Williams, John Llewellyn (Oral history)

British private and NCO served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1932-1939; NCO served with 9th Bn, Durham Light Infantry in GB, France and Belgium, 1939-1940; officer cadet with Officer Corps Training Unit in GB, 1941; officer served with 14th Bn, Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1941-1942; officer served with 7th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in GB, 1942; officer served with 6th Bn, Royal West Kent Regt in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, 1942-1944; staff officer served with 2nd Echelon General Headquarters in North Africa, 1944; officer served with 17th Bn Parachute Regiment in GB, 1947-1949

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1913-1932: area grew up in; background of people in Blackhill; family; education; School Certificate; maintenance grant offered for Armstrong College; reason for turning it down; opinion of education and teachers; work as Clerk at Consett Iron Company; details of pay; father's involvement in 1926 General Strike; evening classes; time on loan in London with British Iron and Steel Company; work with Sigmund Pumps Ltd in Tee Valley; reason for not joining Scouts; later involvement in Scouts. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1932-1939: reason for joining Territorial Army; Uncle's involvement with 6th Battalion; reaction of colleagues and uncle to joining; oath taken; memories of Company Sergeant Major Mason. REEL 2 Continues: reaction of father to his joining the army; attitude of civilians towards army and cancellation of 1932 camp; appeal of discipline and organisation; cleaning of buttons; drill formation; firing at Whitburn; promotion to Lance Corporal; process of enlistment; swearing in; story of troops being sworn in on King's Regulations; rifle drill; learning of tactics; Recruits Cup; uniform and equipment; details of pay; training and weekend camps; accommodation of Whitburn Camp; pranks played by older soldiers; visits into Sunderland; details of firing courses; competitions; working on the range; marching at Light Infantry Pace and parades; reception from civilians while marching; story of old soldier at Colliery; background of sergeants; relationship with other troops; language; moustache grew when sergeant; respect expected from officers for NCOs; sergeants attempts at tapping for pints of beer; description of Consett Drill Hall; opinion of training; make-up of company; contact with officers; reason for joining 9th Battalion; memories of officers in 6th Battalion; social status among officers. REEL 3 Continues: drill hall armoury; care of pouches; inspections; regular soldiers; discipline; process of dealing with ill discipline; special units in battalion; bugle calls; rations at camp; officers' horses; stationing of specialist units; camps attended; equipment taken on camp; journey to camp; horse transport used in camp; inspections; route marches; weapons training; night operations; drill; bathing in sea; football matches; Adjutant Captains; more on night operations; morning procedures; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; washing facilities; breakfast; mess tent; story of altercation at meal table; washing of utensils; activities in morning; lunch and evening meal; story of a complaint; leisure activities; sectarianism in battalion; horse play; attitude of officers towards other ranks; relationship with officers; gambling; army attitude towards gambling. REEL 4 Continues: training with bayonet; care of bayonet; Durham Gurkha tradition; memories of ex-First World War NCOs; opinion that training linked to First World War experience; relationship with civilians; promotions up to sergeant; commitment to Territorials; relationship as NCO with other troops; duties as lance corporal; guard duties; duties as sergeant; proficiency awards; snobbery; interest in politics and attitude towards Germans; change in drill formation; introduction of Bren gun and carriers; winning of the Daily Telegraph Cup; change of Consett Company to Anti- Aircraft battery; joining of 9th Battalion at Chopwell Drill Hall. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1939-1940: first militia and rush of new recruits; formation of 12th Battalion; reactions of parents as war approached; lectures from regular officers; code words; mobilisation as a key man; reactions to situation; pension enquiries. REEL 5 Continues: mobilisation of troops; transfer to South Shields drill hall; issue of respirators; uniform worn; make-up of battalion; opinion of training; reactions of troops to situation; discipline; reflections on First World War and lack of knowledge of it; reactions of family to war; change in discipline at South Shields; sergeant's decision to grow moustaches; duties as platoon sergeant; respirator training; time as Quarter Master; issue of battle dress; memories of Captain Jackson and 2nd Lieutenant Henderson; memories of Colonel Simpson and later replacement of Territorial officers with regulars; memories of other officers; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major "Biff" Wilson and Bugle Major McClusky; method for giving orders; comradeship; sleeping arrangements; rations; activities in South Shields; reason for change in religion to agnostic; small spat with officer over this; posting in Shipston on Stour; motorised training; journey