Description
Object description
British private trained with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1940; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa and Syria, 1940-1941; private and NCO served with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, Italy, GB and North West Europe, 1943-1944; NCO served with 4th (Holding) Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1945-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Great Lumley, GB, 1919-1940: area grew up in; family; education; details of work on a farm including details of pay and increase when joined army; time in boy scouts; attendance at chapel; joining of army; outbreak of war 9/1939; reactions to war; opinion war would be similar to First World War; registration for service in Chester-le-Street; medical at Newcastle and desire to join Navy. Aspects of period as recruit with Durham Light Infantry Depot, 2/1940-4/1940: posted to Brancepeth Castle; reactions of family to his joining army and own reactions; reception at Brancepeth Castle; issue of uniform and equipment; posting in Spennymoor; accommodation; location of headquarters; NCO instructors; sleeping arrangements; storage of equipment; pressing of uniforms; storage of rifles; settling into army life; comradeship among recruits; dining hall; rations; drill; route marches; Light Infantry pace; contact with civiliansl; drills taught; range estimation; lectures; fitness training; troops failing; manoeuvres; bayonet practice; length of training at Spennymoor; leave. Aspects of period as private in draft for 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 4/1940-9/1940: preparations for Middle East; plan for journey to Egypt; German invasion of Low Countries; journey to Southampton; transit camp at Le Mans; journey to Marseilles; return to Cherbourg; air activity; reactions of himself and family to posting abroad; contact with civilians in France; time in Troon; camp on Aintree Racecourse; boarding of troopship in Liverpool; relationship with civilians in Cape Town.
REEL 2 Continues: sleeping arrangements on ship; rations; entertainment; boat drill; physical training; conditions; convoy; length of journey; canteen; bingo; stop in Cape Town; arrival in Port Said; description of camp at Geneifa. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 9/1940-6/1941: joining of battalion at Mersa Matruh; air activity; accommodation with C Company; officers and NCOs; description of dugouts at Mersa Matruh and Brown Hill; fire trenches and defences at Brown Hill; air raids; climate; activities of battalion; supporting units; supply and opinion of rations; meals; climate and terrain; evening activities; mail; memories of Colonel Ardherne and Captain Keith; opinion of NCOs; advance of and attack against Italians; clearance of battlefield at Sidi Barrani including reactions to seeing dead bodies; story of soldier injured by a hand grenade; escort of Italian POWs; attitude of POWs; leave; invasion training; return to desert to meet German offensive; activities of battalion between March and May 1941; action at Fort Capuzzo; casualties; German weapons faced; heat during battle; reactions to being under fire and defeat. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Syria, 6/1941-9/1941: role in Syria; details of operations against Vichy French; training and exercises.
REEL 3 Continues: journey to Tobruk. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 9/1941-12/1941: problems landing in Tobruk; knowledge of situation; reactions to posting; disembarkation; arrival in positions; description of positions; terrain of No Man's Land; minefields; supporting units; details of listening patrols; fighting patrols; story of patrol against Plonk; cancellation of planned attacks; rum ration; lining-up for attack on Plonk; order to fix bayonets; death of Captain Keith; Italian refusal to come out of trenches; hand grenades thrown in; details of bayonet charge; wounding in arm; evacuation to Tobruk Hospital via Clearing Station. Aspects of hospitalisation in North Africa, 1941-1942: treatment received; location of hospital in Tobruk; damage to hospital roof and air activity; Stand To; regularity of air raids; difference in air activity of Germans and Italians; anti-aircraft fire; rations; journey to Alexandria; news of Pearl Harbor; staff at 63rd General Hospital in Cairo; fellow patients; mail; treatment received. Aspects of period as private in Egypt, 1942-1943: posted to transit camp at Port Tewfiq; re-grading after El Alamein; joining of 9th Battalion. Aspects of operations as private with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1943: posting in D Company; memories of Captain Hudson; action in Mareth Line; reinforcements; effect of periods in action.
