Avery, John "Ginger (Oral history)

British private and NCO served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, France, Belgium, Cyprus, Iraq, North Africa and Italy, 1934-1944; NCO served with 2nd Army Headquarters in North West Europe and GB, 1944-1945; NCO served in GB and Norway, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Birtley and Bishop Auckland, GB, 1918-1934 family; family home; education; civilian work; loss of job at 18; reactions to signing on; membership of Church Lads Brigade; learning to play bugle. Aspects of period as boy musician and private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 3/1934-1/1940: reasons for joining Territorial Army; learning to play bugle properly with "Gussy" Holland; location of drill hall; frequency of meetings; qualification for bounty; duties as bugler; khaki drill and band uniform issued; duties at Whitburn; firing courses; punishments if late on camp; massed bands at camp; need for good teeth to play bugle; bugles used; description of bugle used; cleaning of bugle; expectation of war role as stretcher bearer; posting of buglers as anti-aircraft platoon; use of bugle during war; departure of "Gussy" Holland and arrival of Sergeant Bradley as bugle major. REEL 2 Continues: memories of Sergeants Bradley and Tommy Noble; bugle duties including engagements in officer's mess; drill; camps attended; details of bounty and pay; separation of men and boys; attitude of civilians; formation of 10th and 11th Battalions; signs of approaching war; story of hearing about mobilisation; reaction of mother to war; night in drill hall; kit issued; move to Jubilee Hall; piquet duties; supply of meals; journey to Chipping Norton; reactions to situation; issue of weapons and training before move; platoon commander; relationship with civilians; sports; leisure activities; memories of Lieutenant Kirby; make-up of Anti-Aircraft Platoon; positions taken around Headquarters; knowledge of every job; stripping of Bren gun; opinion of Bren gun; size of magazine; problems with barrel overheating. REEL 3 Continues: accommodation; sleeping arrangements; storage of equipment; kit inspections and stealing among troops; conditions in accommodation; dangers of having a fire; cooking arrangements; duties of orderlies at meals and rota for duties; rations; meals with civilians; winter conditions; bugle duties; anti-aircraft training including aircraft recognition; target practice in France; memories of Colonel Miller; troops lost to mines; formation of 10th Battalion; inspection from King George VI; journey to Southampton; reactions to posting abroad. Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 1/1940-5/1940: arrival and journey to Fresnay-sur-Sarthe; accommodation; illness following stew; latrines; leisure activities; relationship with civilians; activities of battalion; posting in Molliens Vidam; accommodation; items found from First World War; relationship with civilians; duties; story of Charlie Thompson getting drunk; visit to Amiens. REEL 4 Continues: signs of First World War occupation; expectation that this war would be different; accommodation; cookhouse; contact with civilians; reiteration of Charlie Thompson story; Canadian VD charge sheets found; army attitude to VD; warnings about VD; official brothels; brothels in Lille; posting in Emmerin; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; cookhouse; washing facilities; training and digging of Seclin anti-tank ditches; visits to café later destroyed by US bomber; description of anti-tank ditch; reactions to situation; leisure activities; ages of Frenchmen in area; bugler duties; guard duties; inexperience of young officers and memories of Lieutenant Wormold; bugle calls; German invasion. Aspects of operations as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France and Belgium, 5/1940: march into Belgium; reception from civilians; place reached and positions dug; withdrawal from positions; refugees on road; position in column of anti-aircraft platoon; commanding officer; weather; condition of marching troops; make-up of truck crews; stops on march; story of brewery visited. REEL 5 Continues: refugees on road; reactions to and knowledge of situation; state on arrival in Petit Vimy and accommodation; position during action at Arras; air activity; story of old lady in village; passing-by of German tanks; switching off of car lights; story of Reverend Wilde losing head and being punched by Captain Ferens; order given to move; earlier overheating of guns while firing at Junkers Ju 87 Stukas; reactions during action; receiving of withdrawal orders from Sergeant Ridley; journey to Boulogne; mystery of battalion's split; role on Boulogne docks; departure of troops on boat; rumour water tank was filled with wine; journey into town and shelling from Germans; arrival in village and reaction from civilians; reunion with Jimmy Singlewood; arrival in Calais and reported to Depot; request for food; armed and sent to defensive position; movement back to docks; rations from Colour Sergeant Hirst; talk from senior officer then seen leaving on boat; other Durhams met; evacuation of RAF troops; Sergeant Ridley's missing of hospital boat; Lewis Guns gained; march into town to defensive positions; withdrawal; signs of fighting; fifth column activity; air activity; orders to return to docks. REEL 6 Continues: story of Jimmy Singlewood almost getting shot with German POWs; boarding of Williamstown; story of near shooting as entered hold; locking of dock gates; charging through gates of boat; shelling; voyage to Folkestone. Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 5/1940-5/1941: reception on arrival; condition of uniform; camp in Aldershot; items given for washing; journey to Brancepeth and diversion to Bishop Auckland; reaction of mother on return home; points of evacuation from France; arrival of police and ordered to Durham Regal Cinema; issue of new uniform; length of time in cinema; posting in Rugeley; spitting up of battalion in France still a mystery; departure of Colonel Miller; settling in of reinforcements including memories of Dougie Rosie; friends lost in France; inexperience of young officers; commanders of battalion; kit issued at Rugeley; reactions to defeat and eagerness to have another go at Germans; morale of and reception from civilians; postings on south coast; defences dug on beaches and role with anti-aircraft platoon; complaints made about hygiene; exchange of uniform with Punk Redway's; arrival of medical officer; opinion of Redway; baths in Maiden Newton; working hours and troops put on charge for falling asleep; Stand To; story of Scottish troops firing guns during argument; more on theft of Redway's uniform; accommodation. REEL 7 Continues: weather; supply of meals; rations; breaks; latrines; water supply; use of wire; out of bounds areas for civilians; story of unofficial visit to nearby village; invasion scare prompted on return; other invasion scares; rumours of oil on water; discussion of chances against a German invasion; practice of invasion Stand To; air activity; move to Abbotsbury; activities on beach and expectation of invasion; gambling; cleanliness and reasons for complaints; posting in Uffculme; training received; weapons situation; guard duties including standard of turnout of platoon; accommodation; spread of battalion; leisure activities; buildings used by Headquarters Company; conditions; morning procedures; anti- aircraft duties; rota for bugling duties; position in village bugle was played; involvement in boxing team; memories of Lieutenant Allison. REEL 8 Continues: pub frequented in Uffculme including buttons used to pay landlord; relationships between troops and women in area; NCO changes in anti-aircraft platoon; attitude towards NCOs; story of refusing orders and punching Sergeant Ridley; interview with Sammy Battiscombe and punishment received; opinion of Battiscombe; attitude towards officers; pettiness of some officers; memories of Lieutenant Davies; promotion policy of "Polly" Watson; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Page in Iraq; opinion of qualities that make a good officer or NCO; opinions and memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Davison; issue of khaki dress; route marches. REEL 9 Continues: date left GB; knowledge of destination; embarkation leave; send-off from Uffculme; reactions to posting including story of soldier who shot himself in foot. Aspects of journey from Gourock, GB, to Port Said, Egypt, aboard the Duchess of Richmond, 5/1941-7/1941: conditions on ship; nickname given to ship; bugle duties; certificate for crossing the line; sleeping arrangements; seasickness among troops; rations; cleanliness of ship; stories of Captain Brown on inspections; convoy; crash of HMS Exeter's Walrus plane; disappearance of convoy to chase Bismarck; U Boat scare on later voyage; leisure activities; physical training; coping with climate changes; boat drill; boxing tournaments; boats in Freetown harbour; length of time in Durban; reception on arrival; relationship with civilians and troops taken on at Durban; air raid on arrival in Egypt. Aspects of period in transit through Egypt, 7/1941: first impressions of Egypt and civilians; memories of Phil "Razor" Lay. REEL 10 Continues: arrival in Egypt; activities in and out of camp; problems with climate; hospitalisation with dysentery; acclimatisation; rations; opinion of what may have given him dysentery; problems with flies; journey to Cyprus with Royal Navy; tins of cigarettes on ship. Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Cyprus, 7/1941-11/1941: disembarkation at Famagusta; journey to Larnaca; accommodation; impressions of Cyprus and civilians; visits into Larnaca; warning against seeing women; Water Street; knowledge of role in Cyprus; runway built in Nicosia; commanding officers; own role; accommodation; relationship with civilians; posting to Limassol and Troodos Mountains; training; items sent home; mail; Greek and Turkish Cypriots; make-up of anti-aircraft platoon; length of time on Cyprus; night move to Famagusta. Aspect of journey from Cyprus to Iraq, 11/1941: method of journey to Iraq; knowledge of role in Iraq; civilians in area; desert buses; meal ready on arrival. REEL 11 Continues: details of convoy; rations; breaking-up of journey; terrain; stop at Kirkuk; heaters made on journey; later use for petrol cans; cleaning of rifles; guard duties; weapon inspections; contact with civilians; securing of rifles during night; problems at RAF base in Habbaniyah; visit to RAF area; journey through Baghdad; story of drinking in Indian sergeants mess at Habbaniyah; enquiry on return journey; camping outside towns. Aspect of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Iraq, 11/1941-2/1941: activities on arrival; accommodation; story of card game drinking aeroplane wine; methods of keeping warm; visits to Mosul; contact with civilians; duties; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Page; football competition; rations; orders to move and posting of anti-aircraft platoon as rearguard; filling in of latrines; news of posting in western desert; reactions to posting; relief of 4th Indian Division; journey to Gazala Box. REEL 12 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Cyprus, 7/1941-11/1941: canteen in village; break-up of wedding party; story of two sergeants blowing roof off officers mess; story of padre winning all of Colonel Kirby's money; jailing in Nicosia for being drunk and disorderly; relationship with civilians; story of soldier wrongly charged for shooting a prostitute; punishments; attitude of troops. Aspects of operations as private and NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 2/1942-4/1943: terrain in Gazala Box; details of minefield gaps; entry of a mine-carrying convoy into box; explosion of a wagon in the convoy; retrieval of a head from the minefield; anti-aircraft position at battalion headquarters; patrolling; story of Apple Column; size of patrols; preparation before a patrol; need for care when moving on patrols; story of Jimmy Coglan being urinated on by a German soldier; story of lifting Italian mines as they were being laid; opinion of Italian troops; reactions to patrols; extra sleep following patrols; reinforcements on patrol including method of navigation; weapons taken on patrol. REEL 13 Continues: washing facilities; visits from NAAFI and Salvation Army; church services; importance of religion; visits from padre; help given to Artie Dunn after his wife left him; boredom and activities while in box; duties on outpost; soldiers on outpost during Axis attack; weapon in outpost; role of post; approach of Axis forces; cutting off of escape route; orders for withdrawal; route taken on breakout; air activity; reactions to attack; approach of tanks; fire from 25lb guns; arrival in Tobruk; orders to join garrison and decision to find battalion; rendezvous with battalion and opinion of Major Ferens; equipment situation; journey to Mersa Matruh; wounding of Regiment Sergeant Major Page; position on escarpment; approach of German vehicles; prisoners taken by Germans; wounded soldier brought in by padre; run down wadi to find cover; activities while in sangars; removal of a soldier's hand and his death. REEL 14 Continues: reiteration of run down wadi; thoughts while running from fire; reunion with comrades; reactions to death of friend; comradeship amongst buglers; action on top of escarpment; story of soldier losing nerve and method of dealing him; effect of comrades losing nerve; evacuation from wadi; loading of wounded on transport; positioning of bren guns on truck; drive through German positions and round laager of tanks; reactions to breakout and withdrawal; arrival at Alamein and reformation; leave in Cairo; story of fight in a nightclub; relationship with Australian troops; reinforcements; description of first attack at Alamein; story of man who shot prisoners; opinion of Colonel Watson; split up of anti-aircraft platoon and posting in 3" mortar platoon; make-up of mortar platoon; details of carriers adapted for platoon. REEL 15 Continues: roles of mortar platoon members; manoeuvring of carrier; promotion to Lance Corporal and loss of stripe; opinion of bren carrier; officers in platoon; reaction to losing stripe; towing of anti-tank guns into action; thoughts while lining up for attack; opinion of Royal Engineer's work; use of Bofor tracer; start of advance including formation of carriers; shelling of anti-tank gun; argument between Bobby Vandenburg and Sergeant Williams; Italian tank crew seen during advance; German POWs taken; German fire faced; split up of section and 9th Battalion troops met; withdrawal following morning; role in attack; scenes in morning; losses in battalion; story of Jackie German's capture during the breakout from Gazala; reactions of troops following attack; rest and following of advance; events at El Daba; Italian POWs; raiding of a food dump; British dump found; problems with carrier and Italian truck used to replace it; time at Light Aid Detachment for carrier to be fixed including offer of bugler work and help given while there. REEL 16 Continues: scenes and communications during a battle; memory following battle; story of burning tank; prisoners taken at El Daba; Italian truck commandeered; food dumps