Humphreys, Robert Benjamin (Oral history)

British officer cadet trained at Sandhurst Military College in GB, 1933-1935; officer served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1935-1936; officer served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India and Sudan, 1936-1937; officer served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in China, 1938-1939; officer served with 169 Officers Training Unit in GB, 1939-1940; officer served with 11th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, Iceland and North West Europe, 1940-1944; officer served with 7th Bn Green Howards in North West Europe and GB, 1944-1945; officer served with 9th Nigeria Regiment in Burma, 1945; officer served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Burma and Malaya, 1945-1948; officer served with Parachute Regiment from 1948

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1914-1933: family; education including at Aldernon School in Hertfordshire; organisation of OTC; uniform worn; boys exempt; opinion that training based on 1914-1918 War; weapons trained with; annual camps; discipline; application for Oxford University; Sandhurst exam; family background in army. Aspects of period as officer cadet at Sandhurst Military College in GB, 1933-1935: hatred of first nine weeks; population of college; physical training; breakfast parade; clothing worn; allowance for uniform; first evening in Junior Term; Generals; first morning and memories of Lytton Millbank; breakfast and ranks cadets could achieve; issue of bicycle in town; start of curriculum; parts of uniform fitted or issued; activities on third day including issue of rifles; Permanent Staff Instructors from Guards. REEL 2 Continues: nobility among cadets; language of Guards; harshness of physical training; uniform worn including difference between officers and other ranks' puttees; shoes and boots; bullying; discipline and punishments; digging of trenches; map reading and cycling; aeroplane recognition; terrain around Sandhurst; riding and cavalry NCOs; firing rifle on ranges; firing later with ZGB; gas training; training with hand grenades and 2" mortar; night training; traing with outside units. REEL 3 Continues: classroom lessons; exams and pass mark; reasons for getting thrown out; teaching of responsibility for troops; under officers; composition of first term; Christmas Leave; make-up of Intermediate Term; problems from relaxation in second term; story of riding in Guard point-to- point; warning for letting academic work slip; dislike for exams; interesting Instructors in Intermediate Term; system for promotion of officers; split of battalions between home and abroad; work and tests in Final Term; passing out parade. REEL 4 Continues: routes into Sandhurst; upholding of tradition; commandant; application for regiment and reasons for choosing Durham Light Infantry; details of 1st Battalion and 2nd Brigade; interview with General Leward. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1/1935-1/1936: joined regiment at Blackdown Barracks; reception from Sergeant Glass; first officer met and officers joined with; description of mess kit; first meal and details of finances; officers in battalion; position taken in C Company; organisation of the officers mess; mess waiters; mess kitchen staff; serving and content of meals; guest night; reasons for not drinking to monarch. REEL 5 Continues: mess bill and fund; service dress and other clothes; equipment; revolver; anti-tank platoon; opinion of Boyes Anti-Tank Platoon; duties with platoon; memories of company commanders Joss Percy and Percival Maxwell; officers of battalion and their jobs; memories and opinions of his fellow officers including epilepsy of Fox-Davies; memories of Company Sergeant Major "Biff" Wilson and Colour Sergeant Jennings; defaulters parades; punishments given out; kit inspections; selection and duties of stickman; other ranks exempt from guards; personal vehicle; memories of batman "Batter" Edwards; relationship with batman; accommodation; furniture. REEL 6 Continues: morning procedures and defaulters parade; training with Garden Lloyds; tactical training; morning break; return to work and battalion orders; cleaning of Garden Lloyds; sports and riding; activities of defaulters in afternoon; relationship with Platoon Sergeant Finnegan; Saturdays and shopping; opinion of commanding officers; visits to church on Sunday; drinking after church; Sunday afternoon activities of officers and troops; leave; story of batman stealing his car and running out of petrol; motor training course attended; reason for attending course; opinion of instructor Sergeant Smith; Laurence of Arabia; involvement with the ZGB gun. REEL 7 Continues: rotation of subalterns as orderly officer; duties of the orderly officer at meals and with guard; manoeuvres and reason for missing Royal Review; march to Chichester; story of manoeuvres on Hampshire Downs and memories of Generals Gaythorne Hardy and General Deverell; Wavell at a Brigade Conference; death of dog en route to Hythe; ZGB machine gun course at Hythe; guard officers' prank. REEL 8 Continues: Christmas leave; posting of orders for draft abroad; riding; funeral of King George V; preparations for posting in India; tropical kit; journey to India. