Harrold, Victor George (Oral history)

British gunner served with 426 Bty, 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1942. POW in Italy and Germany, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Aspects of background in Carlton, Nottingham, 1919-1939. Recruitment and training as gunner with D Troop, 426 Bty, 107th Regt <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery based at Derby Road Drill Hall, Nottingham, 4/1939-9/1939: reasons; 18pdr gun drill; attending Redesdale Camp, 6/1939; awareness of approach of war. Mobilisation and initial period in GB, 9/1939-1/1940. Journey to Palestine, 1/1940. Various aspects of period in Palestine, 1/1940. Various aspects of period at Mersa Matruh, Egypt, 6/1940-1/1941: Italian high level air raids and question of British manufactured bombs; slit trenches. Period in Suez Canal area, 1/1941-4/1941: opinion of newly issued 25pdrs; anti-tank training. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle during period on No1 gun section in Tobruk, Libya, 4/1941-12/1941: opinion of Gun Sergeant Albert Barker. REEL 2 Continues: initial tank battles, 4/1941; fire orders from observation post; problems with worn barrel and question of misfires; food rations; Stuka dive bombing raids; gun positions by El Adem road; cigarettes; letter contact with GB; water supply; washing clothes in petrol; 'desert feet' problem; uniform worn; food rations; German propaganda pamphlets; latrines; desert faunae; use of captured Italian artillery; opinion of various officers and NCOs including Captain Ivor Birkin and Captain Bob Hingston. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of various NCOs; opinion of Australian troops; question of recreations; muzzle and breech covers; role of Artificer Sergeant Watson and Light Aid Detachment in maintaining guns; visit to OP pole; gun programme for creeping barrage and counter-battery fire during breakout operations, 11/1941-12/1941; opinion of various officers and NCOs including Padre H Parry. Period in Egypt and move to Gazala area, Libya, 1/1942-4/1942: training in dropping into action; cooking on petrol sand fire; inspection by Duke of Gloucester. Various aspects of operations in Knightsbridge sector, ca 27/5/1942-6/6/1942: situation. REEL 4 Continues: situation; firing armour piercing shells at tanks; machine gun fire on gun; staying with wounded in cave and subsequent surrender; rejecting opportunity to escape. Initial period of captivity in Libya, ca 6/1942: story of giving name and address to German officer and consequent broadcast of news of capture on William Joyce broadcast; transit camp in desert; question of exchanging valuables for water; comparison of treatment by Italian and German guards; truck journey; state of morale; period in camp near Tripoli; journey to Acquila, Italy. Various aspects of period at Aquila POW Camp, 1942-1943: work as carpenter and sabotage activities whilst building bank; food and Red Cross parcels; lice problem; treatment by Italian guards; story of escape and recapture, ca 9/1943. Abortive escape attempt and consequent threat of executions during train journey to Germany, 1943. Period at Iffingham POW Camp, Stalag XIA, ca 1943-1945: delousing; conditions; factory work making concrete slabs; loss of cigarette parcels; story of being assigned to watch repairing; 'window' foil and bread coupons dropped by RAF; question of escape. REEL 5 Continues: relationship with camp commandant and his replacement following escape attempt; methods of making tea; removal of window bolts in case of air raid; status as 'trustee' POW allowed into engineering section of camp. March to east, ca 4/1945: box for personal possessions; state of health; RAF air activity; liberation by US unit. Journey back to GB, ca 4/1945. Leave prior to demobilisation, 1945. Post-war career: attack of pleurisy and tuberculosis and lack of compensation, ca 1947; difficulty in securing employment prior to return to work as clock maker.