Gibson, Leonard (Oral history)

British officer served with 287 Bty <Elswick> 72nd Regt, <Northumbrian> Royal Artillery in GB, 1931-1939; served as staff officer with Headquarters, 50th Div in GB and North West Europe, 1939-1941. Evacuated from Dunkirk, 2/6/1940. Served as staff officer with Headquarters, 43rd Div and Operations Headquarters, South Eastern Command, 1941-1942; served as instructor at Staff College, Camberley, GB, 1942-1943; served as staff officer with Headquarters, Eastern Command, 1943-1944; served as second in command with Headquarters, 107th Medium Regt, <South Notts Hussars> RA in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1945; served as Deputy Commander of Military Government, Westphalia Province, Germany, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Ryton on Tyne and Newcastle upon Tyne, 1911-1939: father's textile business; sister's education; effects of First World War, 1914-1918; education at Newcastle Royal Grammar School, ca 1920-1929; Boys' Brigade activities and developing interest in military matters; OTC activities at NRGS including attachment to Durham Light Infantry, officers, training, commendation at inspection parade as corporal, family tradition of smart appearance, drilling squad at Fenham Barracks, role as corporal, Northumbrian pipe band and promotion to company sergeant major. REEL 2 Continues: OTC activities at NRGC including attending OTC summer camps with send off on departure from Newcastle, question of smoking and drinking and training for Certificate 'A'; military enthusiasm despite awareness of events of First World War; reasons for not attending university; development of NRGS; question of joining regular army; replacing father as managing director of family textile firm, products made and successful modernisation, ca 1930-1939; interest in fox hunting and beagling. Recruitment and training with 287 <Elswick> Bty, 72nd Field Regt, <Northumbrian> Royal Artillery at Blyth Drill Hall, ca 1931-1939: reasons; prior failure of medical due to slight heart abnormality on attempt to join Royal Army Service Corps; procedure of acceptance for officer's commission and lack of proper medical. REEL 3 Continues: unofficial status of commission and unit during temporary suspension of Territorial Army, 1930-1931; training in ranging on miniature range and 18pdr gun drill on officers' training night at Regimental Headquarters, Gallowgate Drill Hall, Barrack Road, Newcastle; question of mathematical skills required as gun position officer; courses attached to regular artillery units based at Fenham Barracks; opinion of various officers; unit morale and role of competition between batteries; role as officers during battery drill nights; formalisation of commission, 3/1933; background to seeking accelerated promotion to captain; weekend training exercises; training at riding school upstairs at Regimental Headquarters; reaction to mechanisation of artillery; impromptu summer camps, 1931-1932; removal of horses and subsequent mechanisation, ca 1933. REEL 4 Continues: introduction of MT section and transport officer; difficulties in training horses to pull guns for annual camp and consequent improved efficiency on mechanisation; attending non-firing camp with local infantry units including preparations for joint brigade exercise, firing blanks during barrage, traditional protocol and games at mess nights and tent accommodation; attending firing camp at Redesdale Camp including role of regulars, relationship and opinion of officers of 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> RA, 'raids' to secure mess trophies, training in regimental barrages, observation post duties and inter-battery gunnery competitions; attending promotion classes and courses. REEL 5 Continues: passing captaincy promotion exam; promotion to captain on expansion of regiment, 1938; notification of future appointment as staff officer and consequent loss of opportunity to become Master of Foxhounds; completing correspondence course in staff duties run by Northern Command; lack of contact with unit; passing course as prospective brigade major at Staff College, Camberley, 8/1939; question of suitability of businessmen as staff officers; duodenal ulcer problem on outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; requisition of factory premises and subsequent destruction of family business; partial recovery from ulcer, 10/1939. Recollections of period as Brigade Major, Royal Artillery, Headquarters, 50th Div at Burford and Andoversford, 10/1939-2/1940: replacement of regular reservist officer; special food rations required due to ulcer; billets. REEL 6 Continues: motorised nature and composition of 50th Div; unit locations; composition and role of artillery staff officers; role as brigade major in organisation of training of artillery units; night movement exercise and Brigadier Massey's subsequent defence of charge of wasting divisional allocation of petrol; question of being replaced by regular staff officer; relationship with Massey; account of War Office training test at School of Artillery, Larkhill, 1/1940, including attachment of extra artillery regiment, preparations at War Office during Christmas leave period, advantage of civilian business experience, reviewing