Description
Object description
British private trained with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1934; private and NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and China, 1934-1939; served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1939; NCO served with 11th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and France, 1939-1940; POW in Germany, 1940-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bishop Middleham, GB, 1916-1934: area grew up in; family; family home; local community; education; leisure activities; work as signal boy in local quarry; pay and working week; visits to Ferryhill cinema; move to quarry at Ferryhill Station; loss of job; transportation; pay before unemployment; accidents in quarries; unemployment and reasons for joining army; skills learned at Bishop Auckland unemployment centre; time in boy scouts; story of joining army at Durham; process of joining army; reaction of parents to his joining army. Aspects of period as recruit with Durham Light Infantry Training Depot in GB, 1/1934-6/1934: discipline; arrival at Fenham Barracks; issue of kit; posting in Aisne Squad; wait for completion of squad; description of barrack block including units at Fenham Barracks; sleeping arrangements; making of bed; time beds were made; storage of kit; heating and cleaning of barrack room; washing facilities and latrines; cleaning and inspections of ablutions; Lance Corporal in room; regularity of inspections; rivalry between squads.
REEL 2 Continues: NCO instructors; learning to march and settling into army life; length of classes; cane used for drill; issue of uniform; clothes worn for drill; wearing of puttees; physical training and sports; marching between activities; description and cleaning of dining hall; supply of meals; breakfast; opinion of cooking; cleaning of utensils; fatigues; issue of rifle; rifle drill; bayonet training; gas precaution training; cleaning of rifle; drill for rifle inspections; rifle issued; cleaning of belt and brasses; pressing of trousers; polishing of boots; cleaning of badges; epaulette and cap badges; equipment issued; cleaning of equipment; inspections; firing rifle on range; route marches; lunch; activities in afternoon; tea breaks; evening tea and rations; end of working day and evening activities; medical; details of pay.
REEL 3 Continues: visits into Newcastle; relationship with civilians; leave; family's acceptance of his joining army; posting to 1st Battalion at Catterick Camp. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1934-10/1937: accommodation; sleeping arrangements; cleaning routine; posted to A Company; company commander and sergeant major; manoeuvres near Strensall; discipline; weapon and fitness training; opinion of Lewis gun; make-up of company; opinion of Lieutenant D'Arcy Irvine; organisation of manoeuvres; fire and movement; transportation of battalion; route marches; rations; supply of meals; organisation of working day; fitness training; leaves; punishments given for ill discipline; old soldiers unit; visits to Soldiers, Navy and Air Force Social Club; posting to Blackdown Camp; description of barracks and accommodation; selection of battalion for mechanisation role; details of Vickers Carden Lloyd Tanks issued to A Company; number of tanks in company; driving of tanks; fuel and area tanks driven on; opinion of tanks in retrospect; role intended for tanks; use in manoeuvres; other vehicles in battalion; organisation of battalion and headquarters company; transportation of troops and marching; presence of Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; sports involved with; importance of sports to regiment; company and platoon commanders; changes in company personnel.
REEL 4 Continues: duties and training at Blackdown Camp; weapons trained with; rota for fatigues; mounting of guard; selection and duties of stickman; preparation for guard duties; inspection of guard; details of guard duties; visits from officer; supply of meals during guard; inspections during guard; sleeping arrangements; cells in guardroom; work of man on duty; dismissal and changeover of guard; equipment taken on guard; period free from duties after guard; visits to NAAFI; visits into surrounding countryside; leave; evening activities; church parades; installation of regimental pride; Hooge Day; length of time at Blackdown; memories of "Crackers" May; opinion of officers and NCOs; boxing tournaments; memories of friend "Chubby" Green; Regimental Passion Wagon and visits to Reading; proficiency pay; army education; details of pay; kit inspections; news of posting abroad; reactions to posting; embarkation leave; reaction of parents to posting abroad; issue of khaki drill; details of posting in Shanghai.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of journey from Southampton, GB, to Shanghai, China, aboard the HMT Dilwara, 10/1937: embarkation from Southampton and 21st birthday; band on harbour; hospitalisation during voyage; route march in Hong Kong; activities during voyage; cleaning of rifles; sleeping arrangements; discipline; rations and seasickness; fatigues; entertainments; activities during stop-offs; intake of 2nd Battalion troops at Port Said; arrival in Shanghai. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in China, 10/1937-5/1939: march to racecourse and reception from Seaforth Highlanders; accommodation in Yu Yuen Road Schools; sleeping arrangement; Indian civilian workers; length of period at school; new accommodation at Jessfield Park; guard of international settlement including story of abandoned baby girl; role of guard; troops of other nations in Shanghai; more on Jessfield Park accommodation; rations; weather conditions and changes in uniform; guarding of barracks; accommodation and mess of officers; sports played; leisure activities in Shanghai and relationship with American troops; health of battalion; hospitalisation and recuperation leave at Weyhaiwei; details at hospital; climate; problems with noisy insects; cleanliness; mail; visits to Union Jack Club; relationship with civilians; transport of battalion; route marches; civilians employed in barracks.
