Wood, Kenneth Martin (Oral history)

British officer served with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, France and Belgium, 8/1939-5/1940; served with 151st Infantry Bde Anti-Tank Coy, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in France, 5/1940-6/1940

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1913-1939: family; education; training as architect. Recollections of training as officer with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 9/1938-8/1939: background to joining Territorial Army, 9/1938; interval between acceptance and commission; training in drill hall; officers who he joined with; commissioning into C Coy; opinion of what makes a good officer; memories of Lieutenant Hugh Duffy; relation with NCOs in C Coy; background of troops; problems with drinking; departure of some troops to the Tyneside Scottish. Aspects of period as officer with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 8/1939-1/1940: mobilisation, 8/1939 organisation of incoming recruits; billets; training new recruits; posting to Shipston-on-Stour; reprimand received from commanding officer Colonel Sir Frank Simpson; company officers mess and role as mess officer; opinion of training; journey to Southampton; embussing and debussing training. Aspects of period as officer with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in France, 1/1940-5/1940: journey away from coast; exercise near Lille; digging of anti-tank ditches; story of digging competition with Royal Engineers. Aspects of operations as officer with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940: changes in duties on German invasion; move into Belgium; awareness of situation; loss of transport; march back into France; morale and care of feet. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as officer 151st Infantry Bde Anti-Tank Coy, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in France, 5/1940-6/1940: transfer to anti-tank company at brigade headquarters; company equipment and shortage of Morris Kirby 2 Inch Mortars; use and opinion of French 25mm Hotchkiss Anti-Tank Guns; opinion of Boys Anti-Tank Rifle; transport of guns during withdrawal towards Vimy Ridge; prior recollection of attending anti-tank course; protection of column on march; composition of anti-tank crew; state of brother George; air raid and refugees on road; reprimand for falling asleep on journey to Vimy Ridge; opinion of Brigadier John 'Jackie' Churchill; arrival on Vimy Ridge; positioning and camouflaging of the anti-tank guns; move to Arras; movement forward with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry during Battle of Arrras, 21/5/1940; opinion of Chris Beattie; defence of Maroeuil, 21/5/1940; breakthrough of infantry and retreat, 21/5/1940; withdrawal from Maroeuil to Vimy Ridge; reactions to dive bombing; advance into village and joining with British forces. REEL 3 Continues: personal morale; rations; retreat from Arras area; degree of awareness of situation; story of holding up troops by maintenance of vehicle; position in column; arrival in Lens; fatigue; panic among troops after shelling and method of calming them; casualties; relief of French troops from defensive position; story of argument with officer; memories of Christoper 'Sammy' Battiscombe; nature of fighting during retreat over canals; effectiveness of fire against tanks; abandonment of guns; false news of brother's death; position taken in ditch at Beaucamps-Ligny; evacuation of wounded; reaction to being under shell and mortar fire; platoon casualties; reaction to situation; retreat to Dunkirk; destruction of equipment; arrival on beach.