Bell, John Bruce (Oral history)

British officer served with 4th Bn Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force in West Africa, 1940-1943; served as staff officer with 6th (West Africa) Bde, 81st (West African) Div in Arakan, Burma, 12/1943-2/1944; officer served with 4th Bn Nigeria Regt, 6th (West Africa) Bde, 81st (West African) Div in Arakan, Burma, 2/1944-1/1945

REEL 1: Recollections of period as officer with 4th Bn Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force in West Africa, 1940-1943: background to joining Nigeria Regiment, 1940; duties in French Cameroons; interest in indirect rule system; problems of learning Hausa language; case of NCO spoilt by missionaries; origins of unit; character of recruits; motivation of African troops; story illustrating naivety of African troops; voyage from West Africa to India, 7/1943-8/1943. Recollections of period as staff officer with 6th (West Africa) Bde, 81st (West African) Div in Arakan, Burma, 12/1943-2/1944: method of air supplying division; rationing in Arakan; entry into Burma at Mowdok, 12/1943; role as GSO 3 to brigade. REEL 2 Continues: performance of 4th Bn Nigeria Regt against Imperial Japanese Army, 1/1944; importance of British officers and NCOs not appearing conspicuous in jungle; problems of coping with terrain; nature of sleeping facilities; African bushmanship; state of health in unit and personal health in campaign. Recollections of operations as platoon commander with B Coy, 4th Bn Nigeria Regt, 6th (West Africa) Bde, 81st (West African) Div in Arakan, Burma, 2/1944-5/1944: reasons for leaving staff role to become platoon commander, 13/2/1944; night march to capture Point 110 near Tinma; capture of Imperial Japanese Army position, 2/1944; withdrawal after Japanese capture of Pagoda Hill, 3/3/1944; method by which withdrawal conducted; obstacles placed on pathways by Japanese and African troops; action on withdrawal at Mindan, 14/3/1944; abandonment of plan to hold box in Kingri Loop; counter-attack on Imperial Japanese Army position, 18/3/1944. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of performance of Japanese troops; winning of Military Medal by bren gunner Agara Mbayas; move eastwards towards Buthidaung. Recollections of operations as second in command of C Coy, 4th Bn Nigeria Regt, 6th (West Africa) Bde, 81st (West African) Div in Arakan, Burma, 5/1944-6/1944: taking-up post; skirmishing with Japanese east of Buthidaung, 5/5/1944; use of Royal Air Force for support; visit by Brigadier Richard Cartwright, 5/1944; last actions before relief by Gold Coast Regiment, 5/1944; attitude towards Imperial Japanese Army troops; question of taking prisoners; rest period in Chiringa, India, 5/1944-7/1944 including becoming adjutant, 1/6/1944. Recollections of operations as adjutant with 4th Bn Nigeria Regt, 6th (West Africa) Bde, 81st (West African) Div in Arakan, Burma, 7/1944-1/1945: start of campaign, 7/1944; initial encounter with Indian National Army; advance against Japanese, 7/1944-9/1944; recrossing back into Burma at Frontier Hill, 10/1944; clearing dropping zones in jungle. REEL 4 Continues: contrast in accuracy of Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force air-supply drops; advance through Tinma and Letpan; arrival of air lifted Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Field Guns; advance to Thayettabin; prior recollection of capture of pagoda at Thayettabin during First Arakan campaign, 3/1944; question of dangers of inaccurate Allied bombing; end of campaign, 1/1945; size of units employed in Arakan; question of effects of war experience on attitudes of African troops; post-war role as District Officer in Nigeria paying pensions to relatives of troops killed in action in Burma.