results of earlier 51st Div test, successful firing of test barrage and system of communicating of orders and fire plans to units; opinion of intelligence officer and staff captain; relationship with divisional headquarters staff; inspection by George VI. REEL 7 Continues: embarkation leave. Recollections of period in Lille area, France, 1/1940-5/1940: journey out and initial billets at Evre; relationship with local French commanding officers and opportunity to ride their horses; relationship with French civilians; assisting in billeting; chateau billet; situation; calibration of guns; ignorance of impending German offensive, 4/1940; Massey's role in planning II Corps move into Belgium; news of German offensive during GB leave and difficulty in getting back to France, 5/1940; bombing of leave train near Arras; journey to rejoin unit, ca 15/5/1940-18/5/1940, including bombing attacks, stories illustrating confused situation, effects of Stuka dive bombing attacks, French refugees, fatigue and driving lorry. REEL 8 Continues: journey to rejoin unit, ca 15/5/1940-18/5/1940, including reactions under fire and rejoining headquarters near Vimy. Recollections of operations in Vimy Ridge sector, ca 18/5/1940-215/1940: reversed situation in comparison with 1914-1918; lack of trained artillery staff officers during initial period; establishing artillery headquarters in cellar at Petit Vimy; location of units and communications system; role as brigade major in controlling artillery fire from 50th and 5th Div artillery during 151st Bde counter attack, 21/5/1940; method of achieving concentrated shell fire on specific map references and reports of its effectiveness; story of French artillery unit which deserted its post; responding to reports from observation posts; reduction of strength of counter attack; casualties in 72nd Field Regt, RA; question of treatment of German POWs; withdrawal of units involved in counter attack; rearguard role of 50th Div in withdrawal from Vimy Ridge. REEL 9 Recollections of retreat and evacuation of Dunkirk, ca 22/5/1940-1/6/1940: situation; breakdown of communications; effects of fatigue amongst drivers; false gas alarm; shell fire at Ypres, Belgium; absence of central control of artillery; evacuation of divisional artillery; attachment to 50th Div of 3rd and 18th Field Regts, RA; account of conference with Field Marshal Gort at which it was decided that 50th Div would provide rearguard for British Expeditionary Force and decision not to inform brigadiers, ca 29/5/1940; difficulties in organising artillery dispositions; establishing artillery headquarters in cellar at Dunkirk; supply situation during retreat; effects of fatigue including senior commanders; selection of artillery positions; cessation of German fire; disabling guns. REEL 10 Continues: disobeying orders and retaining artillery headquarters' vehicles and equipment in contrast to 50th Div headquarters; evacuation arrangements for artillery units, 1/6/1940; absence of infantry cover; evacuation of Guards Bde; reports of situation on beaches; personal morale during period in cellar headquarters; evacuation of 151st Bde; beginning final evacuation of headquarters personnel and remaining units at 23.00, 1/6/1940; queue formed on mole; cancellation of evacuation at 03.00, 2/6/1940; close escape from heavy shelling whilst among group of French guardsmen; return to cellar; meeting with Brigadier William Hayden and remnants of 150th Bde; obtaining revolver; shooting wounded horse; effects of shelling, 2/6/1940; return to mole at 22.30, 2/6/1940; Hayden's precautions to prevent possible looting; holes in mole; assisting walking wounded along mole; nearly missing last destroyer and evacuation as last man from Dunkirk, 02.00, 3/6/1940; absence of French troops; presence on board of General Alexander and his staff evacuated earlier. REEL 11 Continues: arrival at Dover and reception from WVS canteen workers; reads account written by intelligence officer describing personalities of divisional artillery staff and confirming Gibson's account of evacuation; smart appearance on evacuation; debriefing at Aldershot reception area; reception on telephoning father; background to loss of promised MC and award of MBE for gallantry and its technical removal on post-war award of CBE; temporary stomach disorder. Role as reception officer on concentration of 50th Div at Knutsford, 6/1940. Recollections of period in Dorset area, 6/1940-12/1940: lack of sufficient modern artillery; role in siting coastal defence gun positions; question of adequacy of defences; using 'influence' to get early delivery of equipment; changing priorities from defence to training, ca 10/1940; question of false alarms, ca 9/1940. REEL 12 Continues: appointment of Brigadier G Martin as Commander Royal Artillery, 50th Div and expansion of 50th Div to standard infantry format complement; reaction to replacement of Massey; relationship with Martin; tour of various divisions to brief them as to lessons of war experiences; question of superiority of German equipment and presence of untrained British units, 1940; reactions to appointment of Montgomery as V Corps commander; question of Montgomery's anti-territorial attitude illustrated by dismissal of Lieutenant Colonel Swales