to Shipston-on- Stour; reception from civilians and first VD cases; more on motorised training; route marches; relationship with civilians; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; rations; opinion of training. REEL 6 Continues: description and opinion of Boyes Anti-Tank Rifle; opinion of .303 rifle; quality of marksmanship; comparison of Bren and Lewis guns; weapons in a platoon; firing of 2" mortar; morale advantage of the mortar; mortar ammunition; grenade training; gas training; course taken at Army Gas School; use of experience; tactical training; opinion of training; length of time in Cotswolds; office work at Infantry Officers' Training School in Boughton on the Water; reactions on embarkation; embarkation aboard the SS Prague from Southampton; story of Captain Wood seeking his advice; leave; reactions of parents to posting abroad; issue of battle dress; attitude towards friends not in army; morale of battalion. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 1/1940-5/1940: arrival in Cherbourg; use of French and French money given; visit to brothel and reason for not partaking; posting in Normandy and first impressions of France; relationship with civilians in Fresnay-sur-Sarthe. REEL 7 Continues: accommodation and sleeping arrangements; weather; pay; food available; local alcohol; French children and friend in café; discipline; pay drawn; French and food; rations; contact with French women; hygiene; standard of turnout; parades and inspections; indications of what was to come; French troops seen; opinion of commanding officers; relationship with officers; relationship with troops in platoon; marches and drill; summary of time before invasion; leisure activities; French attitude to war; posted to Ferriere sur Somme; accommodation and contact with civilians; training with vehicles; route marching; weapon situation; posting to Aleyn sur Maree; relationship with Mademoiselles Sarazin billeted with; stories of their First World War experiences; Battalion accommodation; baths in Anellin; digging of anti-tank ditch. REEL 8 Continues: training; lack of knowledge of German army; concert in Lille; posted to Lille area; accommodation; duties closing down estaminets; story of French soldier trying to make him box; opinion of French troops; mail; censorship of mail; opinion of training; German activity. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 1/1940-5/1940: air activity after start of invasion; move to II Corps rear area with Colonel Simpson and small group; opinion of reasons for replacement of Colonel Simpson with Colonel Percy; memories of Colonel Percy; journey into Belgium; retreating French and Belgian troops; chasing after II Corps; accommodation and rations along way; decision to help out in Burge; offered themselves to town major; work done on defences and canal; work given to retreating troops; story of argument with pioneer platoon; Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; morale of troops; calibre of troops present; rations; story of Royal Engineer officer on patrols to look for Germans; sending away of Royal Engineer officer and his batman; story of Colonel Simpson talking to the wounded Major Campbell-Sleight. REEL 9 Continues: description of Burge; withdrawing troops; air activity; positions of slit trenches; flooding of canal; German activity in area; effect of Stuka raids; opinion that responsibility helped pull him through such situations; discipline of troops; naval guns at Dunkirk; shelters dug in; German artillery fire; story of close hit; news that surrounded and Sherwood Foresters would try and reach them; breaking of news to troops; arrival of British troops and story of orders to salute Brigadier properly; story of soldier who ran off after he gave him an order; slowing down of activity; plan to switch clothes with a dead civilian if need be; comradeship between Light Infantrymen; example of rate of desertion; listening to NAAFI radio during Junkers Ju 87 Stuka raid; promise to buy ice cream at next opportunity; decision to breakout; departure of Royal West Kent Captain; leaving of Burge on 15 tonne truck; scenes on beach at Bray Dunes; digging in; talk with Royal Artillery officer; orders given to group; march along beach to Dunkirk; scenes along pier; help with boarding wounded; boarding of ship and state of ship; scenes on ship; tea in galley; story of wounded soldier relieving himself; events on journey across channel; arrival in Folkestone; length of time aboard mole; atmosphere on mole; luck in catching ship; reaction once onboard ship; disembarkation from ship; ordered to give up of rifles. REEL 10 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1940-2/1941: refusal to give up rifles; boarding of train; reception in Ashford and telegram form filled in; arrival in Cardiff; transfer to Wenvoc Camp; arrival in camp; sleeping arrangements; woken with ice cream; reception from civilians at local conservative club; equipment issued; refusal of Scottish soldier to wear cap; state of uniform; interview; journey in stages to Chester; receipt given for rifles; reunion with battalion; leave; SS Prague at Folkestone; basking as hero; rosary carried with him; religion among troops; lack of realisation of the trouble they faced; reactions to seeing POWs; responsibility of promotion; rejoined battalion in Dorset; activity of Polish fighter squadron; story of air raid; training