Gray, William James (Oral history)

British civilian worked as milkman in London, GB, 1940-1941; private served with 25 Platoon, D Coy, 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airlanding Bde, 6th Airborne Div in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945; NCO served with 25 Platoon, D Coy, 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airlanding Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Palestine, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of enlistment and training with 25 Platoon, D Coy, 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airlanding Bde, 6th Airborne Div in GB, 1942-1944: background to volunteering for unit; training at Bulford Camp; training for operation to capture Bénouville Bridge; unit officers and NCOs; proposed role of 25 Platoon; training on bridges. Recollections of operations as private with 25 Platoon, D Coy, 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airlanding Bde, 6th Airborne Div during capture of Bénouville Bridge, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: keenness of troops; uniform and equipment carried; embarkation on board gliders; atmosphere in glider during flight; glider landing and capture of bridge; deploying into defensive positions; repelling German attack on bridge; arrival of 7th Bn Parachute Regt and Major-General Richard Gale; move to Le Port; arrival of commandos at Benouville Bridge; renewal of German attacks; arrival of rest of battalion in gliders; leaving bridge in hands of 3rd Infantry Div. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as private with 25 Platoon, D Coy, 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airlanding Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: occupation of Escoville; German use of cows as cover; close quarter action in chateau grounds; German respect for evacuation of wounded; destruction of German tanks by anti-tank guns at Hérouvillette; prior recollections of German naval and air activity at Bénouville Bridge; unit casualties at Escoville; comparison of calibre of German Army troops at Bénouville Bridge and Escoville; prior recollection of firing German 75mm Gun at Bénouville Bridge; flesh wound recieved at Bréville-les-Monts; relief of 51st (Highland) Infantry Div at Château Le Cone; advance to River Seine. Recollections of operations as private with 25 Platoon, D Coy, 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airlanding Bde, 6th Airborne Div during Operation Varsity, the crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945: contrast in atmosphere to D-Day; effects of anti-aircraft fire on gliders; encounter with American war correspondent; decimation of German unit attacking across unfinished autobahn; arrival of 15th (Scottish) Infantry Div; comparison between 15th (Scottish) Infantry Div and 51st (Highland) Infantry Div; attitude to killing German Army troops; question of British ARmy troops behaviour towards Germans casualties. REEL 3 Continues: attitude towards German Army troops; lack of officer presence to restrain troops committing misdeeds; attitude of German civilians including use of notes written by British prisoners of war; incident of misbehaviour by unit NCO; contact with Soviet Army troops, 5/1945. Aspects of operations as private with 25 Platoon, D Coy, 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6th Airlanding Bde, 6th Airborne Div in Palestine, 1945-1946: arrival in Palestine, 12/1945; raid on coastguard station by Zionist insurgents; Zionist allegations of behaviour of unit during search of village on Dead Sea; attitude to service in Palestine; relations with civilian population; attitude to having served in British Army. Aspects of period as milkman in London, GB, 1940-1941: start of German Air Force attacks on London, 7/9/1940. REEL 4 Continues: acclimatisation to bombing; public morale; use of shelters including description of surface shelters; lack of looting; question of feeling of excitement; situation in London during German Air Force attacks.