from command of 124th Field Regt and their subsequent success at practice camp based on Swales' training programme; recurrence of stomach illness; success of 50th Div artillery in exercises; Montgomery's desire to replace 50th Div with 3rd Div in V Corps. Period of hospitalisation and sick leave with stomach ulcer, ca 12/1940-2/1941: reaction to being left behind on posting of 50th Div to North Africa; story of hostile reception at Medical Board and classification as 'C' grade, ca 2/1941; posting as brigade major to 43rd Div in Reigate area, ca 2/1941. Recollections of period at Olantigh Towers, Wye, ca 3/1941-9/1941: relationship with Brigadier Arthur Cottrell, CRA, 43rd Div. REEL 13 Continues: relationship with Cottrell, CRA, 43rd Div; composition of divisional artillery; relationship with divisional commander Major General Charles Alfrey; demonstration of confidence in shells not dropping short during practice barrage; acting as demonstration team for Montgomery during senior staff study periods; story of Montgomery's surprise inspection of 43rd Div in absence of Alfrey including Gibson's successful ruse to impress him with unorthodox drill he required from artillery units, reports of Alfrey's subsequent interview with Montgomery, question of dismissal of Cottrell and appointment of Gibson to Montgomery's staff. Recollections of period as General Staff Officer 2, Operations Headquarters, South Eastern Command, ca 9/1941-5/1942: role of SEC; Montgomery's experimental exercises to determine best armour/infantry composition for new divisions. REEL 14 Continues: Montgomery's experimental exercises to determine best armour/infantry composition for new divisions; role in issuing orders for exercises; role of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Joseph Napier in planning for invasion of North West Europe at Movement Control; role of staff officers in generating and carrying out orders; prior promotion to major, ca 6/1940; relationship with Selwyn LLoyd, GSO2 Plans, SEC; passing physical fitness test for staff officers; opinion of Selwyn Lloyd; relationship with Major Thomas Harris, GSO2, Training, SEC; role in obtaining situation appreciation from army commanders during training exercises; lack of contact with Montgomery; opinion of Montgomery; question of secrecy; daily routine; meeting with Montgomery and news of posting to instruct at Staff College. Recollections of period as instructor with Directing Staff, Staff College, Camberley, ca 5/1942-8/1943: plan to make course more interesting by introducing humour; status as first territorial on directing staff; prior period attached as infantry bde staff major to 79th Division including secret armoured fighting vehicle experiments. REEL 15 Continues: prior period attached as infantry bde staff major to 79th Division including role in developing training exercises and subsequent removal of inadequate brigadier, organisation of staff course; reception on arrival; dull nature of lectures and new methods employed in Gibson's course, 'Staff duties without tears'; reducing marking time of directing staff; organisation of college and honorary rank of lieutenant colonel; support from college commandant in face of initial resentment of Gibson as territorial; lectures at Rawlinson Hall using new humorous methods; relationship with officers of own staff tutorial group; conditions of service; personal fitness programme; producing Christmas pantomime, 12/1942. Posting as GSO1, Headquarters, Eastern Command at Luton Hoo, ca 8/1943-5/1944: circumstance of appointment by Lieutenant General Sir James Gammel; duties of various staff officers and generally supervisory role. REEL 16 Continues: news of return of 50th Div from North Africa and circumstances of promotion of Brigadier Kirkman to Brigadier Royal Artillery to SEC; knowledge of role assigned to 50th Div in invasion plans and commencement of briefing procedure; meeting 107 Bty, <South Notts Hussars> 7th Medium Regt, RA during tour of Felixstowe; tour of fake fleet of landing craft along eastern coast; development of waterproof tanks for 79th Div; Montgomery's attitude to invasion plans; planning and briefing conferences; pre-war plans for invasion studied at Staff College; sporting activities and question of increased recreation time available; writing theoretical paper on post-war organisation of British Army and conclusions regarding over staffing of senior command staff; circumstance of refusing offered promotion to colonel and success in getting posting as second in command of 107th Medium Regt, <SNH> RA, 5/1944. Initial period at Bolden, Dudsbury Camp and Tilbury Docks, London, 5/1944-7/1944: first impressions of Colonel Marshall St John Oswald; question of battle experience of unit; parade in Nottingham; reaction of Major Campbell to replacement. REEL 17 Continues: exercises on Ilkley Moor and using miniature range; question of knowledge of gunnery required as second in command and administrative role; question of cohesion of unit and extra training required; question of 'bull' required by CRA and role in reducing consequent unrest amongst ORs; relationship with Oswald; opinion of various officers and senior NCOs; officers' mess; preparations for invasion on move to Dudsbury Camp, 