Broster, Herbert William (Oral history)

British driver/wireless operator trained with 36th Signals Training Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1944; NCO served with 307th and 303rd (East African) Field Regts, East African Artillery in Kenya, 1944-1947

REEL 1 Background in Spike Island, Ireland and GB, 1925-1939: father's service with Coastal Artillery; life in Ireland including a shooting incident; relations with Irish civilians; leaving school, 1939. Aspects of period as private with 11th (Crowthorne) Bn Berkshire Home Guard in GB, 1940-1943: joining Home Guard; opinion of later basic military training at Colchester, 1943; Home Guard training; use of civil transport. Aspects of basic training with General Service Corps at Le Cateau Barracks, Colchester, GB, 1943: degree to which Home Guard training aided basic training; pattern of basic training; prior recollection of expectations of war, 1939. Aspects of training as driver/wireless operator with 36th Signals Training Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1944: posting to unit at Rhyl; contrast between unit approach and basic training; training as driver/wireless operator; wireless sets used; advanced training at Cromer; winning money at dog races; instruction on guns; rates of transmission and reception. REEL 2 Continues: character of officers during training; arms training at Colchester; casualties at battle school; live firing exercises and psychological impact of artillery fire; relations with officers; fire concentrations and different artillery shells; use of Humber Snipes as radio cars; brief attachment to 95th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery at Conwy. Aspects of voyage from GB to Kenya via Egypt, 1944: convoy to Egypt; conditions in No 157 Transit Camp at Suez, Egypt; contracting dysentery, treatment and effects. REEL 3 Continues: voyage from Suez, Egypt to Mombasa, Kenya via Aden Protectorate. Aspects of period as NCO with 307th (East African) Field Regt, East African Artillery in Kenya, 1944-1945: train journey from Mombasa to depot at River Athi; behaviour of South African officer; joining regiment at Naivasha; attending Africanisation course; VJ Victory parade and home leave, 1945. Recollections of period as NCO with 303rd (East African) Field Regt, East African Artillery in Kenya, 1946-1947: working with African troops; opinion of military limitations of African troops; servants for NCOs; supply of rations; African troops' temperament; incident with insubordinate gunner; attachment to 5th Bn King's African Rifles at Nanyuki. REEL 4 Continues: locust control expedition into bush; African troops method of passing time; African and British troops' rations; reserves of tinned fruit; management of cigarette issues; obtaining fresh meat by shooting game; objection of Muslim African troops to corned beef; staple of maize meal and ghee; cooking arrangements including use of sand stove; duties on petrol convoy to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; threats from Shiffa tribe; use of artillery to disperse hostile groups; character of Somalis; Somali irregular troops; impressions of 5th Bn Kings African Rifles including uniform and equipment; changes in troops' attitude after end of Second World War; problems of boredom. REEL 5 Continues: training for Burma campaign, 1945; cutting positions in bamboo forest; stripping down of guns and use of Willys Jeep; cutting bamboo; opinion of the Willys Jeep; live firing exercises; reaction to end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; state of health; contracting malaria and treatment; use of spare time; relations with European settlers; lack of signs of nationalism; mail; return to GB; demobilisation process; question of staying on in British Army; return to civilian life; lessons learnt from military service.