonel Peter Jeffreys, Major Blackburn, opinion and stories of various NCOs; role of colour sergeant. REEL 14 Continues: story of getting drunk with ranker officer after 'Salute the Soldier' march; story of drunken sergeants throwing thunder-flash in sergeant s' hut; story of ex-boxer given detention; story of beating given sergeant by ex-boxer in boxing match; story illustrating eccentric disciplinary methods of Fillingham; original intention of conversion to active service unit; move to Tow Law and disbandment of unit, ca 8/1943; question of sale of sergeants' mess furniture; meeting former school teacher; issue with tropical kit; reactions to active service posting; removal of unit insignia on leaving. Various aspects of army service, 1938-1943: story of blowing up tree for farmer at Brancepeth, 1942; use of miniature ranges; disputes with territorial sergeants at Brancepeth, 1939-1940; issue of experimental uniform at Woking, 1937-1938. Voyage with draft aboard Durban Castle from GB to Philippeville, Algeria, 8/1943: conditions; weapons training and story illustrating general's ignorance of firing Bren gun. REEL 15 Continues: prior embarkation leave; food; warning lectures on North African conditions and issue of mepacrine tablets; review of content of lectures and demonstrations given to newly promoted officers and NCOs on disciplinary procedure and punishments; travelling in convoy and submarine alarm; question of under-age soldiers. Period with draft at Infantry Reinforcement Training Depot at Philippeville, 8/1943-9/1943: first impressions; drowning fatalities and danger of swimming in sea; tent accommodation; fly problem and prevalence of dysentery; food rations; water supply; desert faunae; effects of storm. REEL 16 Continues: state of health and uniform; light infantry drill; fire picket; airgram letters; sending oranges home to wife; question of parcels from GB; censorship and green envelopes. Journey to Naples, Italy, 9/1943: conditions in railway cattle trucks; meeting Lieutenant Arthur Pearson; voyage aboard Landing Craft Infantry; seasickness; first impressions of Naples; confused situation. Recollections of period as company sergeant major with Support Coy, 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 11/1943-2/1944: reception from Colonel Johnny Preston on joining unit at Carinolla; composition and role of company; story of close escape from German shellfire at Sipicciano, 11/1943. REEL 17 Continues: rest period at Carinolla including stand to, use of buildings, location of A and B Echelons, state of unit morale, drinking habits and trip to Naples; operations on Mount Camino, 12/1943, including preliminary bombardment, reaction to German shell fire, story of soldier's loss of nerve and accurate premonition of death, ca 9/1944, situation, advance over hill and taking up positions in valley; German sniper, view of German shell fire on Guards advance, passing through destroyed Cocuruzzo, move out to rest disturbed by British heavy gun positions and dispositions of Support Coy in action; state of morale; question of Salerno mutiny, 9/1943. REEL 18 Continues: question of Salerno mutiny, 9/1943; situation whilst occupying defensive positions in valley in Mount Camino area, 12/1943; passing through destroyed Cocuruzzo on way to rest; personal morale; rest period; review of senior officers and higher unit formations; opinion of US troops; situation in Monte Cassino area, 12/1943; story of getting lost whilst escorting unarmed Pioneer troops forward; move into positions in front of Garigliano, 12/1943; local leave in Amalfi; relationship with Italian civilians; story of dispute between Sergeant Major Maloney and Sergeant Paddy Webster; crossing Garigliano, 1/1944; opinion of 4.2 inch mortar used by Manchester Regt; story of mined orange grove; use of Italian mules for supplies in mountainous area. REEL 19 Continues: use of Italian mules for supplies in mountainous area; situation; view of failed commando landing and attack on Sujo; withdrawal from line to La Vaglie; rumours of posting to GB; state of morale and fatigue; move to Naples area. Recollections of period in Middle East, 2/1944-7/1944: voyage out aboard Sobieski; move into Qassassin Camp, Egypt; fights with base troops; local leave in Cairo and relationship with Egyptian tradesmen; battalion sergeants' mess; move to Kefar Yona, Palestine, 3/1944, internal security duties in Tel Aviv; training on move to Er Rama; interview with war correspondent and reads article published 16/5/1944; trips to religious sites. REEL 20 Continues: Support Coy exercises in Syria; age limits for active service as OR and NCO; story of football match and subsequent drink in sergeants' mess with neighbouring Gurkha unit; story of drunken driver after visit to sergeants' mess of 1st Bn, Durham Light Infantry; return to Qassassin Camp, 6/1944; state of morale; voyage aboard Sobieski back to Italy; opinion of Colonel Johnny Preston with