looted; near miss in capturing Rommel; blowing up of carrier; clearance of battlefield; advance through Libya; scouting role of carriers; concert party formed at Sirte; concert given at Australian hospital and later broadcast in Australia; anti-aircraft fire against Italian planes; camp in Gazgarabulli; approach of tanks and Guards anti- tank guns; presence of 51st Division in Tripoli; scenes in Tripoli; rivalry with 51st Division; work scouting in carriers; opinion of Lieutenant Dawes; advance towards Mareth; move into wadi; Italians discovered close by and taken prisoner; accordion taken and sold; capture of Italian hospital; further items taken from Italians and attitude towards taking possessions from POWs. REEL 17 Continues: movement into Wadi Zigzaou; problems getting carriers across wadi; position taken to fire mortars; story of sergeant who panicked and dropped bombs into mortar wrong way round; events occurring around mortar platoon; withdrawal and abandonment of stuck carriers; recovery of carriers with Light Aid Detachment; severity of battle; casualties and reactions to going into battle; concrete positions on Mareth Line; work searching for dead on battlefield; story of Collins who stepped on an S mine and warnings given about booby traps; return to battalion and advance to Enfidaville; preparations for attack on Germans; orders given to turn back; handover of carriers to 56th Division; return journey to Egypt. Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 5/1943-7/1943: knowledge and realisation of role; waterproofing of carriers; landing training; knowledge of destination; open-air cinema; collection of carriers by tank loaders. REEL 18 Continues: story of drive through minefield; getting used to driving a transporter; arrival in Tripoli; boarding of landing craft; time in harbour. Aspects of journey from Tripoli, Libya, to Sicily, Italy in 7/1943: seasickness during storm; self-heating cans of soup. Aspects of operations as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 7/1943-10/1943: arrival off Sicily; story of carrier disembarking in deep water; landing at Avola; death of Captain Walton; dead parachutists in water; movement inland; wounding of "Geordie" Whittaker at house in wood and talk with American sergeant; Americans joined up with Colonel Watson; rendezvous with battalion; mortar ammunition carried; losses in platoon; advance to Floridia and breakthrough of Italian tanks; breakdown and hiding of carrier in field; contact with civilian women; attitude of Italian troops; attitude of German POWs towards Italian POWs; terrain; opinion that change in terrain made no difference; action at Solarino; Italian general captured; firing of mortars at Solarino. REEL 19 Continues: advance to Lentini; story of ignoring directions of Major Worrell and later realisation he was 2nd in command of battalion; discovery of mines in road; lifting of mines; shelling from Germans and cover taken in wood; landing of shrapnel on buttocks; reactions during barrages; opinion of 88 guns; comparison of German weapons with British; opinion and description of sten gun; fire faced while crossing Primosole Bridge; wounding and evacuation of Joe "Pinto" Holmes; intention to position mortars on right of road; story of captured German parachutist; reluctance of tanks to move forward and support given to a commanding officer; men shot by German snipers; camouflage used by snipers; role of mortars; movement across bridge and mortar set up in slit trench; return journey across bridge; return in morning and casualties discovered; discussion of events surrounding Jimmy Singlewood's capture and ambush of carriers. REEL 20 Continues: scenes at Primosole Bridge; death of Sergeant Tommy Pallister; advance to Catania; reception from civilians along route; problems with narrow roads; hit and run raids from Germans; summary of final stages of campaign; posting in Taormina; maintenance and opinion of carrier; vulnerable parts of carrier; driving of a carrier; vulnerability from air activity; carrier spares carried; replacement of track parts; leisure activities; visit of Montgomery; activities in Syracuse; rumours of next movestory of watching ships coming into harbour. Aspects of journey from Syracuse, Italy, to GB, 10/1943- 11/1943: duties on ship; U-Boat scares; dropping of depth charges; arrival in Scotland; playing of officers dinner call and memories of Brigadier Ronnie Senior; canteen privileges. REEL 21 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 11/1943-6/1944: reactions on return at GB and reception at Gourock; journey to Shudy Camp; organisation into billets; visits out of camp; contact with civilians; receiving of new carriers; story of nearly hitting Colonel Green with his carrier; exercises; attempt to catch rabbits; story of being put out of action during an exercise; story of Booby Vandenburg's carrier hitting a Baker's van; opinion of exercises; route march; return to bull and polish; receiving of first medal ribbons; brigade training; knowledge of future role; leave; money and gambling in Syracuse and Shudy Camp; bugling duties; changes