Whitehorn, John Edward (Oral history)

British NCO served with 425 Bty, 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1942; served as officer with 3rd Field Sqdn, Royal Engineers in Egypt, 1941 served with 567 Army Troop, RE in Palestine, Syria, Malta, Sicily and Italy, 1941-1944

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Nottingham area, 1916-1939: story of father's return from service during First World War; training with Officers' Training Corps at Nottingham High School; training and work as architect. Recruitment and training as gunner with A Troop, 425 Bty, 107 Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery at Derby Road Drill Hall, Nottingham, ca 7/1938-9/1939: reasons and question of becoming officer; 18pdr gun drill under Sergeant Charles Bennett, role of gun team members and story of near accident. REEL 2 Continued: training as specialist gunner; practice in getting guns into action in Annersley Park; relationship with ORs and officers; promotion to sergeant; question of reasons for rejection in interview to obtain commission; period at Redesdale Camp, 7/1939 including shortage of ammunition, impact of noise of first 18pdr round fired, story of NCO's problem with raising flag, relationship with 426 Bty and formal nature of sergeants' mess; question of posting to 150th Regt, <SNH> RA; reaction to approach of war. Mobilisation and initial period in Nottingham, ca 27/8/1939-9/1939: awareness of inexperience in army lifestyle; billets at Hollins Lace Factory, Garden Street and Derby Road Drill Hall stables; story of air raid alarm. REEL 3 Continues: story of air raid alarm; story of run away gun onto Derby Road; commercial lorry adapted as gun tower; move to Rillington, 8/1939. Recollections of periods at Rillington and Wragby, 9/1939-1/1940: farm billets and relationship with farmer; effects of vaccinations; story of excessive 'bull'; cooks; steel tyred 18pdrs; billets; question of coastal defence role; leave; question of rumours of Middle East posting; story of incidents on journey from Rillington to Wragby; reaction to issue of Mark II pattern 18pdrs; promotion as extra troop sergeant major, role and question of commission. REEL 4 Journey to Palestine, 1/1940: Channel crossing to Cherbourg, France; train journey to Marseilles; voyage aboard HMT Devonshire. Aspects of periods at Sarafand, Gedera and Hadera Camps, Palestine, 1/1940-6/1940: question of battledress uniform; rainstorm; jackals; question of relationship with Arab and Jewish civilian populations; story of failed exercise using aircraft as observation post whilst at Asluj Firing Camp; travel sickness in back of lorry; learning to ride motorcycle; state of unit efficiency; move to Mersa Matruh, Egypt, 6/1940. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle at Mersa Matruh, 6/1940-2/1941: gun pits; troop command post dugout and personnel. REEL 5 Continues: Italian high level bombing; circumstances of death of Major Edward Batt; slit trenches and question of camouflage; story of Sergeant George Pearson's close escape from bomb illustrating ineffectual nature of bombing; stories of close escapes from bombing; lack of role as extra troop sergeant major; variations in meteor telegrams; OP duty; background to decision to change HE fuses ammunition; shortage of ammunition; period attached to 4th Regt, RHA in gun positions near Sollum including relationship with regular NCO, question of value of attachment, situation, view of long range bombardment by HMS Warspite. REEL 6 Continues: period attached to 4th Regt, RHA in gun positions near Sollum including view of long range bombardment by HMS Warspite, fly problem and return to unit; latrines; dummy airfield and railhead; gunboats; food rations; desert sores; construction of Arab huts; water and tea. Account of operations with Dummy Troop on Maktilla Camp, 12/1940: composition of troop; role as decoy for main attack; opening fire on first and second camps; surrender of Italians and problem in dealing with number of POWs; story of spending night in Italian camp. REEL 7 Continues: story of spending night in Italian camp; captured Italian vehicles and guns; water shortage; personal morale; return to Mersa Matruh. Rear party duty salvaging Italian material at Mersa Matruh, 12/1940-2/1941. Period at Tahag Camp, ca 2/1941: re-equipment with 25pdrs and question of gun towers; background to decision to seek commission in Royal Engineers; opinion of Major Peter Birkin; interview with senior RE officer. Recollections of training with All Arms Platoon, Middle East Officers' Cadet Training Unit at Abbassia Barracks and Kasir el Nir Barracks, Cairo, ca 2/1941-5/1941: opinion of instructors and relevance of desert active service experience; exercises; story of meeting family friend. REEL 8 Continues: bed bug problem at Kasir el Nir; Australian cadets; kitting out; problem over pay. Review of training at School of Military Engineering at Ismailia ca 5/1941-7/1941. Period with 3rd Field Sqdn, RE in Egypt, ca 7/1941-8/1941: role of unit; reconnaissance of waterways in preparation for flooding Nile Delta in event of German invasion; motorcycle accident; amusing story of dispute with colonel. Period in No 4 General Hospital at Alexandria, ca 8/1941. Posting to RE Stores Base Depot at Haifa, Palestine, ca 9/1941-10/1941: nature of stores; daily routine. REEL 9 Continues: daily routine. Recollections of period with No 3 Workshop Section, 567 Army Troops Coy, RE in Syria ca 11/1941-6/1943: joining unit in Palestine; organisation and origins of unit; role building fortifications and roads in Damascus area; motorcycle; story illustrating problems with civilian contractors employed; transport arrangements; relationship with Australian and African units working in area; story of booby trapping quarry workings to prevent interference by Iraqi civilians; move to Jebbul Mazar area; <between Damascus & Beirut> hut accommodation; cold conditions; strategic situation. REEL 10 Continues: cold conditions; move to Kassia airfield; role strengthening bridges for military traffic; story illustrating lack of sympathy between trades in REs; casualties; reactions to news of destruction of SNH in Knightsbridge action, 6/1942; party with RAF. Recollections of period at Adabia Bay, Egypt, ca 6/1943-6/1943: 'wet' and battle training; meeting brother aboard HMS Winchester Castle; waterproofing vehicles. Aspects of period at Malta, ca 6/1943-7/1943: rushed move with lorry convoy to Alexandria and voyage across; decision to get married; waterproofing vehicles. REEL 11 Recollections of operations in Sicily, 7/1943: dummy briefing; crossing; air raid during abortive attempt to land at Augusta harbour; movements prior to finally landing at Augusta harbour; move inland; clearing site for oil depot; explosion of ammunition ship; move to Catania; restoring water supply to town; mine clearance; close escape from mine; recording location of British booby traps on fencing; hospitalisation with jaundice and evacuation to Algeria; rejoining unit at Catania. REEL 12 Continues: return to unit at Catania; removing demolished bridge from river; movements; explosives accident; efforts to prevent Italian civilians stealing from stores; graves at Primosola Bridge; nature of damage to Primosola Bridge; meeting members of SNH; hospitalisation and convalescence with neuritis; rejoining unit at Catania. Attending course at School of Military Engineering at Capua, 1944: air flight; introduction to Bailey bridge construction techniques; various accidents; latrines; rejoining unit on their arrival in Italy. Aspects of operations in Italy, 1944: period in Rome. REEL 13 Continues: move to Adriatic coastal area; role removing or replacing Bailey bridges; accident; description of method of erecting Bailey bridges; cooking arrangements; method of removing Bailey bridges; method of removing reinforced concrete; relationship with Polish troops. Posting to 140th OCTU at Newark, GB, 10/1944-3/1946: reaction; voyage back aboard Monarch of Bermuda; marriage on leave; teaching improvised bridging techniques; V2 alert; demobilisation, 3/1946. Post-war career in architecture.