Description
Object description
British officer served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, France, Belgium, Cyprus, Iraq and North Africa, 1939-1943; officer served with 285 Wing, RAF in North Africa, 1943
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bishop Auckland, GB, 1912-1939: education; employment; family; membership of Officers Training Corps at Sedburgh School including training; and uniform. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1935-1940: joining Territorial Army as Second Lieutenant, 1935; flood at first camp in Marske-by-the-Sea; duties on Families Day; memories of Lieutenant Peter 'Crackers' May; uniform; background of troops in C Coy;; drill evenings and bounty; drill hall training; gas drill; discipline; sport; character of camps; work as transport officer; organisation of company; kit inspections; opinion of training; work as carrier platoon officer; attending course at Royal Military College, Sandhurst; recruitment drive, 1938 and subsquent results. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in GB, 9/1939-1/1940: reaction to declaration of Second World War 3/9/1939; mobilisation of carrier platoon; accommodation; physical training; marriage.
REEL 2 Continues: basic training; move to Chipping Norton; accommodation; officers mess; reason for move to Kingham to be second in command of B Coy; accommodation; relations with civilians; rations; training; inspection by King George VI; journey to France and duties with rear party. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in France, 1/1940-5/1940: problem with A Coy's billets at Fresnay-sur-Sarthe; relations with French civilians; accommodation at Moliens Vidame; motorised training; move to Lille area, Recollections of operations as officer with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in France, 5/1940-6/1940: start of German invasion, 10/5/1940; anti-tank ditch dug near Seclin; commencement of Plan D; role of division and his own duties in Plan D; staff under his control; visit of General Bernard Montgomery; issue of pay; rejoining of units and retreat; move to Vimy Ridge; finding accommodation at Thelus; refugees on road; arrival of troops; first day at Thelus; orders for attack on Arras; time out of battle in Thelus Wood; retreat of battalion; problems with chaplain Captain Wilde; journey to La Bassee' group he commanded; officers conference.
REEL 3 Continues: journey to Wimeraux; orders at Wimeraux and Boulogne; in positions outside Boulogne; retreat to Fish Quay; events in harbour; organisation of troops in warehouse; search for boat; rounding up of troops to board destroyer; loss of senior NCOs; German activity at Boulogne; morale of troops; journey to Aldershot via Dover; officers left behind with wounded;. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 6/1940-1941: return of spare money; move to Durham; accommodation; rejoining battalion at Rugeley; unit losses; Court of Inquiry; details of battalion's s evacuation; move to Dorset; division of battalion and; reinforcements; problems encountered at Abbotsbury; air activity; Stand To; company headquarters; wiring beach; story of cow in minefield; relation with civilians; accommodation; leisure activities; being relieved by Royal Army Service Corps; move to Maiden Newton; visit from Duke of Gloucester; hunting; move to and; accommodation at Cullompton; officers mess; route march; brigade exercise on Exmoor; leisure activities; re-equipment; morale of troops; postponement of embarkation; leave;
REEL 4 Continues: issue of tropical clothing; packing of weapons; move to Glasgow. Aspects of period in transit from Glasgow, GB, to Egypt aboard Duchess of Richmond, 1941: time on board before embarkation; position of convoy commander; units based on Duchess of Richmond; route of journey; escorts; accommodation; Coy office; food; physical training; stop at Freetown; baths on ship and at Freetown; activities on voyage; disappearance of escort; change in climate and uniform; arrival at Durban; relationship with civilians; journey to Red Sea; arrival at Port Tewfiq; journey to Qassassin; illness in camp; route marches; first impressions of Egypt; food; visits to Ismailia; journey to Cyprus aboard HMS Abdeil; Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Cyprus, 7/1941-10/1941: arrival at Famaugusta; reason for going to Cyprus; building of defensive positions at Larnaca; food and bathing; move to Trudos; accommodation; latrines; training; relationship with civilians; organisation of leave in Nicosia; licensing of brothels. Aspects of period in transit from Cyprus to Iraq, 1941: move to Haifa; Motor Transport swap with Indian Div; news of journey to Iraq; reactions to news; time in Acca; journey through desert; night encampments; stop at Habanniya; organisation of column; route taken; conditions on journey; damage at Habanniya from uprising; journey through Baghdad. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Iraq, 1941-1942: arrival in Kirkuk; reason for going to Iraq.
REEL 5 Continues: accommodation; orders to march to Eske Killick; troops under command; conditions on march; night encampments; movement of camp each day; story of new socks and foot inspection; arrival at destination; argument with Colonel Battiscombe; duties; Christmas 1941; visit to Mosel; fish killed for rations; other rations; morale; leisure activities; mail; other details of time in Iraq; gazelle hunt; unit health; return to Kirkuk; journey to Western Desert; story of rifle thefts on journey; train journey from Palestine to desert; final journey to Gazala Line; Aspects of operations as officer with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1942-1943: relief of Indian Div; positions of Bns; description of Gazala Line; terrain of desert; position of 6th Bn; accommodation; Stand To; outpost duty; No Man's Land; air activity; organisation of Jock Columns; description of column he commanded; movement and role of column; movement back during evening into laagers; story of Captain Pickering getting lost; mortar attack on German working party.
REEL 6 Continues: return to Box; story of Jock Column that relieved his; stress on troops in column; description of laagers; terrain in No Man's Land and its distinguishing features; problems with desert sores; water ration; latrines; rest camp on coast; mail; censorship of mail; divisional orchestra; air activity; other patrols; contact with South Africans; food; briefing from superiors; effect of the start of German offensive; story of Captain Cole; decision for 50 Div to breakout; reason for move Headquarter Coy; duty in breakout; reaction to being in rearguard; plan for withdrawal; option given to 9th Bn; 8th and 6th Bn's breakouts; decision of 9th Bn to head for Tobruk; told rearguard were to follow 9th Bn; troops under his control; journey at rear of 9th Bn column; instructions given and route taken; action following attack from German tanks; John Irvine's part in action; position in elation to 9th Bn; arrival in Tobruk; search for petrol; stopped by Indian Div; journey towards Bardia; rejoined Div at Fort Maddelena; casualties; capture of Tobruk.
REEL 7 Continues: reunion with Bn; retreat to Mersah Matruh; plan for night attack; tracer fire from Germans; escape from machine gun fire Germans; discovery of wound from tracer bullet; treatment from Medical Officer; order to return to Mersah Matruh; journey back; opinion of operation; funeral on return; Divisional Conference; plan to breakout for Fukah; climb out of escarpment; move past German vehicles; journey to Alamein station; orders from Bde Major; reunion with rest of Div; move east to organise; mission to visit NAAFI in Alexandria; troubles with back at Hotel Cecil; orders from Medical Officer; taken ill and sent to hospital. Period following retirement from 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 1943: treatment at Alexandria; moved to Taharg; discovery of gangrene; treatment; convalescence in Palestine; jackal hunts; leave in Jerusalem; reaction to downgrading and reposting; time at Infantry Base Depot in Geneifa; leave in Cairo; Air Liaison Course at Ryak; leave in Beirut; Air Photo Interpreters Course at Heliopolis; posting as Captain to 285 Wing RAF as G3 ALO; return to Infantry Base Depot to organise departure for 285 Wing.