in Dorset; replacement of equipment; exercises with supporting units; weapons in battalion; application for commission; accommodation; discipline; relationship with civilians; air activity; reinforcements; opinion of training; morale of troops; belief that would beat Germans next time; opinions formed of French and Belgian troops; opinion of officers; NCOs sent away. REEL 11 Continues: posting in Tiverton; accommodation; nicknames of Colonel Percy; long marches with full packs; uses of gas cape; arsenical gas and its use in training; training with artillery barrage; brigade training with supporting units and opinion of training; story of talk given on gas; morale and fitness of troops; new officers; quality of officers and NCOs; relationship with civilians; discipline; guards and piquets; sports; contact with local women; rations; opinion of reasons for training; opinion of reason for being sent on Small Arms Course in Hythe; result of course; bayonet training; weapons fired; dismantling of weapons; opinion of Bren gun; favourite weapons; positions fired guns from; care of weapons; course instructors; targets; tests at end of course; length of course. REEL 12 Continues: Christmas leave; impressions of civilian life; advice from mother; return to battalion; interview with Colonel Percy. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Officer Corps Training Unit in GB, 3/1941-5/1941: time at Officer Corps Training Unit; trained at Droitwich and Heysham Heads Holiday Camp; accommodation at Droitwich; choices of regiment; rank; treatment from NCOs; stories showing the strong discipline at OCTU; memories of James Stewart aka Stewart Granger; uniform worn; daily routine and opinions of problems with officer training/system; long marches; tactical training and opinion and backgrounds of cadets; length of course; teaching of responsibility; story of soldier who did not salute him; German Naval POWs; assessment on course; commission; opinion of training; accents of officers. Aspects of period as officer with Durham Light Infantry in GB, 5/1941-7/1941: arrival at Brancepeth Castle; accommodation; story of charge given for missing parade and punishment. REEL 13 Continues: work with Home Guard at Vaux Brewery; reason for wanting to attend 3" mortar course; selection for course; mortar course at Netheravon; memories of Sir Andrew Cavendish on course; description of the 3" mortar; initial problems with 3" mortar and their remedy; firing of 3" mortar; parts of 3" mortar; transport of mortar; dummy bombs used for practice; opinion that covering of ears while firing mortar is unnecessary; opinion of 3" mortar; range used at; use of mortar; wounding of soldiers; firing on fixed line; ranging onto a position; description of fuse; make-up of mortar team and platoon; number of bombs carried; dispersal in action; communications; arrangement that allowed him out in field; position in action; NCOs in mortar platoon; communications including opinion of radio sets and carriers; proficiency of a good mortar team and memories of Private Hogg; overheating of barrels; cleaning of barrel; effectiveness of a mortar barrage. REEL 14 Continues: mortar drills; commands; theory lessons; German mortars; packets of explosives; opinion of instructors; accommodation; annual report; posting to 14th Battalion at Shorncliffe. Aspects of period as officer with 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 7/1941-10/1942: posted to D Company in Hythe; reception from Barker; coastal defence duties and air activity; exercises on Romney Marsh; posting to mortar platoon officer at Headquarters; commanding officer; memories of Sebag Montefiore; details of battalion; accommodation in Folkestone; Exercise Harold with Canadians prior to Dieppe Raid; bombardment from German guns; bomb damage; air activity; story of attempt to gain leave for causing damage to German aircraft; story of meeting his wife; strafing of camp; opinion that troops wary of officers who had come through ranks; movement along Kent coast; time with band; feeling that destined to end up abroad; opinion that training was improving; relative age; activities while in Kent; battle course attended; fitness; E Boats; coastal defences; weapons and bayonet training; activities with mortar platoon; Home Guard and civilians in area; relationship with civilians. REEL 15 Continues: routine duties and runs out on motorcycles; accommodation; interview with Major Scott; liaisons with infantry; trick played during gas training; fitness training and sports; firing; officers mess; memories of officers; mess servants and use of own batmen in mess; story of roughing up a mess servant; mess bills; groups in mess; rations; discussion of extras in mess compared to sergeants mess; writing and reading room; President of the Messing Committee; Colonel in the mess; opinion of the 14th Battalion and its troops. Aspects of period as officer with 7th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in GB, 10/1942-12/1942: officers he was seconded to Royal West Kent Regiment with; reported to 7th Battalion in Essex; reputation and memories of Colonel; journey to Algiers; tropical kit purchased; kicking of topee into sea; duties with prisoners on ship and employment of Private Plenty as batman; memories of Private Plenty. REEL 16 Continues: Aspects of operations as officer with 6th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in