Tew, Ken (Oral history)

British NCO served with 425 Bty, 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine, and North Africa, 1938-1941

REEL 1 Background in Nottingham, 1916-1939: education and Officers' Training Corps activities at King's School, Warwick; work with electric power company. Recruitment and training as gunner with A Troop, 425 Bty, 107th Regt <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery at Derby Road Drill Hall, Nottingham, 1938-1939: prior attempt to join Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve; recruitment by Regimental Sergeant Major Frederick Porter, ca 1938; 18pdr gun drill; attending Redesdale Camp, 6/1939; relationship with ORs, officers and NCOs; reaction to approach of war. Mobilisation and initial period in Derby Road Drill Hall, 9/1939: conditions of service; blackout precautions. Aspects of periods at Rillington and Wragby, 9/1939-1/1940: question of nickname of 'cut glass boys'; role and training as specialist gunner; billets. REEL 2 Continues: billets; relationship with regular reservists and conscripts; driving lorry; preparations for posting overseas. Promotion to lance bombardier and journey out to Palestine, 1/1940. Aspects of period in Palestine, 1/1940-6/1940: sea bathing; driving on sand at Asluj Firing Camp; role on gun team and as specialist. Aspects of period at Mersa Matruh, Egypt, 6/1940-1/1941: dugouts; desert sores. REEL 3 Continues: food rations; drunken Christmas party, 25/12/1940; sandstorms; high level Italian air raids; recreations; opinion of officers. Promotion to sergeant during period in Suez Canal area, ca 1/1941-4/1941: role of gun sergeant; re-equipment with 25pdrs. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle in Tobruk, Libya, 4/1941-11/1941: drive to Tobruk, 4/1941; role of Padre H Parry; gun positions; firing during initial German attacks; gun programmes; German counter-battery fire. REEL 4 Continues: Stuka dive bombing attacks, slit trenches, necessity of continuing to fire gun programme and camouflage of gun position; random fire from various positions and use of captured Italian artillery; methods of registering and ranging targets during periods of duty up scaffolding pole observation post; minor knee wound received in disposal of anti-personnel mines dropped by aircraft. REEL 5 Continues: dugout and sleeping arrangements; food and water rations; question of washing, standards of appearance and uniform worn; latrines; dysentery; fly problem; question of desert sores; vulnerability to effects of sun; desert faunae including scorpions; recreations including concert parties, bridge, gambling, rugby match and rest camp; state of morale; letter and parcel contact with GB. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of various officers and ORs; background to successful application for officers' cadet training; opinion of RAF pilots defending Tobruk; story of being wounded in back by shell whilst at Bashwell OP, ca 1/12/1941. Evacuation via Tobruk Hospital to 16th General Hospital at Cairo, ca 12/1941: ambulance journey; question of lack of immediate medical attention; development of serious complication and bone marrow disease. Medical treatment in Egypt and GB, 1941-1946: initial relapses; medical discharge, ca 1943; return to work at electric power company.