REEL 6 Continues: promotion to Lance Corporal; duties; more in international settlement guard duties; contact with Japanese; posting in Peking; guard duties on Peking Embassy; cold weather clothing; standard of turnout; discipline; accommodation; Indian civilian workers; reveille; rations; sore throat prevention; health and medical staff; embassy skating rink; sports; differences between Peking and Shanghai; NAAFI; details of pay; opinion of time abroad; regularity of mail; journey to Tientsin; duties guarding political prisoners; accommodation; leisure activities; size of camp; knowledge of impending war; selection for return to GB to train conscripts; reactions to posting. Aspects of journey from Tientsin, China, to Southampton, GB, 5/1939-6/1939: voyage to Shanghai; journey aboard Empress of China to Yokohama; Japanese ship building in Nagasaki; voyage to Vancouver; train journey across Canada including entertainment in Winnipeg; voyage from Quebec aboard Empress of Britain to Southampton via Cherbourg; journey to 2nd Battalion at Woking; leave; return to Woking and speech from Chamberlain; posting to Brancepeth Castle at outbreak of war 9/1939; joined Territorials at Durham. Aspects of period as NCO with 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1/1940-4/1940: posting with 11th Battalion at Chester-le-Street; formation of battalion; conscripts; training given to recruits; equipment situation; teaching troops to drive; commanding officers; posting in Headquarters Company as Motor Transport Sergeant.
REEL 7 Continues: training priorities; background of recruits; details of driving lessons; vehicles taught to drive; maintenance of vehicles; commanding officer in section; vehicles in motor transport section; role of trucks; make-up of headquarters company; opinion of training given. Aspects of period as NCO with 11th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 4/1940-5/1940: role in France; opinion that battalion underarmed and under trained; posted in Frevant; other brigade units present on airstrips; transportation of troops; reaction of troops to role; working hours; brief posting in Beaumetz; journeys moving troops away from Beaumetz; cover taken from Germans; story and date of capture. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1940: reactions to capture; arrangement in column and treatment from Germans; questioning following capture; attitude of Germans; march along by-roads; clothes worn and weather; rations; shooting at POWs dodging column; guards in column; contact with civilians; sleeping arrangements; state of feet; relieving of selves; night guarding; POWs escaping from column; deterioration of health; boarding of railway trucks in Germany; conditions on journey; rations; length of journey; health of POWs and conditions. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 1940-1943: arrival in Stalag XXA at Torun; length of time in camp; sleeping arrangements; organisation among POWs; ranks in camp; clothing; rations; roll call.
REEL 8 Continues: attempts to keep fit and active; parents' knowledge of his capture; processing as POW including identity disc; treatment from guards; meals; boredom of life; electricity; sleeping arrangements; washing facilities; cleaning of rooms; defences around camp; problems from dysentery; burial of dead; medical facilities; cooking of meals; issue of rations; latrines; stealing among POWs; journey to Marienburg; sending out of working parties; posting in Kleinlaservitch; accommodation; clothing issued; march to work; details of work; relationship with farmers; lunch and tea breaks; return to billets; Polish workers; futility of escape; fellow prisoners; acceptance of plight; attitude of Germans; news of war; arrival of mail and Red Cross parcels; length of time on farm; coping with cold in winter; sleeping arrangements; health and treatment for boil in hospital; return to Marienburg and posting in Grosl; relationship with farmer Verner Reimer; other workers on farm including learning of German; details of work; working hours; rations.
REEL 9 Continues: arrival and frequency of Red Cross parcels; contents of Red Cross parcels; bartering with Polish workers; weekend activities; cooking of meals; sharing of Red Cross parcels; clothing situation; length of time on farm; treatment from German civilian and guards; change in calibre of guards; background of guards; German fear of Russians; deterioration of guards' clothing; change in attitude of guards as war progressed; news that NCOs did not have to work and return to Marienburg; activities while waiting for transport to non-working camp; visit of Red Cross and England vs Scotland football match; train journey to Fallingbostel. Aspects of period as POW in Stalag IX B, Germany, 1943-1945: description of camp; roll calls; activities; rations; air activity; morale of POWs and guards; camp radio; methods of relieving boredom; guards; defence of camp; fighting among POWs; own state in camp; signs of deteriorating mental health among POWs; medical staff; escape attempts. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1945: reason for start of march; size of columns; search for food; liberation by US Army; flight from Luneberg to Brussels; reaction to seeing American troops; cleaning up and VE Day celebrations in Brussels; flight to GB; treatment at airfield; physical condition on return to GB; extra ration vouchers and leave; demobilisation in Leeds; civilian work.
