Description
Object description
British private served with 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1942-1943; served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, Italy, Middle East and Austria, 1943-1946; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Greece, 1946
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of background in Sunderland, GB, 1915-1942: work as rivet catcher in shipyard; work as builder; question of approach of war; marriage, 1936; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; failed attempts to join Royal Navy, Royal Marines and RAF; deferred call up, 8/1/1942. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and training with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Shorncliffe Barracks, Folkestone and Rye, 1/1942-1/1943: initial posting to special recruit training company, E Coy; reception and kitting out; barrack room; food rations; canteen; kit inspections; relationship with other ranks; drill; PT; route marches; weapons training including rifle and bayonet.
REEL 2 Continues: weapons training including bayonet, hand grenade, Bren gun, 2 inch mortar, Boyes anti-tank rifle and Thompson gun; gas mask training; tactical training including method of crossing barbed wire; posting to 10 Platoon, B Coy; selection as potential NCO for exercises at Seaford; opinion of officers and NCOs; German air attacks on Rye; coastal defence patrols in Camber sector; guard duty and inspections for award of stick; relationship with civilians; sporting activities; leave; pride in unit; preparations for overseas posting.
REEL 3 Voyage aboard Staffordshire to Algiers, Algeria, 12/1942-1/1943: prior movements; personal morale; conditions; send off from Liverpool; first impressions of Algiers; march to Maison Carie. Recollections of period in Green Hill sector, 1/1943-3/1943: slit trenches; stand to; sentry duty; food rations and ration parties; dugouts; daytime reconnaissance patrols; rest periods at Sedjenaene; washing and shaving; water supply and tea; German mortar fire. Recollections of Battle of Sedjenaene, 2/1943: retreat of French; story of counter-attack by A and B Coys including effects of German sniper fire and close escape during retirement; back wound from German nebelwerfer fire; reaction of Major <Illes> to casualties.
REEL 4 Continues: evacuation as walking wounded to dressing station in railway tunnel; casualties. Period in hospitals, convalescent camp and Infantry Reinforcement Training Depot in Algeria, 2/1943-7/1943. Recollections of periods at Blida and Bizerta, 7/1943-9/1943: state of unit on rejoining; training exercises in Atlas Mountains; opinion of officers and NCOs including Lieutenant Chapman; German air raids on Bizerta area; acting as defence unit in landing craft exercises. Recollections of operations in Italy, 9/1943-2/1944: landing under fire at Salerno beach, 9/9/1943; confused situation in Salerno; move onto Hospital Hill, 9/1943; standing patrol; story illustrating effects of fatigue; story of Chapman inspecting troops straight out of line.
REEL 5 Continues: taking over section and promotion to corporal; effects of army service on self confidence; move to Corpo di Carva sector, 9/1943; special friends; story of clash with German tanks during reconnaissance patrol to discover supply route to Corpo di Carva sector; capture of German POW; operations on crossing of Volturno, 12/10/1943-12/10/1943, including wading across river, casualty from German machine gun fire, grenade casualties during patrol along dried up canal, digging in, German counter-attack, 13/10/1943, falling back and capture of wounded; story of guard duty during rest period; crossing of Teano, 28/10/1943; story of eating German food rations on occupying deserted German positions; food rations; hospitalisation with infected desert sores; operations in Garigliano area, 12/1943-1/1944; story of patrol, subsequent German shell fire and resulting shell shock cases; story of being wounded in foot by German machine gun during advance on Castelforte, 1/1944; walking back to aid post and evacuation to hospital.
REEL 6 Hospitalisation and convalescence in Italy, 2/1944-6/1944: medical treatment; protesting to transit camp officer to secure posting back to unit in Palestine. Period in Middle East, 6/1944-7/1944: question of new drafts and attitude of soldiers drafted from North Africa, 9/1943; duties as corporal and relationship with other ranks; leave. Story of breaking ankle in accident during railway journey on return to Italy, 7/1944. Medical complications and consequent hospitalisation and convalescence in Italy, 7/1944-1/1945. Re-joining unit and period in Greece, 1/1945-4/1945: movements; attending NCOs' course, promotion to lance sergeant and posting to newly reformed D Coy; officers; recreations and sports day. Nature of fighting in Italy, 1943-1945: personal morale; comparison of Bren gun and Schmeisser, British and German mortars and artillery; personal weapons.
REEL 7 Continues: personal weapons; terrain; air support; attitude to British tanks; digging in and use of entrenching tool; question of transport; relationship with Italian civilians. Period in Italy, 4/1945-5/1945: movements; VE Day celebrations at Birtinoro, 8/5/1945; court martial of recaptured deserter. Recollections of period in Austria, 5/1945-1/1945: rejoining unit at Bruckle, 5/1945; return of Cossack troops to Soviet control; use of horses and races; billets; move to Wildon sector; 7/1945; question of posting to Far East; GB leave, 8/1945-9/1945; ceremonial guard duties following move to Vienna, 10/1945; duties as sergeants' mess caterer; drinking habits; recreations.
REEL 8 Continues: recreations; relationship with Austrian civilians and Russian troops; return to Wildon, 11/1945; return to company duties; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1945; skiing courses; reactions to draft to join 2nd Bn, Durham Light Infantry, 1/1945. Recollections of period with C Coy, 1st Bn, Durham Light Infantry at Xanthi, Greece, 1/1946-7/1946: rejection of offer of promotion for extension of service; relationship with Greek civilians and punishment of soldiers involved in fight; recreations and duties; question of regular nature of unit; acting as colour sergeant major and rejection of offer of promotion for extension of service; return to GB. Demobilisation, 7/1946. Post-war career: work; eventual award of disability pension; effects of war service.