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Object description
British clerk served with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 11/1940-2/1943; NCO served as clerk with Headquarters, 81st (West African) Infantry Div in Ibadan, Nigeria, 3/1943-7/1943 and India, 8/1943-1/1944; NCO served as clerk with B Echelon, 81st (West African) Infantry Div in India and Burma, 1/1944-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in New Malden GB, 1909-1939: family; education; glimpses of air war over New Malden during First World War; reaction to Armistice, 11/11/1918; contracting 'bread rash' from adulteration of bread; effect of start of Second World War on his job as travelling salesman, 9/1939. Aspects of period as clerk with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 11/1940-3/1943: initial refusal of army to accept him due to poor eyesight, 1939; call-up for military service, 11/1940; allocation to Royal Army Service Corps' clerk at Aldershot; nature of basic training at Aldershot; refusal of compassionate leave to see his newborn daughter; treatment during basic training; commanding officer's review of parades, Aldershot; attending army clerks course; work as clerk attached to Hampshire Regt at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight.
REEL 2 Continues: Polish troops firing at German aircraft over Solent, 1941; acquiring proficiency pay increases; reaction to overseas posting, 3/1943. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Highland Princess from GB to Nigeria, 4/1943: embarkation at Avonmouth Docks; 'spud bashing' duties. Aspects of period as NCO with Headquarters, 81st (West African) Infantry Div at Ibadan, Nigeria, 4/1943-7/1943: arrival with division; role and duties; accommodation; communicating with his Ibo steward in Pidgin English; living conditions; handling African colleagues; meaning of term 'dash'. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Highland Princess from Nigeria to India via South Africa, 7/1943-8/1943: role as gunner on board ship; denial of shore leave to Africans in Cape Town, South Africa; relations with South African civilians.
REEL 3 Continues: embarrassment at African troops' sanitary arrangements on beach at Cape Town, South Africa; sight of whale. Aspects of period as NCO with Headquarters, 81st (West African) Infantry Div in India, 8/1943-1/1944: arrival in Bombay and move to Deolali; living conditions at Deolali; relations between Indians and West Africans; work dispatching troops to eastern India; use of perks to get best out of African troops; Indian civilians' reaction to air raid warning in Calcutta, autumn 1943; decision to supply division by air; organisation of B Echelon of division at Feni; role as chief clerk with B echelon.
REEL 4 Continues: handling casualties from Kohima and Imphal, Recollections of period as NCO with B Echelon, 81st (West African) Infantry Div in Burma and India, 1/1944-8/1945: building of West African Way by Burmese women in Arakan, 2/1944-5/1944; issue of American K-rations; transfer of 3rd (West African) Infantry Bde to Chindits; holding off of Japanese attack in Arakan, 2/1944; reaction to having to continue action through monsoon; diversion of 7th Indian Infantry Div by aircraft to Imphal and Kohima, 1944; pulling out of division to Madras, India, 5/1944; celebrating VJ Day and attitude to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; attitude of African troops towards Japanese; question of over confident attitude of African troops towards meeting Japanese forces; supplying British artillery unit through Ngakyedauk Pass; state of West African Service Corps vehicles; loss of vehicles to rogue elephant.
REEL 5 Continues: attitude of African troops to overseas service; use of chewing sticks; discontent of Africans at not being sent home immediately after end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; question of motivation of African troops and their suitability for jungle warfare; discussions with African clerks about Independence.