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 1/1936-1/1937: first impressions of Bombay; battalion brothels; internal security duties; balls attended; accommodation; civilian workers in camp; sports; Jubilee Tattoo; Edward VIII affair; leisure activities; social clubs; tensions in Indian society; climate; garden; meeting newcomers at dock; pay; description of other ranks' uniform; make-up of battalion; cousin in India. REEL 9 Continues: posting to Deolali; internal security duties in Nasik; relaxation on Thursdays; description of Deolali; commanding officers; more on leisure activities; training; accommodation of other ranks; rations; illnesses in battalion; discipline of troops; organised brothels; arrival of supplies; social activities; contact with Indian troops; bicycle polo; start of monsoon season; memories of bearer; involvement in ceremony for changeover of viceroy and tattoo to celebrate 100th anniversary of the Bombay European Light Infantry; Christmas leave in Dehra Dun. REEL 10 Continues: journey to Sudan. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Durham light Infantry in Sudan, 1/1937-10/1937: description of Port Sudan; train journey to Khartoum; arrival in barracks; impressions of civilians; description of camp; commanding officers; memories of company commander Tim Beart; role of battalion in Khartoum; presence of Black Watch; split of battalion; division of country for military administration; leisure activities; physical training; working day; training; dangers of Nile; typical day in Sudan; problems with bugs and climate; morale of battalion; sports; duties as motor transport officer; vehicles and weapons in battalion; role against Italians in Abyssinia; opinion of Italian troops; relationship with civilians; leisure activities of troops and officers; relationship between officers and troops; health of battalion; scenes on Nile; activities of 1st and 2nd Battalions while on leave; journey to China; impressions of China; story of officers fishing club in Sudan; female company; army attitude towards divorce. REEL 11 Continues: levee with Governor General; sandstorms; story of a hunting expedition; journey to GB for leave via Egypt and Venice; situation in Europe and opinion that war approaching; journey across Canada for voyage to China from Vancouver; stops in Japan including Tokyo; opinion of Japanese. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Durham light Infantry in China, 2/1938-8/1939: arrival in Shanghai; accommodation; earlier dog fighting over British concession; commanding officers; role in China; incidents with Japanese; troops present from other countries; leisure activities; operations on Yangtze; guarding of water works; relationship with Japanese troops on perimeter and reporting of atrocities; playing polo; gambling; White Russians in China; bombing of French Concession; role in Tientsin; British involvement with China; Japanese flagship; Stand To at time of Munich Crisis. REEL 12 Continues: relationship with Seaforth Highlanders; death of Miles Mason; posting to Tientsin; German presence in China; Japanese aims in China; guard at Peking; work with North China Commander Brigadier Hopwood; winter clothing; indications of approaching war and changes in army; Japanese attempt to takeover concession; Germans at social events; ceremonial duties; reason for leaving China; changes in battalion command; memories of Henry Lowe; activities of battalion in absence. Aspects of journey from China to GB aboard the Dilwara, 8/1939-10/1939: time in Hong Kong including units present; voyage to Red Sea; stop in Aden; outbreak of war in Port Said; attempt to return to China; wait for convoy to form; events on voyage across Mediterranean; time in Gibraltar; arrival in GB. REEL 13 Continues: mood of country on return; expansion of forces; reported to Brancepeth Castle. Aspects of period as officer with Depot Durham Light Infantry in GB, 10/1939: description of depot; accommodation; posting with Major Hutchison; accommodation and transport of other ranks; other officers in company. Aspects of period as officer with 169 Officers Training Unit in posting to 169 Officers Training Unit in GB, 1939-1940: Aldershot; make- up of unit; organisation of unit; background of students; composition of course; more on unit organisation; training; phoney war and German advance; discussion on Durham Light Infantry units