among officers; war permit issued for driving in GB; discussion of officers in battalion; opinion of NCOs in battalion including memories of Sergeant Major Voyce; further opinions of officers; opinion that Regiment Sergeant Major Page and Tommy Pallister deserved medals; actions at Alamein for which Major Ovenden put him and Vandenburg forward for an award. REEL 22 Continues: knowledge would be involved in large invasion operation; driver mechanics course at Colchester; story of cover taken during air raid; attitude towards air raids and shelling; examples of times when survived shelling; nerves of inexperienced troops; changes in training; reactions to going into action again; contact with other units; posting in Nightingale Wood; supply of meals and American guard on camp; briefings for D-Day; sneaking out of camp; camp canteen; troops going AWOL; reactions to coming danger; method of dealing with panicking troops; orders to move to Southampton; change in weather and return to Nightingale Wood; boarding of landing craft; feelings on voyage; vehicles and troops on ship; activities during voyage; cans of self-heating soup; scenes on beach from ship; disembarkation. Aspects of operations as private and NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North West Europe, 6/1944- 7/1944: troops and equipment in carrier; movement off beach and up lane under fire. REEL 23 Continues: part of beach landed on; movement up and off beach behind infantry; fire from German anti-tank weapons; orchards passed through; contact with civilians; night in cornfield and shelling from Royal Navy; position of sniper; wounding of Sergeant Trevor Ingle by sniper; evacuation of Ingle under fire; bandage carried and treatment given to Ingle; dressing station he took Ingle to; returned under sniper fire; spotting of sniper and action taken against him; problems with snipers; terrain; mines and booby traps; triangles used for aircraft recognition; approach of farmhouse; German machine gun sighted; fire from British aircraft and escape of German machine gunner; strengthening of German resistance; position taken at Tilly-sur-Seulles; set up of mortars; collection of bombs; scenes in village; surrender of wounded Germans; dead civilians in German trench; reactions to seeing dead civilians; alerting of officers to trench; patrols sent out; observation posts set up; story of "Geordie" Whittaker meeting a German by a hedge; heavy bombardment of Germans and reason for mortars falling short. REEL 24 Continues: target of mortar attack; run for more ammunition; shelling of ammunition dump and death of "Yanto" Williams; German shelling and shape of field positioned in; witnessing of results from mortar barrage; use of mortars in bocage country; easing off and cleaning of mortars; interview with commanding officer and promotion to Corporal; others sent to rear with him; sent to B Echelon and new uniform and equipment issued; officers at B Echelon; reunion with Captain Black at 50th Division Headquarters; news of posting as bodyguard to army commander; date of posting and news of brother's death. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Army Headquarters in North West Europe, 1944-1945: welcome talk from General Dempsey; guard duties; duties escorting the general; weapons carried; cap badge and flashes worn; opinion of General Dempsey; background of bodyguard troops; make-up of defence company; opinion of officers and other ranks; story of argument with sergeant major; preference for role over being a frontline soldier; accommodation; size of unit; briefings. REEL 25 Continues: standard of turnout; opinion of Generals Dempsey and Horrocks; contact with General Montgomery; events at Luneberg Heath; briefings at 2nd Army Headquarters; duties while in a static position; opinion of American troops. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Army Headquarters in GB, 1945: fight with American troops in Chipping Norton; postings in Sarsden and Cowley Barracks in Oxford; story of wagon crash involved in; rescue from wreck and wait at hospital; treatment received; description of wounds; length of hospitalisation; journey to York. Aspects of period as NCO in GB and Norway, 1945-1946: week as battalion orderly sergeant at York; posting in Norway and reactions; end of war with Japan; duties in Norway; posted in Oslo; citation from the King; length of time in Norway; accommodation; contact with civilians; return to GB. REEL 26 Continues: movement of battalion from York to Edinburgh; process of demobilisation; details of pay. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: civilian work; involvement with Regimental Association; comradeship among lower ranks; worst memories of war; opinions of officers; memories of Colonel Battiscombe; memories of unit officers; opinion of what makes a good officer; story of refusing to leave tent on a cold day and Sergeant Major Jimmy Macmahon's reaction; enjoyment of bugling; resentment of men who did not serve in forces; opinion that fought for nothing; opinion of Falklands and Gulf wars; opinion of American troops; opinion of modern troops.