Martin, Peter Lawrence de Carteret (Oral history)

British officer served with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt in Sicily, GB, North West Europe and Palestine, 1943-1947; served as staff officer in Palestine and Egypt, 1947; served with 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Malaya, 1957-1958 and Northern Ireland, 1962; commanded 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Germany, 1962-1963; served as staff officer in Cyprus, 1963-1965; commanded 48 Gurkha Bde in Hong Kong, 1966-1967

REEL 1 Recollections as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th Div of preparations for invasion of Sicily in Egypt, 1943: operational use of Vickers Machine Gun; role of machine gun battalion; explanation of term, 'the beaten zone'; move to Alexandria; character of training course at Kabrit, 5/1943; question of numbers of medals awarded as determined by commanding officer; preparations for beach landing; training at Attica, 6/1943; crewing of machine guns; premonition of death by brother officer David Cox; visit by Montgomery; embarkation on Ruys at Suez; briefing for Sicily landings; reaction to information that Sicily was to be objective. REEL 2 Continues: proposed role of unit during landings. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th Div during Sicilian landings, 7/1943: sight of coastline and beaches; confusion during landings; his company landing on beach; allocation of transport; fate of airborne troops; partial loss of transport for one of his platoons; character of one of his platoon commanders; advance inland; contrast in terrain with Western Desert; problems moving through vineyards; confusions during advance north; battle drill during advance; encounter with Italian two man tank near Floridia; character of new brigade commander, Brigadier Senior; German air opposition on approach to Primasole Bridge, 14/7/1943; arrival at Primasole Bridge, 14/7/1943. REEL 3 Continues: capture of Primasole Bridge, 15/7/1943; reasons for 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry having to cross and re-cross Primasole Bridge; role of Alastair Pearson in planning retaking of Primasole Bridge; unit's support for 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry's taking of Primasole Bridge, 15/7/1943; role of War Office observer during battle; problems crossing river in Primasole Bridge area in support of 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 16/7/1943-17/7/1943; arrival of armoured support for attacks on Primasole Bridge, 17/7/1943; demand by troops to kill wounded German paratrooper who had thrown grenade and its outcome, 17/7/1943; advance to take Fosse Bottacetto, 18/7/1943; decision to pull 168 Bde back and put division in holding position. REEL 4 Continues: relief and recall of unit from rest area, 4/8/1943; character of advance towards Catania; liberation of Assi San Antonia, 8/8/1943; pulling out of front-line, 10/8/1943; reads excerpts from letters written to mother including fate of David Cox; resting in Sicily and address from Montgomery; reaction of civilians to fall of Mussolini. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th Div during preparations for D-Day in GB, 1943-1944: pride of troops in 50th Div insignia, 11/1943; reception in Bristol; arrival in Brandon; reception at Red Cow Public House in Cambridge; change of role to support group; reaction of troops to address by new divisional commander General Graham that 50th Div would be spearheading Normandy landings. REEL 5 Continues: composition of 50 Div for D-Day operations; move to Nightingale Wood near Southampton, 4/1944; amphibious landing exercises; issue of waterproof gas trousers to troops; reaction to briefing about proposed landings on Gold Beach; problems with administration; embarkation on LCI, 3/6/1944; letter written to sister, 4/6/1944. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th Div during landings in Normandy, D-Day, 6/6/1944: character of Channel crossing; sight of armada; character of landing in quiet sector; move out of assembly area during afternoon; German surrenders; plan for his unit to join 8th Armoured Bde; abortive attempt to liberate Bayeux; machine gunning of his jeep by US fighter aircraft. REEL 6 Continues: wounding of Brigadier Senior. