Saward, Leslie William George (Oral history)

British clerk with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 1940-1942; served with Headquarters, 81st West African Div in Nigeria 1942; NCO served with 81st West African Div India and Burma, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Background in New Malden during First World War, 1914-1918: family and education; glimpses of air war over New Malden; 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, 1939. Refusal of army to take him due to poor eyesight, 1939. Period as clerk with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 1940-1942: call up, 11/1940; allocation to RASC as clerk, 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 RASC 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 foreign posting, spring 1942. Voyage from GB to Nigeria aboard Highland Princess, early 1942: embarking at Avonmouth Docks and 'spud bashing' duties. Period with Headquarters, 81st West African Div in Ibadan, Nigeria, 1942: arrival with unit; role and duties; accommodation; communicating with his Ibo steward in Pidgin English; living conditions; handling West African colleagues; meaning of term 'dash'. Voyage from Nigeria to India via South Africa aboard Highland Princess, 1942: role as gunner on board ship; denial of shore leave to Africans in Cape Town; relationship with South Africans civilians. REEL 3 Continues: embarrassment at Africans sanitary arrangements on beach at Cape Town; sight of whale. Period with 81st West African Div in India, 1942: 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 1942; decision to supply division by air, Comilla; organisation of B echelon of division at Feni; role as Colonel's chief clerk, B echelon. REEL 4 Continues: handling casualties from Kohima and Imphal, Recollections of period with 81st West African Div, 1944-1945: building of West African Way by Burmese women in Arakan, 1944; issue of US K rations; transfer of 3 Bde to Chindits; holding of Japanese attack in Arakan, early 1944; reaction to having to continue action through monsoon; diversion of 7th Indian Div by aircraft to Imphal and Kohima, 1944; pulling out of division to Madras. Celebrating VJ Day and attitude to dropping of atomic bombs, 8/1945. Aspects of service with 81st West African Div, 1942-1945: attitude of troops to Japanese troops; question of over confident attitude of Africans towards meeting Japanese; 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 service aboard; use of chewing sticks; discontent of Africans at not being sent home immediately after 15/8/1945; question of motivation of African troops and their suitability for jungle warfare; discussions with West African clerks about independence.