Baker, William James (Oral history)

1214024755
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Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British NCO served with the 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt in India, 1934-1939; served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 1st (Malta) on Malta, 1940-1943; served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Div in Egypt, 1943; served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of enlistment and training with Devonshire Regt in GB, 1931: background to enlistment; basic training; discipline. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt in India, 1934-1939: battalion march from Fort Sandeman to Razmak; description of Fort Razmak and pot shots taken at it by tribesmen; attitude towards service on North West Frontier. Recollections of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 1st (Malta) Infantry Bde on Malta, 1940-1943: recall from British Army reserve, 26/8/1939; move to Malta, 9/1940; beach defences; labouring; failed Italian motor torpedo boat attack on Grand Harbour, Valletta, 26/7/1941; construction of aircraft pens; character of Axis air raids. REEL 2 Continues: relations with Maltese civilians; character of rations and diet; secondment to Malta Regiment, early 1943; impressions of Maltese troops; visit to Gozo Island. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Devonshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde in Egypt, 1943: contracting diphtheria; visit by General Bernard Montgomery to unit. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd Devonshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: amphibious training in GB prior to landings; landing on Gold Beach, D-Day, 6/6/1944. REEL 3 Continues: conditions on landing craft; equipment carried; further details of landing on Gold Beach, D-Day, 6/6/1944 including killing German soldier; advance inland, through houses; attitude of French civilians; attitude to working with tanks; comparison between British and German forces; degree of contact with Allied troops; capture of chateau near Bayeux; wounding by shrapnel, 8/1944. Aspects of period as NCO with Devonshire Regt in North West Europe, 1944-1945: recategorisation as B1. REEL 4 Continues: extra responsibility and fatigue experienced by NCOs; duties guarding Prisoner of War Camp 2223 at Enghien in Belgium, 1944-1945; behaviour of German prisoners of war and their demeanour.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (content), Interwar (association), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Baker, William James (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1988-10
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 10463

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Baker, William James (Oral history)

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