Outterside, James William (Oral history)

British guardsman served as driver with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Bde, 1st Infantry Div and 6th Armoured Div in North Africa, 11/1942-5/1943; served with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Bde, 6th Armoured Div in Italy, 2/1944-5/1945

REEL 1 Aspects of period as member of 4th (Hexham) Bn Northumberland Home Guard in Hexham, GB, 1940-1941: equipment and composition of unit; attitude to membership of Home Guard; amusing incidents involving Home Guard witnessed whilst on military service in Guildford and Harrow, 1941-1942. Aspects of enlistment and training as guardsman with Coldstream Guards in GB, 1941-1942: attitude to training and discipline; manning Churchill Defence Line around London with 6th Bn Coldstream Guards, 1941-1942. Recollections of operations as guardsman with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Bde, 1st Infantry Div and 6th Armoured Div in North Africa, 11/1942-5/1943: voyage from Liverpool, GB to Algiers, French Algeria, 11/1942; unloading fuel supplies at Algiers, French Algeria, 11/1942; use of Compo Rations; method of brewing up tea; hospitalisation with malaria in Constantine, French Algeria, 12/1942. REEL 2 Continues: dangers from attack by German Air Force; rule that hospitalised guardsmen had to return to a Guards unit; attempt to deceive Germans about size of opposing Allied forces; hazards of driving Universal Carrier; contact with French Goums; second deception operation; work of commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Norman in 'O' groups; contrasts between First and Eighth Armies; question of who was first to enter Tunis, Tunisia, 5/1943; bypassing minefield at Hammamet, Tunisia; the United States Army set back at Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, 2/1943; story illustrating inexperience and lack of training of American troops witnessed near Florence, Italy, 1944; sight of attack at Pichon Pass, Tunisia, 4/1943. REEL 3 Continues: surrender of Italian convoy at Grombalia, Tunisia, 5/1943; impressions of French Foreign Legion drill area; demeanour of Axis prisoners of war in Tunisia, 5/1943; relations between British and American troops; guard of honour duties for President Franklin D Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill in Tunis, Tunisia, 12/1943. Recollections of operations as guardsman with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Bde, 6th Armoured Div in Italy, 2/1944-5/1945: journey to Naples, 2/1944; relieving New Zealand troops at Monte Cassino; narrow escape from machine gun fire at Monte Cassino; wounding in thigh at Monte Cassino, 13/4/1944; rejoining battalion at Arce on road to Rome, 6/1944. REEL 4 Continues: bridging of river east of Rome; unit casualties at Poggio Mirteto; second hand story relating to German atrocity; work of drivers taking supplies up to front line near Florence; marking by searchlight of neutral San Marino; work of bulldozers in keeping roads open in Florence area, 1944-1945; treatment of defiant German prisoner of warr; contrast between Italian and Indian muleteers; coping with mud; efficiency of mules in mountain conditions; tension between Gurkhas and Yugoslav Partisans in Trieste, 1945; defence of Trieste against Yugoslavian take-over; attempt of Yugoslavs to attribute United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) supplies to Soviet Union; contact with Jewish refugees in camp near Trieste; reaction of Italian troops to arrival of Allied troops.