REEL 4 Continues: reactions following battle; reinforcements; advance to Sfax; air raid while unloading an ammunition boat; activities at Enfidaville; routine on journey to Tobruk; train journey into Egypt. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1943: role in Egypt; promotion to Corporal; landing practice; news of destination; training on voyage to Sicily; officers in D Company. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 7/1943- 9/1943: meal eaten before landing; transfer to landing craft; seasickness on voyage aboard landing craft; landing; movement inland; march to Primosole Bridge; exhaustion on arrival; scenes on bridge; attack across river including details of river crossing; position of Germans; story of German warrant officer taken prisoner; weapon carried during battle; capture of Captain Hudson; memories of actions at Primosole Bridge; attempts to evacuate wounded; noise on battlefield; signs of shellshock; methods of getting nervous troops into action; example of a good soldier in platoon; discussion of bravery and medal awards; memories of Captain Hudson; visit from Montgomery; rest following campaign; relationship with civilians; battlefield clearance on Catania Plain.
REEL 5 Continues: tactics of German withdrawal from Sicily; details of patrols; booby traps and mines; German units faced; processing of POWs; attitude towards taking possessions from POWs; impression of German troops; rest period; conditions on journey to GB. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 10/1943-6/1944: reactions on return to GB; journey from Saffron Walden; description of camp; leave; training received at Saffron Walden including sending of messages; invasion training at Southampton; camp in Nightingale Wood; troops not returning from leave; soldier escorted from Bristol; punishments given to AWOL troops; battalion guardhouse; complaints among troops; discipline; role in Nightingale Wood; conditions in camp; supply of meals; new weapons and tanks; guards around camp; unofficial visits out of camp; NCOs briefing for D Day; entertainments in camp; time in Southampton docks and crews of boats; visit from Anthony Eden.
REEL 6 Continues: reinforcements; reactions to what was ahead; seasickness on voyage to France; scenes on channel; earlier work of Commandos and Parachutists. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North West Europe, 6/1944-10/1944: waders worn and equipment carried; disembarkation including loss of bren gunner; scenes on beach; organisation at assembly area; movement inland; surprise of Germans; arrival of Panzer Divisions; relief of Devonshires and burial of dead at Tilly sur Seulles; problems from terrain of bocage country; shelling and patrol activity; discovery of dead civilians in Tilly sur Seulles; reactions to discovery; standard of troops captured; arrival of Panzers; German tactics employed; weapons employed by Allies; air support; reaction to Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; German artillery; street fighting; booby traps; reluctance of some troops; battle fatigue and shellshock among troops; method of dealing with reluctant troops; tank battle witnessed while trapped in ditch; death of platoon commander trying to find a route away from ditch; opinion of Military Medal award to Sergeant Hayes; evacuation of wounded; memories of Lance Corporal Bethwaite; advice given to young soldiers.
REEL 7 Continues: battle in cornfield at Lingevre; identification of dead after a battle; strafing from American planes; advance across cornfield; anger following attacks; activities in rest camp; reinforcements; opinion of battalion; promotion to sergeant; death of Corporal Watson; letter written to Watson's girlfriend; opinion of Captain Griffiths; opinion of what makes a good officer; battalion commanders in France; story of Italian POW killed at Tobruk; support from artillery; opinion of mortars; scenes in Fallaise Gap; Polish and American attitudes to dead horses; formation of brigade at Gheel; tank support; story of tank destroyed by 88 shell; involvement in Operation Market Garden; surrounding units; plan for attack on Bemmel; difficulties getting troops to move out; wounding from shrapnel; evacuation to stretcher bearers; treatment at clearing station; treatment received in Brussels and Stourbridge.
REEL 8 Continues: flight to Swindon. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, c10/1944-6/1945: operation at Stourbridge; placement on danger list; discipline and staff of hospital; visitors received; convalescence in Trenton Park; reason for return to hospital; continuation of convalescence; treatment; coping with discipline in convalescence camp. Aspects of period as NCO with 4th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1945-8/1946: posting in Hartlepool; VE and VJ Day celebrations; medical grading; removal of wire in area; prisoner escort duties; prisoners volunteering for 2nd Battalion; process of picking up a prisoner; weapon carried by escort; methods of restraining prisoners; make-up of escort team; duties at Gosforth POW Camp; period at Middlesbrough detention centre; troops waiting for demobilisation; spell in Catterick Hospital; duties at Hardwick Camp in Sedgefield; process of demobilisation including medical and allocation of pension; gratuity; final pay in army; civilian clothes issued; anticipation of demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: difficulties settling into civilian life; work in mines; best officer served with; memories of Frost; worst moment in army; keeping in touch with comrades.