Bredin, Humphrey Edgar Nicholson (Oral history)

British officer served with 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in France, Belgium and GB 1940; officer served with 2nd Parachute Brigade in GB, North Africa and Italy, 1943; officer served with 1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers in Italy, 1943-1944; officer served with 6th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Italy, 1944; officer served with 2nd Bn London Irish Rifles in Italy 1944-1945; officer served with Headquarters, 78th Infantry Div in Austria 1945-1946; officer served with Headquarters, 6th Airborne Div in Palestine 1946-1947; officer served with 2nd Bn Parachute Regt in Cyprus and during Suez landings in Egypt, 1956-1958

REEL 1 Aspects of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles. 9th Infantry Bde, 3rd Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940-6/1940: origin of nickname 'Bala'; posting and activities in Lasenne before German advance; advance to Louvain including Junkers Ju-87 Stuka attacks; arrival and positions taken in Louvain, Belgium; supply of ammunition; plan for destruction of bridge; evacuating refugees; story of accident with mine; activity before German arrival including talk with 15/19th Hussars officer; approach of and activity against German troops; destruction of bridge; action in Louvain, Belgium; opinion of German training; details of area held; German activity in area; use of Bren Gun including mistakes made by Germans; casualties and description of weapon used by Germans; problems from German snipers; evacuation of forward position; death and opinion of a corporal; rest period; situation in Louvain, Belgium; use of artillery support; accuracy and noise of artillery barrage; German activity; details of artillery codenames; orders to withdraw and knowledge of wider situation; details of withdrawal from Louvain, Belgium. REEL 2 Continues: state of troops; details of defensive positions taken during withdrawal; posting as company commander; opinion of battalion's activities; daylight withdrawal in Ypres area, Belgium; opinion of carrier platoon support; story of dispatch rider; details of unusual manoeuvre undertaken; opinion and work of Royal Military Police; effects of tiredness; orders to withdraw to coast; story of wounded soldier in La Panne, Belgium; evacuation system from La Panne beach, Belgium; wait for evacuation; orders for march to Dunkirk and to take firearms on boat; scenes during march; boarding of boat; details of boat; story of steward onboard. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in GB, 1940-1941: arrival in Dover; reception from civilians in Headcorn; waking up at Tweseldown Racecourse; visit to brother at Camberley. REEL 3 Continues: posting on coast at Brighton; atmosphere in Britain during summer 1940 including plans made for coastal defence; opinion of chances against a German invasion including equipment situation and destruction of Brighton Pier; air activity; opinion of Royal Air Force during Dunkirk evacuation; memories and opinions of General Bernard Montgomery; military background of family and reasons for joining Royal Ulster Rifles; background of troops in Royal Ulster Rifles when joined and at time of interview; issue of religion in regiment. REEL 4 Continues: period at Staff College and posting as Brigade Major with 2nd Parachute Brigade. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Parachute Bde in GB and North Africa, 4/1943-9/1943: formation of brigade; arrival in North Africa and posting at Sousse; reasons for not going to Sicily; attitude of troops toward General Bernard Montgomery and methods employed by him to win troops over; reconnaissance visit to Sicily; voyage to Taranto. Aspects of operations as officer with 2nd Parachute Bde in Italy, 9/1943-10/1943: advance inland including telephone calls made to civilians further north; posting to Royal Irish Fusiliers. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers, 38th (Irish) Infantry Bde, 78th Infantry Div in Italy, 10/1943-2/1944: reason for posting in Termoli; situation upon arrival in Termoli; attack on Germans; story of POW taken during drive to front; Canadian tank support; terrain in Italy; details of Sangro River; reasons for wait before advance; supply of rations; activities as second in command; example of mistake made due to poor conditions; attack on Sangro Line and advance; posting to Cassino area; training near Capua; position taken at Monte Castelone; posting to Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Recollections of operations as officer with 6th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 38th (Irish) Infantry Bde, 78th Infantry Div in Italy, 2/1944-7/1944: previous action of battalion; relief of French troops; patrols sent out; description of position occupied and evacuation of dead; sangars built. REEL 5 Continues: battles at Monte Cassino; more on patrols sent out; role in selection of officers for patrols; sending battle weary officers away; shelling and Mad Mile approach to Monte Cassino; destruction of sangar while in Naples; relief from Polish troops; destruction in Cassino area and reaction on arrival in Capua; comradeship in Division; St Patrick's Day; training with 16th/5th Lancers; description of new position taken; story of events shortly before battle; advance to River Rapido; crossing of river; plan for attack; knowledge of situation; orders received and given to troops; details of attack across River Rapido; state of German troops following battle; overshooting and destruction of tanks; consolidation of position including story of O Group meeting. REEL 6 Continues: plan for attack; journey to and attendance at London Irish Rifles O Group; talk with Brigadier Pat Scott; arrival of brigadier; return to battalion; formation on start line; description of wounding from mortar; evacuation; hospitalisation in Caserta; convalescence in Sorrento; events while away from battalion; return to battalion and activities in Rome; story of priest who travelled with battalion; reactions to seeing wounded soldiers; talk given to troops before a battle; discussion on gaining respect of troops and man management. Aspects of operations as officer with 2nd Bn London Irish Rifles 38th (Irish) Infantry Bde, 78th Infantry Div in Italy, 7/1944-5/1945: events during summer of 1944; details of and activities at Monte Grande; events on New Year's Eve 1944. REEL 7 Continues: action and conditions at Monte Spaduro; reconnaissance undertaken in San Marino; positions and situation on Semio River; advance via Argento to River Po; disbanding of 6th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and posting to Royal Irish Rifles; training with 9th Lancers and description of Armoured Personnel Carriers; first meeting with 9th Lancers; details of advance with Lancers; action in Argento Gap; advance through gap including German resistance met; story of argument made against a command issued; end of war. Aspects of period as staff officer with Headquarters, 78th Infantry Div in Austria, 1945-1946: posting to division; situation in Austria including with Cossack Corps; orders to hand Cossacks to Russia; details of Cossacks; reactions to handover. REEL 8 Continues: reflections on decision; Cossacks released into countryside; opinion of troops toward Cossacks; women and children involved; description of Cossack troops; contact with German Cossack officer; involvement with Nikolai Tolstoy; Divisional Parade in Spital; posting to 6th Airborne Div; journey to Palestine. Aspects of period as officer with Headquarters, 2nd Airborne Div in Palestine, 1946-1947: situation in Palestine; return visit to Ein Harod; opinion and discussion of events; question of danger felt in Palestine; ambush of guard in Tel Aviv; attitude of troops towards Jewish civilians; 50th Anniversary of Special Night Squads meeting; further discussion of events in Palestine 1946- 1948. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Parachute Regt in Cyprus and during Suez landings, Egypt, 1956-1958: arrival and reason for posting in Cyprus; posting in Nicosia; climate; patrols; 3rd Battalion casualties from forest fire; source of information. REEL 9 Continues: use of EOKA defectors as bogus gang; events leading to capture of Polykarpos and other EOKA troops; preparations for posting in Suez; voyage to Suez and journey to southern sector, 11/1956; news of ceasefire; reason given for ceasefire and reaction to it.