Hastings, Martin Cosmo (Oral history)

British officer served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 1st (Malta) Infantry Bde on Malta, 1938-1943; served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde in Egypt and Sicily, Italy, 1943; staff officer served with 56th (London) Infantry Div and 5th Infantry Div at Anzio, Italy, 1944; officer served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 131st Lorried Infantry Bde, 7th Armoured Div in Germany, 1945-1946; staff officer served with Headquarters, 3rd Commando Bde in Federation of Malaya, 1951-1953; served with 1st Bn Devonshire Regt and 5th Bn Kings African Rifles in Kenya, 1953-1955

REEL 1 Recollections of period as officer with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 1st (Malta) Infantry Bde on Malta, 1938-1943: posting to Malta, 7/1938; recruitment of Maltese into unit; liaison with Mediterranean Fleet; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; anticipation of German threat; situation on Malta prior to Italy entering war, 6/1940; reaction to first Italian Air Force attack, 10/6/1940; arrival of equipment and need to keep men fit; battalion work on airfields; opinion of role of aircraft flying from Malta in attacking Axis lines of communication; Axis air attacks on island; rations; problems of keeping fit on rations; state of health; supplementing rations; question of Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel receiving better rations; marriages between troops and Maltese girls; attitude of Maltese towards war; beach defences. REEL 2 Continues: use of pony and traps by unit; area of responsibility; leaving Malta for Egypt, 1943. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde in Egypt and Sicily, Italy, 1943: requipping in Egypt, 1943 including demonstration of 'sticky bomb'; amphibious training in Egypt; embarkation for landings on Sicily, 7/1943; in landing craft during approach to beach; beach landing; encounter with American paratroopers in beachhead; surrender of Italians at artillery battery; first meetings with Italian civilians; advance inland and company casualties. REEL 3 Continues: retreat in disorder of 51st (Highland) Infantry Div; rapid advance across Sicily; wounding by mortar fire; evacuation to Egypt and hospitalisation; opinion of Axis forces in Sicily. Aspects of operations as staff officer with 56th (London) Infantry Div and 5th Infantry Div at Anzio, Italy, 1944: background to joining 56th (London) Infantry Div; arrival in Anzio beachhead; joining 5th Infantry Div and return to Anzio; memories of correspondent Wynford Vaughan-Thomas; reputation of French colonial troops; abortive attempt to shell the Pope's summer residence the Palace of Castel Gandolfo; advance towards Rome, 6/1944; attending audience with Pope Pius XII in Rome, 6/1944; return to GB on Python leave, 1944. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 131st Lorried Infantry Bde, 7th Armoued Div in Germany, 1945: joining battalion, 3/1945; rapid advance into Germany; sight of German jet aircraft; last action against Waffen-SS troops; collection of mass of German prisoners of war on Danish border including giving horses to Danish farmer. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 131st Lorried Infantry Bde, 7th Armoured Div in Berlin, Germany, 1945-1946: move into Berlin, 7/1945; guard duties at distillery; behaviour of Soviet Army troops towards German civilians; shooting of misbehaving Soviet Army troops by Soviet authorities; incident of shooting of escaping prisoner; impressions of Soviet Army; relations with Soviet forces; search for war criminals. REEL 5 Continues: problems enforcing non-fraternisation order and with venereal disease in Berlin; role repatriating German prisoners of war to west; behaviour of Displaced Persons; participation on war crimes trial relating to Volkswagen factory works doctor. Aspects of period as brigade-major with Headquarters, 3rd Commando Bde in Federation of Malaya, 1951-1953: posting to Federation of Malaya, 1951; opinion of Royal Marines; problems of acquiring intelligence on insurgents. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Devonshire Regt and 5th Bn Kings African Rifles in Kenya, 1953-1955: contrast between Mau Mau and Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents in Federation of Malaya; reasons for posting to 5th Bn Kings African Rifles; contrast between African and British troops in Kenya; opinion of Kikuyu tribe; attitude towards insurgents in Federation of Malaya and Kenya. REEL 6 Continues: degree of threat from Mau Mau and rules of engagement.