Tiffin, Douglas Lyle (Oral history)

British gunner served with 125th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1939; NCO served with 278 Bty, 87th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Iraq and North Africa, 1939-1943; officer served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Middle East and Italy, 1944

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Sunderland, GB, 1921-1939: family circumstances; education at Royal Masonic School, Bushey, 1931-1937, including conditions, discipline, sporting activities, academic specialisation in commercial field and OTC activities including rifle and tactical training, summer camps and weapons training; question of influence of freemasonry; work as with marine insurance office clerk, 1938-1939; question of approach of war. Recollections of recruitment and training as gunner with 125th Field Regt, Royal Artillery at Garrison Drill Hall, Sunderland, GB, 3/1939-9/1939: reasons; enlistment procedure; mother's reaction; drill; gun drill on 18pdr and 4.5" howitzer; mobilisation during summer camp at Whitby, 8/1939-9/1939. Recollections of initial period at Seaburn Hall, 9/1939-11/1939. REEL 2 Continues: conditions of service; origins of ORs; relationship with ORs, NCOs and officers; digging trenches; reactions to transfer as aged under 19 to home service unit. Recollections of period with 278 Bty, 87th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery at Jarrow, GB, 1939-1940: Lewis gun training; manning Lewis gun anti-aircraft post on roof of Dunstan Power Station; training on 3" and 3.7" Anti-Aircraft guns including comparison, role of gun team numbers, types of shell; relationship with other ranks; firing camp in Scotland; question of accuracy. Recollections of period in Middlesborough, 1940: organisation and layout of troop 3.7" and 4.5" Anti-Aircraft gun positions; morning routine duties; use of predictor. REEL 3 Continues: use of predictor; question of daytime German air raids; firing box barrages during German night air raids; question of accuracy in shooting directly at German reconnaissance aircraft; varying roles; night duties; anti-aircraft gun range; German air raid targets; close escape from bombs; question of liaison with searchlight units; gunnery and predictor courses; role of officers; reliance on predictor; relationship with other ranks on promotion to bombardier; training postings as preparations for overseas service; training in dropping into action with new 3.7" mobile Anti-Aircraft guns and Matadors. Recollections of voyage out via South Africa and India to Basra, Iraq, 7/1941-9/1941: mess deck conditions; hospitality of South African civilians during stop at Capetown; changing troopship at Bombay; conditions and consequent complaints from troops. Period in Iraq, 1941-1942: issue of Indian food rations. REEL 4 Continues: ill fitting Indian issue uniforms; arrival of anti-aircraft guns; move to provide anti-aircraft defences on plateau above Habbaniyah RAF Station; conditions of service; guard of Iraq Levies; guarding against civilian thefts; move to Kirkuk; winter weather conditions; promotion to gun sergeant; sergeants' mess. Period in Middle East, 1942-1943: relationship with Arab and Jewish populations; hospitalisation; anti-tank training with anti-aircraft guns; rejoining unit in Tobruk harbour sector; German night air raids and attacks on anti-aircraft gun positions; desert sores; lice problem; moves to Benghazi and Tripoli; Victory Parade, 5/1943; application for commission and interview with commanding officer. REEL 5 Continues: interview with commanding officer and question of prior disciplinary record due to arrest when drunk in GB, 1941; aptitude tests. Recollections of period at Middle East Officers Cadet Training Unit in Palestine, 9/1943-3/1944: transfer to training as infantry officer; opinion of relevance and length of course; passing out and selection of Durham Light Infantry. Recollections of period with A Coy 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Middle East 4/1944 : informal approach between officers; opinion of Major Alan Hay; opinion of reliability of other ranks; relationship with other ranks; question of problems with Jewish insurgents in Palestine; training and relevance of junior officers' battle training course; opinion of Colonel Johnny Preston. Period in Italy, 7/1944-8/1944: voyage out; training. Initial operations against Gothic Line, 26/8/1944-18/8/1944: casualties; effect of shoe mines; personal morale. Account of attack on Petriano, 28/8/1944: following tanks into action; prior move to D Coy; relaxed atmosphere on capture of town. REEL 6 Continues: close escape from German shell; shell shock symptoms of Major Frank Duffy; effects of German shellfire; assisting in rescue of wounded. Aspects of operations against Gothic Line, 28/8/1944-1/9/1944: move forward; positions exposed to German shellfire; story of British casualties evacuated from town under protection of Red Cross; German mortar fire; story of accidentally entering German minefield; nature of 'O' Groups; street fighting in village and relevance of training; fatigue; move into Mondaino, 1/9/1944; story of surprising group of German troops during advance trough vineyard; failed attempt to consolidate position and severe leg wound during withdrawal towards Mondaino. REEL 7 Continues: story of being left behind with just two soldiers, avoiding German patrols, German shellfire and rescue by Private Askill and stretcher bearers; treatment at Regimental Aid Post; evacuation by US Quaker ambulance to field hospital; state of leg. Hospitalisation and evacuation to GB, 9/1943-1/1944: flight to Barletta; medical treatment at Barletta Hospital; move to Bari Hospital; voyage aboard hospital ship; opinion of medical treatment received. Recollections of medical treatment at Ryhope Hospital, GB, 2/1944-3/1945: state of leg; walking with calliper and crutches. Leave at home, 3/1945-3/1946: physiotherapy; gradual recovery and removal of calliper. Post-war career: return to work; effects of leg wound.