North Africa, 12/1942-7/1943: arrival with 6th Battalion; position held; role in battalion; memories of Colonel Henry Lovell; background of troops; German troops faced; first mortars fired in action; story of New Zealand officer and his burial; memories of the padres; details of first action; landscape around position; position of Germans; opinion of British position; posting at Robaa; platoon of American troops; ranging on Killing Ground; retreat of Americans and their later return; Compo rations; American rations; relationship with civilians; firing on German counter attack; attachment to Corps d'Afrique; memories of "Swifty" Howlett; details of 36 Brigade and 78 Division; role with Corp d'Afrique; memories of Tirrius Algerienne officers and troops; discipline and punishments in Tirrius Algerienne; story of a patrol with Goumier; method employed by Goumier to kill Germans; Goumier uniform; memories of Goumier troops and role on patrols; attack made with German French Foreign Legion troops; attitude of troops to foreign troops and POWs; unit and background of Goumier troops. REEL 17 Continues: landscape of Tunisia; role in attacks; German radio broadcasts; German attitude towards Italians; transport of mortars on mules; resentment of Major Mike Fuller being left out of battle; rotation of officers in and out of battle; attack on Jebel Bou Dis; mortaring of German counter attacks and method of capturing of prisoners; Sergeant Major taken prisoner request to see 25lb guns; looking out for battle weary troops; story of German prisoner giving Nazi salute; second meeting with Goumier troops; wounding of Mike Fuller; reason for never being left out of battle; reactions to time in action; move into Mjerda Valley; description of Longstop Hill; German barrage; advance of Argyles; charge with Argyles; casualties and actions of 'Jock' Anderson; success of attack; mail; support of Buffs in attack; subsequent attacks on hill; holding of 8th Army at Enfidaville; tending of wounded troops and prisoners; arrival in Tunis; administrative jobs; visit of Montgomery; separation of 1st and 8th Armies; Victory parade; losses in platoon; occasional taking of command of a company. REEL 18 Continues: earlier relief from 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry; help given to 16th Battalion; interview with Colonel Preston; orders only to return fire and Frenchman living near positions at Jebel Abiod; details of northern frontline; Germans mimicking Geordies; positions taken to depose the Bey of Tunis; contact with troops at palace; role in Sicily invasion; stories from period in hospital; journey to Sicily aboard LST; waterproofing of tanks. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in Sicily, 7/1943-9/1943: arrival in Sicily; German troops faced; movement around Etna; action in Centuripe; casualties and help given to wounded; move to Bronte; German 6-barrelled mortars; terrain fought over; shelter taken; Royal Artillery Sergeant from Blackhill; mules used in Sicily; problems with mosquitoes and malaria precautions; use of mortars; story of Randazzo; arrival on coast and summary of campaign; description of coming under fire from 6-barrelled mortar; looking out for troops getting battle wear; opinion for why his mortar platoon troops didn't get battle weary; dangers faced by mortar platoon; opinion of German paratroops; rest in Milazzo and Malta; voyage to Italy. REEL 19 Continues: Aspects of operations as officer with 6th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in Italy, 9/1943-9/1944: story of crossing river near Termini; Germans captured in Termini; death of 'Jock' Anderson; firing of mortars and scenes in battle; attempt to get anti-tank guns in position; German attack; retreat and regroup; story of surrendering German throwing a hand grenade and British retaliation; orders given about taking paratrooper prisoners; patrol taken out among dead; support given to Buffs in an attack; feeling that if was to die should take a German with him; looting of a Luger; burial of casualties; opinion of German paratroopers; treatment of Italian civilians by paratroopers at Monte Chinfoni; reaction of troops; loading of mules; refusal of Sikh corporal to overload mules; driving of mules through a river; death of a mule and chit signed; attack on Vasto; praise given to Indian troops; crossing of River Sangro; posting in mountains to fight German ski-troops; blankets given for camouflage; extra ration given for fighting in high altitude; chocolate given to children in Baranello; opinion of and relationship with civilians; fighting with Panzer Grenadiers; message sent from nearby village. REEL 20 Continues: help given to village; contact with partisans and memories of their leader Nico; patrols in mountains; treatment given for limp and downgrading; time training troops in Naples; extension of status; posting as Staff Captain at 2nd Echelon GHQ in Africa. Aspects of period as Staff Officer with 2nd Echelon General Headquarters in North Africa, 9/1944-11/1944: clashes with Brigadier JH Wood; return to GB for leave; demobilisation in March 1946. Aspects of period as officer with 17th Bn Parachute Regiment in GB, 1947- 1949: later joining Parachute Regiment and reason for joining unit; parachute course attended; displays; reason for leaving regiment; memories of Colonel Birkbeck; background of troops; volunteered to help in Falklands Campaign.