6/1944; removal of waterproofing from vehicles on delay to posting to France; close escape from V1 on arrival at Tilbury Docks, 9/7/1944; state of unit. Role as senior officer during voyage aboard Fort Livingstone landing at Arromanches, France, 14/7/1944. Recollections of operations in France, 7/1944-9/1944: question of stealing additional vehicles from other units; role in command of reconnaissance parties in siting new gun positions including composition of parties and use of hunting horn for signals. REEL 18 Continues: role in command of reconnaissance parties in siting new gun positions; success in getting recce parties through Caen and establishing gun positions at Demouville, 21/7/1944; German counter-battery fire and dive bomber attacks at Demouville; chateau headquarters; move to Mondeville, 31/7/1944; state of unit; division of responsibilities with Oswald; role supervising quartermaster staff; forming rescue party following ammunition dump explosion near Headquarters, 9th Army Group Royal Artillery, 7/8/1944; accidental bombing by Allied bombers of positions in Quesnay Wood area, 14/4/1944; advanced role in front line areas directly supporting infantry units; story of taking German POWs and their relative youth and size in comparison to Gibson; recce parties to check possible positions were clear of German troops; story of capture of Oswald on recce party with tanks and taking over command of unit, 18/8/1944. REEL 19 Continues: meeting group of liberated French civilians; successful firing in response to OP officers fire orders during operations to close Falaise gap; reactions to effects of unit's shelling; withdrawal due to proximity of German tanks despite orders to remain in gun positions at Trun, 19/8/1944; question of competence of senior officers of 4th Canadian Div; division of responsibilities with and opinion of second in command Major James Martin; securing Canadian recovery vehicles on transfer to Guards Armoured Div; using former staff contact to improve equipment of unit; escape of Oswald and his period of leave prior to rejoining unit; rest period, 8/1944-9/1944; relationship with ORs; wearing tailor made uniform; personal morale; writing to families of casualties; securing award of MC for Captain Marsh; visiting casualties from minefield accident in hospital, 11/1944; personal policy of encouraging award of medals to unit personnel; question of award of DSO to Oswald and award of Croix de Guerre to Gibson; relationship with French civilians. REEL 20 Continues: period of rest, 8/1944-9/1944; allowing unofficial leave period in Paris; story of reception at Ritz Hotel during visit to Paris; operations in capture of Channel ports, 9/1944. Operations in Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, 10/1944-5/1945: relationship with Oswald on his return to command unit and question of his drinking habits when not in action; story of intervening with Headquarters, 9th AGRA, to secure fire as requested by Major Martin acting as OP during crossing of Scheldt Estuary during landing at South Beveland, Netherlands, 26/10/1944; reputation of unit; rest camp; role in selecting billets on moving gun positions; taking over command again during Oswald's absence on PYTHON leave; officers' party at Susteren, 1/1945; briefing prior to operations to cross Meuse and Rhine. REEL 21 Continues: importance of concealment in moving into new gun positions at Gennep, 5/2/1945; casualties caused by accidental bombing by Allied aircraft of D Troop, 426 Bty whilst firing preparatory bombardment at Gennep, 8/2/1945; policy of mixing veterans and new arrivals on rebuilding D Troop and issue of special order of day; return of Oswald to command unit; serious dispute with Oswald over question of official acknowledgement of Gibson's status as unit commander during operations to close Falaise gap, 8/1944; subsequent departure of Oswald, 4/1945; story of establishing OP subsequently used by Churchill to view Rhine crossing in Xanten sector, 23/3/1945; German air attacks; operations in Nijmegen area, 4/1945; question of awareness of officers of Gibson's dispute with Oswald; leave and attending commanding officers; refresher course at School of Artillery, Larkhill, GB, 4/1945-5/1945; return to unit, reaction to appointment of Colonel Hardy in command, news of imminent staff posting and question of preference in appointing regulars to senior posts; reaction to award of regimental DSOs to all commanding officers of SNH with exception of Gibson during period, 1944-1946. REEL 22 Continues: relationship with driver and servant. Posting as Deputy Commander, Military Government, Westphalia Province, ca 5/1945: cancellation of initial posting and question of priority given to regulars; question of SNH billets; opinion of existing MG staff; illness; criteria in replacement of inadequate MG staff; liaison role between army and German civilians; state of family business in GB; opinion of German civilians; demobilisation, ca 2/1946. Post-war career: state of family business; beagling activities; reason for rejecting offer to command re-formed SNH, 1946; successful period of service with 272nd Regt; period as Deputy Commander Royal Artillery, 50th Div; award of CBE and ruse to avoid losing MBE awarded for gallantry, 1940.