Harland, Norman (Oral history)

British private served with Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle in GB, 1939-1940; served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in GB, France and Belgium, 1/1940-6/1940; served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB and Cyprus, 6/1940-11/1941

REEL 1 Background in Pelaw and Smethwick, GB, 1918-1938: family; childhood; education; relationship between parents; employment in Smethwick and decision to join British Army; move back to County Durham; Aspects of entlistment as private in Durham Light Infantry, GB, 1939: medical; call-up for miliary service; indications of coming war; memories of Oswald Mosley; reactions to call-up. Aspects of period as private with Durham Light Infantry Depot at Brancepeth Castle in GB, 1939: arrival at depot; issue of clothing and equipment; staff at depot; weekend leave; uniform; first parade; move to Willington; accommodation at Brancepeth Castle; sleeping arrangements; latrines; cleaning duties; washing facilities; issue of bayonet; drills; organisation and opinion of training; weapons training at Whitburn; move to New Brancepeth; weapons training; opinion of battalion; training with Boys Anti-Tank Rifle and Ordnance SBML 2 Inch Mortar; gas training; march to Durham Railway Station; posting to 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Charlbury. REEL 2 Continues: pattern of recruit training at Brancepeth Castle; marching pace; accommodation at Willington; relations with civilians; field training; discipline; first aid training; rations; kit inspections; details of pay; physical training; leisure activities; impressions of officers and NCOs during training; story of stolen pay; role of Salvation Army. Aspects of period as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Div in GB, 1/1940: reception at Charlbury; role as stretcher-bearer; accommodation and rations; discipline; inspection by King George VI at Chipping Norton. 16/1/1940; sports; leave; stretcher bearer training; relations with civilians; battalion shortages; composition of brigade; opinions of training and shortages of weapons; embarkation at Southampton and crossing English Channel, 28/1/1940. REEL 3 Continues: reaction to overseas posting. Recollections of period as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in France, 1/1940-5/1940: arrival in Cherbourg, 29/1/1940; train journey to La Hutte; accommodation at Saint-Rémy-du-Plain; start of training; gas training; deployment of battalion; relations with French civilians; rations; mobile training at Oisy; move to Gondecourt; relations with French civilians; accommodation; illness; rations; warnings about Fifth Column; sporting activities; continuation of first aid training; leave and visits to Lille; washing facilities; appearance of troops; kit inspections; rifle sight training; makeshift firing range; duties; discipline; opinion of NCOs and officers; relations with comrades; mail; attitude towards promotion; story of a boxing match. REEL 4 Continues: continuation of training in Gondecourt; carrying out small manoeuvres; story of aircraft crash; building of anti-tank defences; visits to Lille and Vimy Ridge; opinion of Gondecourt. Recollections of operations as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 51st (Northumbrian) Motor Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940-6/1940: news of German invasion of Low Countries, 10/5/1940; increase in air activity; move into Belgium, 16/5/1940; eception from civilians during journey through Belgium; taking up positions at Grammont, Belgium, 16/5/1940; Fifth Column activity; instructions to march back towards France, 18/5/1940; refugees on road; air activity on march; road surfaces; stop off at brewery; order of march; sleeping in school at Helchin, Belgium, 18/5/1940-19/5/1940; continuation of march including signs of German advance, discipline, morale and length; B Coy attack, 21/5/1940; prior recollection of earlier visit to Vimy Ridge, France; attack on German tank; fighting in wood; German air raid at Petit Vimy, France; aiding the wounded following air raid; morale; withdrawal towards Dunkirk, France; opinion of the officers; plan for attack at La Panne, Belgium; period on beach at La Panne, Belgium; march towards harbour at Dunkirk, France; move along East Mole at Dunkirk; embarkation aboard The Saver; French officers on ship; scene at Dunkirk, France. REEL 5 Continues: events during retreat to Dunkirk read from diary; effects of fighting on troops; use of humour; religion in field; pride and comradeship; shell shock; question of poor conduct of some NCOs; refugees; story of water collection; carrying stretcher; position of regimental aid post; crossing to Dover, GB. Aspects of period as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 6/1940-5/1941: arrival at Dover and entraining for Blackwater Camp, Aldershot; move to Rugeley, 6/1940; leave; move to Weymouth; parades; condition on return to GB; re-equipping; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Beart; settling back into army life after action; reinforcements; accommodation; relations with civilians in Dorset; beach defences constructed; discovery of lost rifle at cinema; rifles; equipment in platoon; story of stones in kit bag; first aid training; divisional vehicles; story of Johnny Grimes in France; leisure activities in Dorsetshire; invasion scare, 11/7/1940. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of operations as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Motor Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940-6/1940: proposed counter-attack at La Panne, Belgium; first aid items carried by troops and stretcher-bearers; composition of regimental aid post; scenes on beaches at Dunkirk, France; time spent on East Mole at Dunkirk, France. Aspects of period as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 6/1940-5/1941: arrival in Dover, GB, 6/1940; train stop at Wimbledon; treatment as returning troops, 6/1940; change to leave; return from leave; laying of wire on beach; invasion scare, 11/7/1940; accommodation; story of stones in kit bag; arrival of reinforcements and new NCOs; activities during 7/1940 including invasion scare, 11/7/1940; opinion of regimental sergeant-majors in Former Territorial Army battalions; receiving news of prospect of overseas service; move to Yeovil and Honiton; reception from civilians. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Duchess of Richmond from Gourock, GB, to Cyprus, via Egypt, 5/1942-6/1942: embarkation from Gourock,GB; seasickness; work in ship's hospital; stop over at Freetown, Sierra Leone; plane crash; reception at Durban, South Africa; ashore in Durban, South Africa; conditions on board ship; crossing the line ceremony; death onboard; journey through Red Sea; arrival at Ismailia. Egypt; in transit at Qassassin Camp, Egypt. Aspects of period as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Cyprus, 6/1941-11/1941: voyage to Cyprus; arrival at Famagusta; basing of unit at Nicosia airport; duties on Cyprus; deaths in unit; visits to Nicosia; work in Public Ablutions Centre.