Langford, Frederick Coombes (Oral history)

British NCO signaller served with 425 Bty, 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1942; POW in Italy and Germany, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Background in Derby and Beeston, Nottingham, 1917-1939: family circumstances; education; apprenticeship and work at Ericson Telephone Ltd, Beeston, 1933-1939; recreations. Recruitment and training with A Troop, 425 Bty, 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery at Derby Road Drill Hall, Nottingham, 4/1939-9/1939: reasons for volunteering with friends; medical; gun drill and role of gun team members; drill nights; story of saluting Regimental Sergeant Major Frederick Porter; posting to Sergeant Albert Inger's gun team; opinion of Lieutenant John Shakespear; aspects of period at Redesdale Camp, 7/1939 including food rations and kit inspection. REEL 2 Continues: reactions to outbreak of war. Mobilisation and initial period in Nottingham, 8/1939-9/1939: conditions of service; question of air raid precautions. Aspects of periods at Rillington and Wragby, 9/1939-1/1940: conditions of service; training; relationship with local civilians; vaccinations; relationship with ORs. Journey to Palestine, 1/1940: visit to cafe in Cherbourg, France; train journey; voyage aboard HMT Devonshire. Aspects of period in Palestine, 1/1940-6/1940: conditions of service; Asluj Firing Camp; state of efficiency as unit; relationship with Jewish and Arab civilians. Recollections of period at Mersa Matruh, Egypt, 6/1940-12/1940: attachment to A Troop Signals Section. REEL 3 Continues: attachment to A Troop Signals Section as prospective signals sergeant; prior minimal knowledge of signalling; promotion as bombardier following course at Middle East Signals School at Nathaniyah, Palestine; policy of training gunners to perform multiple roles; opinion of Sergeant Jack Sykes; question of relationship with more experienced OR signallers; maintenance of batteries; dugout; sandstorms; fly problem; water supply; standards of appearance; fly problem; Italian high altitude bombing raids; Evacuation with tonsillitis to Alexandria Hospital and with diphtheria to Jerusalem Hospital, 12/1940-1/1940. Rejoining unit in Suez Canal area, 1/1941: role spotting mines dropped by German aircraft; use of British aircraft to bring mines to surface with electro-magnet. REEL 4 Period at Tahag Camp, 2/1941-4/1941: problem installing radios in trucks due to lack of electrical suppression of engines; issue of motorbike and learning to ride; role on promotion to signals lance sergeant of A Troop and relationship with ORs; question of repair of equipment; role of battery signals sergeant; motorcycle ride to Tobruk, Libya, 4/1941. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle at Tobruk, 4/1941-12/1941: keeping observation post radio batteries charged; laying and repairing telephone lines to OPs; personal morale; multiple role of OP signallers. REEL 5 Continues: routine duties including charging of radio batteries; signals training including heliograph; use of simple semaphore with drivers; taking teams up to OP and question of minefields; maintaining telephone line 'ladder' connections up to OP towers at night; role on promotion to battery signals sergeant; Stuka raids and shell fire; Australian troops use of captured Italian artillery; lack of sleep; water and food rations; washing, personal appearance and uniform. REEL 6 Continues: shrapnel from anti-aircraft fire; latrines; recreations; scorpions; letter and parcel contact with GB; cigarette ration; sand storms; NAAFI provision; relationship with ORs; role during breakout operations, 11/1941; skirmish with party of Germans crossing lines of communication; problems with motor transport. Period in Egypt, 1/1942-5/1942: re-equipment with new radios. REEL 7 Continues: extending numbers receiving basic signalling and driving training. Various aspects of Knightsbridge actions, 27/5/1942-4/6/1942: situation; nature of fighting; minimal role as signaller; commendation received for gallantry; situation; surrender. Recollections of initial period as POW in Libya, 6/1942-11/1942: removal of cap badge by German as souvenir; transfer to Italian control; conditions; effects of malnutrition; food. Voyage via Sicily to Italy, ca 11/1942: circumstances of avoiding assignment to ship sunk by RAF. REEL 8 Continues: lack of latrine provision; reception from Italian civilians. Recollections of conditions and lifestyle at PG 85, POW Camp, Tuturano, 30/11/1942-7/1943: notification of parents; hut accommodation and beds; POW organisation; contents of Red Cross parcels; food; question of recreations and conversational topics; letter and parcel contact with GB; cigarettes; use of camp money; shaving; socks; roll call; relationship with Italian guards. REEL 9 Continues: state of health; working party on vineyard; story of snake. Aspects of period at PG 53, POW Camp, Sforza Costa near Macerata, 7/1943-9/1943: conditions; recreations; news of war; escape on Italian surrender and circumstance of re-capture by German troops; train journey to Muhlberg, Germany. Recollections of conditions at Stalag No IVB, Muhlberg, 9/1943-9/1944: reception procedure; relationship with German guards; food. Recollections of period at Stalag 357, Fallingbostel near Breman, 9/1944-4/1945: winter conditions; typhoid outbreak from polluted water. REEL 10 Conditions: attitude to escape; reading; question of working parties; German policy of moving POWs east; relationship with Germans. Recollection of march to east, 4/1945: slow progress; attitude of German guards and return to camp; occupation of Stalag No IVB by Russian POWs and labourers; camping outside to avoid widespread typhus; discovering food store; reactions to liberation, 16/4/1945. Air lift to GB, 4/1945. Recollection of various postings prior to demobilisation, 4/1945-1/1946: reaction to women; reception; telegram to parents; leave; period at ex-POW rehabilitation centre; various postings; return to pre-war work; effects of POW experience on mental state; marriage; opinion of German and Italian civilians.