Lowson, Parkin (Oral history)

British private served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, France and Belgium, 1939-1940; private served with 1st Bn Tyneside Scottish in GB and Iceland, 1940-1944

REEL 1 Background in Romaldkirk and Hunderthwaite, Co Durham, GB, 1920-1939: towns lived in while growing up; family; community in Romaldkirk; involvement with church; leisure activities; opinion of upbringing; Sunday School trips; education; work with local doctor; work with Tees Valley Water Board including working week and pay; leisure activities; marriage. Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 8/1939-1/1940 call-up upon mobilisation; joining of Territorial Army; reaction of family to his joining army; posted in B Company; reward for introducing new members; accommodation; posting as Lieutenant Jackson's batman; drill; training with Bren gun; outbreak of war 9/1939 during Barnard Castle church parade; reactions to start of war; uniform issued with; reception from civilians; officers and NCOs in B Company; details of puttees worn before war; weapons course at Whitburn; opinion of .303 Lee Enfield rifle; gas training; fear of gas being used; training missed; duties as batman; posting to of battalion in Chipping Norton; B Company accommodation in Kingham; pumping of water for baths; relationship with civilians. REEL 2 Continues: memories of Lieutenant Jackson and batman duties when in action; cooking duties; description of Kingham; entertainment in village; return of batmen from pub; training of battalion; vehicles in battalion; Regiment Sergeant Major's parade; length of time at Kingham; leave for marriage; details of pay; kit inspections; replacement of lost items; discipline; work in officers mess; uniform worn; training given; officer running the mess; perks of job; typical day of a batman; supply of own meals; attitude of troops towards his work; journey to Southampton and send-off from Chipping Norton; voyage to Cherbourg. Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 1/1940- 5/1940: free time in Cherbourg; contact with civilians; posting on Somme; accommodation; bully beef found and eaten; contact with civilians; hygiene; training of battalion; posting to village near Lille. REEL 3 Continues: accommodation; leisure activities in Lille including cock fighting and relationship with civilians; civilians who owned accommodation; location of officers mess; rations; wireless in mess; mail and parcels received; involvement of batmen in training; censorship of mail; German invasion of Low Countries. Aspects of operations as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France and Belgium, 5/1940: start of journey into Belgium; refugees on road; march from Vimy Ridge; first Germans seen; given role as company runner; orders not to pick up wounded; fire from machine guns in field; wounding of Jackie Wright; Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; arrival and action in Arras; bravery of Lieutenant Widdas; shortage of rations; casualties; wounding. Aspects of hospitalisation in France and GB, 1940: evacuation to Regimental Aid Post; description of wounds; time in hospital; journey in ambulance to Dunkirk; night locked in ambulance on docks; escape from ambulance and days sheltering in dunes; boarding of hospital ship; arrival in Harwich; journey to Preston; treatment in Preston Hospital; visits from civilians; discipline; journey home; reception from wife; posted to holding battalion in Hartlepool; air raids. REEL 4 Continues: transfer to Tyneside Scottish in Totnes. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Tyneside Scottish in GB and Iceland, 8/1940- 1944: condition on transfer; platoon detachment in Luddeswell; posting as batman to Lieutenant Hogg; Germans met on arrival in Iceland; description of Iceland; relationship with civilians; entertainments and leave; story of passing through customs; return form Iceland; training in Wales; time as batman at brigade headquarters; medical discharge; treatment; details of pension; issue of civilian clothes when discharged.