Colonel Denis Worrall; view of eruption of Stromboli. Aspects of operations in Italy, 7/1944-12/1944: move to Bastardo sector; preparations and recreations; briefing on situation; washing uniform in petrol; reaction to posting as Company Sergeant Major of C Company in Petriano sector, 28/8/1944; company NCOs and officers; story of officer requesting reinforcements; composition of rifle company. REEL 21 Continues: role of company sniper; role as Company Sergeant Major including securing ammunition supply; courts martial and punishment of deserters; checking night sentries in front line; organisation of ration and ammunition parties; story of attack illustrating nature of fighting against Gothic Line including capture of houses, German shellfire, British counter-battery fire, further advance, German counter-attack, retreat under nebelwerfer fire, organisation of attack, problem of inaccurate maps and intelligence, orders to retreat to avoid excessive casualties from mortars, eventual German retreat and German shellfire whilst looking for casualties; close escape from small arms fire; preference for occupying buildings rather than digging in; setting sentries; communication of orders. REEL 22 Continues: story of close escape from German shellfire whilst sheltering in cellar; story of soldier's loss of nerve and accurate premonition of death, ca 9/1944; rest periods including personal morale, question of relationships with women and story illustrating troops' desperation for drink; question of rum ration; question of medals awarded in unit; award of mention in despatches; opinion of German weapons including nebelwerfer and mines; opinion of British weapons including artillery, anti-tank guns, 4.2 inch mortars and use of Thompson gun; story of capturing German POWs; operations at Gemano, 10/1944, including corpses during advance up hill and going back for water and rations, story of German shellfire on house; opinion of officers. REEL 23 Continues: story of friend taken POW at Anzio; story of shellfire interrupting visit to latrine; amusing story of battalion sanitary orderly; local leave in Rome; story of being left out of battle due to unification of two companies in San Marino area, 10/1944; arrival of reinforcements including former anti-aircraft personnel and reversion of sergeant to private; reception from Italian civilians on entry into Cesena, 10/1944, awareness of Communist beliefs of company clerk; methods of street fighting and risk from booby traps; rest period at Montefiori, 11/1944; question of qualities required from officers; contacts with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry; recreations; training; congratulation on performance of 46th Division from generals; move to La Fratta, 11/1944; story of taking German POWs during attack on Cesena, 19/10/1944. REEL 24 Continues: Recollections of operations in Greece, 12/1944-4/1945: state of morale and question of troops attitude to ELAS; story of successful attack on group of factories on outskirts of Athens, 1/1945, including capture of POWs and casualty through misuse of PIAT; voyage to Patras, 1/1945; situation; story of being attacked by drunk soldier and his subsequent punishment; clearing airfield; Greek civilians fear of reprisals from ELAS; return to Athens, 2/1944; story of soldiers getting ship's crew drunk with cognac; origin of nickname 'Mahvro Daphne'; relationship with Greek civilians; story of discovering mutilated corpses attributed to ELAS atrocities. Return to Italy: VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; view of German POWs on journey to Austria; warning of possible hostilities with Yugoslav partisans. Recollections of period in Austria, 5/1945: move to Bleiburg; destruction of pistols taken as souvenirs collected by troops; story illustrating attitude of German POWs. REEL 25 Continues: move to Wildon and Bruckel sectors; use of horse meat to feed German division; non-fraternisation ban with Austrian civilians; story of patrols to arrest former SS personnel; recreations and relationship with Austrian civilians; billets; question of medal awards. Return on compassionate leave to GB, 10/1945: father's fatal accident; story of taxi driver's refusal to take him illustrating some civilians' attitude to soldiers. Period at Durham Light Infantry Depot at Brancepeth Castle Camp, 1945-1948: reasons for signing on for further term as regular; role training conscripts; married quarters hut accommodation. Period attached to Somerset Light Infantry Light Infantry at Light Infantry Training Depot at Bordon Camp, 1948-1950: lack of role as sergeant majors; acceptance of lesser role training platoon of recruits; attending weapons training course; visit by Clement Attlee; attending guards drill course; posting as company sergeant major. Posting with 1st Bn, King's Shropshire Light Infantry to Hong Kong, 1950. Transfer to Headquarters, Commonwealth Bde and service in Hong Kong and Korea, 1950 -1951.