Wilson, Thomas (Oral history)

British private and NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, China, North Africa, Syria and Kos, 1933-1943; POW in Stalag 357, Germany, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Sunderland and Horden, GB, 1912-1933: area grew up in; family; family home; discipline; early education; leisure activities; Sunday school; later education; family's service in Green Howards; work in Horden Colliery; 1926 General Strike; membership of Boys Brigade; other organisations joined; discipline; more on work in Horden Colliery; reasons for joining army; reaction of father; process of joining at West Hartlepool and reasons for not joining Royal Air Force; medical; wait for call-up; journey to Fenham Barracks. Aspects of period as recruit with Durham Light Infantry <DLI> in GB, 6/1933-12/1933: reception at Fenham; duties while waiting for squad to be formed; Lance Corporal in barrack room; naming of squad and barracks; accommodation; cleaning of barrack blocks; NCOs in squad. REEL 2 Continues: description of barrack blocks; sleeping arrangements; uniform and equipment issued and wearing of puttees; insignia worn; marking of cap badge; theft among recruits; webbing equipment and packs; items carried in pack and haversack; cleaning of equipment and boots; friends in squad; best boots; kit inspections and tapes sewn into kit; discipline; man scrubbed clean; opinion of officers and NCOs; memories of Gawson; homosexuality in army; rifle issued; weapons training; cleaning of rifle; memories of Tommy Oliver and Donohue; initial training and Regimental cane; build-up to Light Infantry pace; marching in fours; weapons training; drilling by numbers; role of NCOs in drill; taking to drill and practice; drill for mounting guard; m make-up of guard; duties of stick orderly. REEL 3 Continues: marching with stick and rifle; arms drill; Light Infantry pace; route marches; medical staff and Colonel Arderne on marches; physical training; training for boxing; other sports at depot including cross country; competition in sport; learning of regimental history; army education and extra pay received; free time in barracks; procedure for leaving barracks on Wednesday nights; leisure activities outside camp; relationship with civilians; punishments given out; morning procedures; description of dining room; breakfast; washing of utensils; issue of food; morning timetable and break; lunch; afternoon activities; tea; canteen. REEL 4 Continues: Armistice Parade; passing out. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 12/1933-10/1937: posted to Machine Gun Company at Catterick; make-up of battalion; accommodation; make-up of platoon; NCOs in platoon; NCO in barrack room; washing facilities; training with Lewis Gun; transport in company; make-up of a machine gun team; rotation of crew members; clearance of crest; Lewis guns in company; transportation of gun; stripping and assembly of gun; firing on Bisley Range; insignia worn by machine gunners; stoppages with machine guns; gun used for training; cooling of Vickers gun; role within battalion; rifle drill; revolver in machine gun company; live ammunition; opinion that routine same as in First World War; digging of trenches; opinion of field training and need for own initiative during war; gas training; exercises; mechanisation in 1934; opinion of training; bayonet training; discipline; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Marks and different parades. REEL 5 Continues: memories of Lance Sergeant George Flannigan and Sergeant Major Joey Davison; memories of Lieutenant Colonel Jackie Churchill and Charlie Viay; memories of NCOs including Sergeant Vardy; opinion of officers including Fox-Davies; opinion of NCOs; regular duties; details of pay; civilian clothes pass and leisure activities; leave; passes for London while at Blackdown; length of time served before could get civilian clothes pass; length of time at Catterick; journey to Blackdown Camp; opinion of camp; training; arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Wilson; relationship with civilians and other units; sports played at Blackdown; visits to Reading on Regimental Passion Wagon; short arm inspections and later problems with VD; VD lectures; sick parades and treatment for ulcers; opinion of Catterick Hospital and its staff; vehicles in battalion after mechanisation and opinion of Carden Lloyd; driving lessons; manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain; TEWTs; knowledge of problems with Germany; drafts going to the 2nd Battalion. REEL 6 Continues: role of machine gunners on exercises; fixed and cross line fire; use of live ammunition; development of training from platoon to division; experimental flight at Farnborough; church parades; use of free time on Sunday afternoons; inoculations before going abroad; role in advance party; own and family's reactions to going abroad; embarkation leave; tropical kit issued including flash on topee; lectures. Aspects of journey of journey from GB to Shanghai, China, aboard the Dilwara, 10/1937-12/1937: role in China; send off at docks; physical training; boat drill; cleanliness of ship; crew of Dilwara; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; cleaning of living quarters; inspections; other passengers on ship; leisure time; route marches in Port Said, Bombay and Singapore; conditions in hotter climate; rifle inspections; guard duties; rations; seasickness; NAAFI; activities on ship; length of journey. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in China, 12-1937-9/1939: arrival in Shanghai; description of barracks; accommodation; split of battalion; reason for date being hazy in memory; rations; food available outside camp; civilian workers in camp; Indian contractors. REEL 7 Continues: water and waterworks guard; reason for absence of machine guns; weapons in battalion; hygiene; effect of climate; policing duties; story of Major Hislop helping refugees; relationship with Japanese; story of Japanese shooting refugees in creek; opinion of Japanese troops; story showing difficulties created by language gap; river guard duties in Tientsin; accommodation; duties in Tientsin; leisure activities; contact with troops from other countries; systems to help prevent VD; mail; newspapers in NAAFI; out of bounds areas; church parades; funeral of Corporal Scott; standard of turnout; guard duties; effects of Tientsin floods; relationship with civilians; plans to stay in China; outbreak of war; reasons for not realising war was coming; reorganisation and preparations to leave; evacuation of families; reactions of troops on journey to Port Said; journey to Hong Kong; posting as officers mess cook; reasons for dislike of post. REEL 8 Continues: length of time in Hong Kong; change in administration of battalion; knowledge of destination; start of censorship; officers and NCOs of battalion; promotion of RSM Bush and SM 'Topper' Brown to officers; journey to Port Said. Aspects of operations as private and NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1/1940-7/1941: arrival in Port Said; accommodation; duties patrolling canal; boarding of Italian ship when Italy joined war; Royal proclamation about prize money; opinion of Winston Churchill; route marches; posting to Mersa Matruh; posting in A Company; battalion split between defensive areas; digging of defences and slit trenches; rations; health of battalion; hygiene; latrines; air activity; company officers and NCOs; request for transfer to paratroopers; promotion to Lance Sergeant at Moascar; duties as Lance Sergeant; officers in section; places stationed; set up of dummy tanks and their dust trails; casualties during bayonet charge at Fort Capuzzo; formation before charge; reactions to situation; company line; communications; position in line; shelling; screaming on advance; distance of charge; troops faced and German counter attacking policy; thoughts at start of attack; activities of Lieutenant Woodhall and discipline of advance; fight with an Italian; treatment given to Lieutenant Blakey; evacuation of Blakey; casualties; disappearance of Paddy May; Ray Armstrong's escape from imprisonment; reflections on action at Fort Capuzzo. REEL 9 Continues: terrain of desert; difficulties in moving around; duties in Bardia and escort of Royal Engineers; strain during night operations; story of medical officer hitting a private; opinion of officers; pull back to Sollum after Capuzzo; reactions after an attack; opinion of Italian and German troops; reaction to loss of friends; story of Johnny Giles at Capuzzo; difficulty of bayonet charge; Italians killed; reinforcements and meal cooked at Buq Buq; concerns of married recruits; settling in and training of reinforcements; re-equipment in Canal Zone; journey to Syria. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Middle East, 7/1941-10/1941: role in Syria; terrain and mules used for transport; move through Merdjayoun; shelling; patrols; rations and water; discipline; climb up Mount Hermon. REEL 10 Continues: return to Egypt and activities; warnings against talking too much in bars and dummy run before journey to Tobruk; scenes in Tobruk harbour; conditions on ship. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 10/1941-12/1941: first impressions of Tobruk; defensive positions taken up; story of patrol to take troops to forward position; smell of dead people; equipment taken on patrol; communications; camouflage; problems with flies; defences dug; air activity; shooting down of a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka; sheltering from Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; spread of battalion; journey to Battalion Headquarters for orders; water rations; hygiene; the cleansing power of sand; keeping weapon clean; cooking of meals and rations; fires made with petrol and sand; latrines; Italian soda water found; health of battalion; treatment of desert sores; concerns Tobruk; relief of boredom; navigation problems at night; medical facilities; knowledge of full extent of defences. REEL 11 Continues: make-up of a patrol; preparations for and time of patrols; navigation and movement; role of patrols and sounds heard in No Man's Land; opinion of verey lights; scenes from air activity; sleep; camouflage and description of slit trench; annoyance at lack of knowledge; use of sticky and 68 bombs; morale and readiness of troops; move through Essex Regiment lines for breakout at El Duda; formation and start of advance; weapon and ammunition carried; shooting of troops surrendering; withdrawal of Axis troops; wounding of leg; initial treatment; time in Tobruk hospital; self-discharge and return to regiment; reactions to going into battle. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 12/1941-1/1942: return to Egypt; description of Geneifa; leave; troops met who never fought; opinion of Egyptians; weapons in battalion and opinions of Bren Gun, Thompson Submachine Gun and Boyes Anti- Tank Gun. REEL 12 Continues: activities in Delta area; orders for posting in Malta; Axis weapons picked up; opinion of Spandau; Aspects of journey from Alexandria, Egypt, to Malta aboard the Breconshire, 1/1942: escort; use of bren guns; cargo carried by ship; Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; opinion of escort; reactions to situation and preference for fighting on land; proximity of bombs; length of voyage; first sight of Malta. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Malta, 1/1942-6/1943: split of battalion; stay at Verdala Palace; disembarkation from Breconshire; increase in air activity; training of Home Guard in Rabat; inspection from Lord Gort; terrain of Malta; issue of bicycles; role in Malta; patrols; maintenance of aerodromes; building of sangars for planes; flight to Gozo and orders not to fly; opinion of Royal Air Force personnel; training school for instructors; guard duties; activities when not fighting and memories of Regiment Sergeant Major George Flannigan; accommodation; description of Dingli; religion on Malta and relationship with civilians; order to find shot down airmen before civilians; dealing with unexploded bombs; civilian casualties; firing at German plane with bren gun; morale of battalion; dealing with troops who lost nerve; guarding of mental hospital; stop and search of civilians. REEL 13 Continues: rationing; battalion cobbler; cigarette ration; unloading of convoys in Valletta; rationing of ammunition; memories of padre; relationship with civilians; mail; effects of being abroad for so long; opinion of censorship of mail; sleeping arrangements; hygiene; latrines; sanitation troops; fitness of troops; leisure activities; visits to Valletta; local drinks; improvements to situation; air activity; commanding officers; duties as Sergeant; items banned; arrival of high ranking soldiers when going got easier; reactions to this; most important troops in battalion; leave; pay; bombing in Valletta. REEL 14 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Syria, 6/1943-7/1943: posted to Syria; training undertaken in Syria; accommodation; problems with scorpions; knowledge of next posting; leisure activities; opinion of Colonel Arderne; flight away from Syria; refuelling in Cyprus; knowledge of destination; landed on island later told was Kos; mortars in aeroplane. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Kos, 7/1943: dispersal on arrival; sent to isolated spot; lack of information; farm section sent to; Bofor gun emplacement; confusion of situation; communications; air activity; story of civilian drawing message and asking Lieutenant Symmonds of he should investigate; German invasion; disappearance of Bofor gun crew; activities in hills; plan to steal boat and sail for Turkey; shelter in hills; rations; search for boat; realisation they were finished; reaction to having to surrender; destruction of radio and burial of rifle. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 7/1943: surrender; feelings as surrendered; opinion that leadership had been poor; morale of troops; surprise at number of POWs; German who took him prisoner; intention to fight and realisation situation was hopeless; opinion that should not have gone to Kos; opinion of German troops; organisation of queue for water; concern for future; discovery of submarines off island; list of names for Red Cross; rations; journey to Piraeus; concerns on journey; line-up on quayside; opinion of German troops; conditions on train journey; thoughts of escape; rations on journey; latrines. REEL 15 Continues: not allowed off train; food given on journey; latrines; alighting from train at end of journey; opinion of German guards; escape attempt in another truck; condition after journey; hope for improvement. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 1943-1945: arrival at camp; given choice of whether to work or not; photograph and identity disc; week waiting to be sorted; taken to Stalag 357; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; role of senior NCO; visit of Red Cross and new uniform given; opinion of Red Cross; contents of Red Cross parcels; sharing of parcels; background of POWs; bartering with Red Cross items; tricks played on sentries; civilians working in camp; rations; importance of Red Cross parcels; contact with guards; deterioration of health; music lessons; formation of orchestra; theatrical shows; items made from material in Red Cross parcels; medical facilities; organisation of discipline among POWs; requests made to Germans for needs; work of escape committee; escape attempts; sports played in camp; importance of humour; layout of camp; roll call; blower for fires; tapping of electrical system to heat food and water; collection of fuel from forest; stoves. REEL 16 Continues: issue and heating of rations; description of blowers made to create fires; breakfast; time of roll call; guards; soup at noon; food for rest of day; discipline; punishment for stealing and latrines; washing facilities; methods for keeping warm; reading; camp library; parcels from home; camp shop; German retaliation for alleged poor treatment of prisoners in England; reaction to treatment; Red Cross inspections; holding back of Red Cross parcels; reasons for refusal to work; need to take care of oneself; group of friends in camp; feeling that would beat Germans; change in Germans as war progressed; news of D-Day; upset at way captured; news of war from wireless assembled through contact with civilians; winter conditions; activities to keep morale up. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1945: start of forced march; pig meal stolen for food; fight with German sentry; hiding from Germans within column; theft of potatoes. REEL 17 Continues: guards on march; sound of allied guns; plan to escape from column; escape into bush; time on the run; capture by German patrol; handed over to farmhouse working party; time at farmhouse near Munster; liberation from British major; cleaning up; length of march from POW Camp; food on journey; treatment of POWs; condition on march; areas marched through; joining with other columns; deterioration of health; boots; liberation and cleaning up in British camp; flight to GB. Aspects of period as NCO in GB, 4/1945-2/1946: medical; treatment in hospital; reception in GB; discipline in hospital; leave; reception from family; feelings on return home; opinion of civilians; initial interest from civilians in his experiences; reasons for leaving army; clothes given upon demobilisation in York; giving of army kit to friends; details of gratuity; demobilisation date and decision to be discharged as ex-POW; civilian work following war including problems with getting work.