in France; events in Aldershot and Europe; troops returning from Dunkirk; attempts to rejoin battalion; posted to 11th Battalion. Aspects of period as officer with 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1939-1940: state of battalion; commanding officers; section of coast guarded; reception from battalion; posting in A Company at Goodrington Sands; training battalion and Home Guard in area; defences built and blackout; organisation of battalion during Battle of Britain; work as staff officer to Colonel Ware; night patrols. REEL 14 Continues: duties as staff officer; air activity; defence of Torquay; reinforcements; troops and areas commanded; equipment situation; deception in defences; three nights standing by; accommodation; bombing of Plymouth and Exeter; orders for posting in Iceland; voyage to and role in Iceland. Aspects of period as officer with 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in Iceland, 1940-1941: relationship with civilians; posting in Alafos and split of brigade; accommodation; duties and training; water supply; rations; leisure activities; patrols; arrival of casualties; visit of Winston Churchill; Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attack; defences built and reserve force; problems from climate and winter clothing; description of and training in Þingvellir; visits of troops to home of civilians; frustration of posting; opinion of Colonel Ware; posting to Hafnarfjörður; events in war; start of summer; training at Hafnarfjörður; posting in Headquarters Company; organisation and officers of company; memories of Ferguson; staff courses; handover to Americans and return journey to GB. Aspects of period as officer of the 11th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1941-1944: arrival and stay in Pembroke Docks; mountain warfare training in Pontypool area. REEL 15 Continues: change in battalion command; training and accommodation in Mid Wales; movement around GB; changes in battalion and brigade command; training in Scotland and Lake District; change in battalion command; company commanders; Christmas 1942; changes on role of brigade; assault and fitness training; posting in Thetford; reinforcement with Canadian officers; Christmas 1943; equipment situation; use of live ammunition in training; officers in battalion; reinforcements; activities at Depot; visits from Montgomery; exercises; stress of approaching invasion. Aspects of operations as officer with 11th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North West Europe, 1944: landing in France; voyage from Newhaven; confinement in barracks before voyage; ease of landing; scenes on beaches; march inland; action at Fontenay-le-Pesnel and near Rauray; formation of battalion outside Rory; positions taken by German snipers; actions of Lieutenant Hoggard in Rauray; advance of Major Bansell; advance of 151 Brigade; casualties and success of attack; death of batman; sheltering from moaning minnies; opinion of attack; length of action; officer casualties; medals won in France; troops who lost nerve; opinions of Colonels Hanmer and Dewintt actions at Rouray. REEL 16 Continues: duties at Rouray; concern for own safety and journeys to Battalion Headquarters; pulled back for reinforcement; visit to Reggie Atkinson; action at Falaise Gap; break-up of 50th Brigade; posting of companies to other regiments. Aspects of operations as officer with 7th Bn Green Howards in North West Europe, ca 1944-1945: chase of Germans through Belgium; relief of Coldtream Guards at Nijmegen; wait on river for Arnheim survivors; advance towards Gheel; action on farm; break-up of 151 Brigade; effect on troops of Montgomery's row with Eisenhower and Bradley; activities after Nijmegen; leave in Brussels; actions of 6th Bn Duke of Wellingtons who relived them; return to GB. Aspects of period as officer with 7th Bn Green Howards in North West GB, ca 1944-1945: posting in Thorpe Bassett; training of artillery to become infantrymen; application to join 2nd Battalion in Burma; posting to West Africa. Aspects of period as officer with 9th Nigeria Regiment in Burma, 1945: learning of Hindustani; rounding up of Japanese; commanding officers; make-up of brigade; end of war and advance to Rangoon. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Burma and Malaya, 1945-1947: joining of 2nd Battalion in Burma; opinion of battalion; posting in Johore Bahru; demobilisation and reinforcements; time in Malaya; period as staff officer; leave in Burma; return to GB and amalgamation of battalion with 1st; Canadian officers; course at Senior Officers School in Frennington. Aspects of period as officer with Bn Parachute Regiment in GB, from 1948: parachute training in Aldershot; posting in Germany with 2nd Battalion; time in command of 17th Battalion; command of 1st Battalion in Egypt; final years of service.