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th Div in Normandy, 1944: crossing of St Leger-Caen road, 7/6/1944; delays in orders for 8th Armoured Bde column to attack Villers Bocage, 8/6/1944; problems with ambitious start lines; orders to support Sherwood Rangers at Point 103, 9/6/1944; terrain at Point 103; under German tank fire at Point 103, 9/6/1944; narrow escape from shelling during mission to rescue wounded NCO, 9/6/1944; fighting in Point 103 area; verbal encounter with officer of 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt; importance of overhead cover on Bren Gun Carriers from air bursts; end of attachment to 8th Armoured Bde; character of actions in Tilly-Hottot area, 14/6/1944-15/6/1944; encounter with German half tracks on route to see brigadier. REEL 7 Continues: reads excerpts from letters sent home during 6/1944; attitude to officers in division at constant attacks; divisional casualties; dangers of troops dependence on artillery support; signs of battle fatigue; dealing with dead cows; Royal Artillery issue of meteor telegrams; rivalry between 50th and 51st Divs; question of German morale under Allied shells and mortars; danger of 4.2 inch mortars losing tail fins; German radio attempt to stop British mortaring; arrivals of battalion transport and replacements, 7/1944; attitude to officer who broke down under strain; precautions against possible German use of gas; reaction to death of Colonel James, commanding officer of 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 4/8/1944; reaction to arrival of General Horrocks. REEL 8 Continues: importance of capture of Mont Pincon; reasons for changing name of British Western Expeditionary Force; reads excerpt of letter to mother; sight of carnage in Falaise Gap; sight of US soldier on horseback attempt to round up fleeing German troops; delivery of baby 'Philippe Liberation' by medical officer, 8/1944; crossing River Seine, 29/8/1944. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt in North West Europe, 1944-1945: arrival in Amiens, 1/9/1944; opening fire on German column at Pontigny, 1/9/1944; first emergence of French Resistance at Doullens, 2/9/1944; story of Tony Mellor's dealing with German armoured car and capture of hundreds of Germans; arrival in Arras, 3/9/1944; liberation of Brussels, 6/9/1944; orders to move to assault Albert Canal. REEL 9 Continues: German tactics in defending Albert Canal; use of assault craft to cross Albert Canal, 8/9/1944; in action at Gheel bridgehead, 9/9/1944-10/9/1944; German outflanking of 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Gheel, 10/9/1944; fighting at Doorn-Boom crossroads; withdrawal of brigade headquarters back across Albert Canal; German tank commander who shouted that he 'wanted to die for Hitler'; turning point of battle and withdrawal of Germans; his temptation to shoot wounded German POW after death of Private Price, 11/9/1944; question of medals for his company's work in the Gheel bridgehead fighting; in reserve with ENSA show, 13/9/1944; advance towards Lommel, 16/9/1944. REEL 10 Continues: sight of Allied air fleet on route to Arnhem, 17/9/1944; role of 50th Div during Operation Market Garden; taking up defensive positions on 'The Island'; contact with Dutch civilians; news that 50 Div would withdraw to GB and not attack Reichswald Forest; his objection to dispersal of company; dance in Nijmegen; story of visiting Member of Parliament for Chester to stop unit being broken up. Period as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt in GB, 1944-1945: retraining unit as infantrymen, 12/1944; dispersal of unit, 2/1945; reaction to VE Day; opinion of jungle training. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt in Palestine, 1946-1947: voyage from GB to Egypt; arrival in Palestine, 3/1946; his pro-Arab stance, 5/1946; attitude of Jewish settlers to British troops on a social level. REEL 11 Continues: role commanding fort; situation in Palestine and Jewish insurgent groups; launching of Operation Agatha by General Barker, 6/1946; character of Mishek Yergoa settlement near Haifa; accounts of search of Miskek Yergoa; results of Mishek Yergoa search including biggest arms haul in Palestine to date; question of General Richard 'Windy' Gale's inaccurate account of how arms were found at Mishek Yergoa, 6/1946. REEL 12 Continues: murder of Polish Jewish settlers classed as informers by Mishek Yergoa settlers; dealing with illegal Jewish migrants during Operation Igloo on board Yergoa; excerpt from letter home, 8/1946; refusal of application to resign from army; return to Palestine, 1947; in quarantine after soldier caught smallpox; reaction to order to take staff course. Aspects of operations as GSO II (Intelligence) in Palestine and Egypt, 1947: role as intelligence officer to General Richard 'Windy' Gale; reaction to killing by Jewish insurgents of two British NCOs; running agent in Egypt. Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Malaya, 1957-1958: flight from GB to Malaya, summer 1957; jungle course at Kota Tinggi; slowness of movement in jungle; unit's allocated area of operation; dedication of Frank Kitson; Rifle Brigade's Tiger Patrols. REEL 13 Continues: degree of knowledge of remaining insurgents in his area of operations; attempt by Rifle Brigade to eliminate remaining insurgents prior to handing over to his unit; bet with Frank Kitson that he would get remaining insurgents in two weeks; capture of two insurgents by 7 Platoon; incident when wounded insurgent led patrol on false trail to old insurgent camp; accidental discovery of insurgent camp on Mount Ophir; wounding of female insurgent and subsequent surrender of Ah Chin's group; surrender of Ah Chin's group; surrender of Ah Chin's bodyguard; hunt for Ah Chin; surrender of Ah Chin; pursuit of Lee Ming; superstition of Iban tracker; failed ambush of Lee Ming prior to his surrender; move to Labis area of South Johore. REEL 14 Continues: lack of intelligence about insurgents in South Johore; story of aid received from Auster pilot in searching jungle leading to discovery of insurgent camp; change in orders to capture insurgent prisoners at Elephant Camp; possessions Ah Ching had on him when captured; treatment of captured insurgents; importance of surrender of Haw Lung. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Northern Ireland, 1962: posting to Ballykinlar; opinion of working under General John Hackett; low level of IRA activity; problems caused by smugglers across border; attempt to provoke IRA attack and IRA ceasefire. Aspects of period as commanding officer of 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Germany, 1962-1963: taking command of battalion, 1962; relationship with Brigadier Carver; story of his attempt to deceive Brigadier Carver during exercise. REEL 15 Continues: leaving Germany, summer 1963. Recollections of period as staff officer in Cyprus, 1963-1965: staff duties; character of General Peter Young; story of unfortunate way he discovered Young had been responsible for ordering Jaguar vehicles for army; story of how Young had feigned deafness after Arnhem; water supplies; attacks on Turkish Cypriots by Greek Cypriots, 12/1963; plans and preparations in case of Turkish invasion; visit by Duncan Sandys; reinforcement of British garrison; difficult situation created by having two major generals on island; decision to call in United Nations; his briefing of United Nations representatives; keeness of French Canadians United Nations contingent to distance themselves from British; solving Swedish United Nations continents problem with flagpole length; problems between 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Irish United Nations contingent; relations with Irish United Nations contingent. REEL 16 Continues: relations with Danish, Finnish and Austrian United Nations contingent; victualling problems caused by variety of United Nations contingents. Recollections of period as commanding officer of 48 Gurkha Bde in Hong Kong, 1966-1967: posting to command; degree of knowledge of Gurkhali language; brigade exercises; effects of Chinese Cultural Revolution; features and character of Hong Kong-China border; role of 30 Border Regt, Chinese Army; forces on British side of border; Chinese take-over of Macao, early 1967; demeanour of Chinese civilians crossing and re-crossing Hong Kong-China frontier; atmosphere in Hong Kong and New Territories, 1967. REEL 17 Continues: contingency plan in case hostile crowd illegally crossed border; his 'Wapenshaw' plan to meet such a contingency; Hong Kong police's dealing with Chinese mob, 24/6/1967; machine gun attack on Shatu Kok Police Station, 8/7/1967; fate of policemen in Shatu Kok; his orders to relieve besieged Shatu Kok Police Station, 8/7/1967; Chinese Army's opening fire on Life Guards armoured cars to cover withdrawal; recovery of Shatu Kok; contingency plan for defence of Lo Wu crossing point; loudspeaker war at Lo Wu; reasons for changing from Cantonese to Mandarin as medium of propaganda; army's taking over control of border from Hong Kong Police; his inability to get policy ruling on border control from Government of Hong Kong; rules for responding to Chinese aggression; problems of dealing with Chinese stone throwing, catapulting and airguns; Battles of Provocation by Poster, 8/1967. REEL 18 Continues: passing of law against inflammatory posters, 7/1967; Chinese mob attack on immigration compound at Lu Wu, 3/8/1967; use of gas to disperse mob, 3/8/1967; attack on police post at Man Kam To, 5/8/1967; attempt to have logical discussion with mob at Man Kam To; question of signing an agreement with Red China; problem of lack of 'Thoughts of Chairman Harold Wilson; breaching of 'treaty'; appearance of Chinese Army at Man Kam To; Chinese protest against use of dannart wire. REEL 19 Continues: renewed attack on dannart wire and taking of hostages by Chinese; release of hostages after signing paper under duress; orders to close borders; decision to re-open border; further attacks on Hong Kong Police; attack on Gurkhas at Shatu Kok; lessons drawn from confrontation on border; problems for Chinese Army after confrontation by Red Guards; reasons why phosphorus grenades proved good anti-riot weapon; refusal of permission for his intelligence gathering proposals; incident when riot was precipitated by pressmen disobeying orders not to approach border at Lo Wu, 24/8/1967; burns suffered by Chinese rioters from phosphorus grenades; method of communicating with Chinese Army in order to defuse dangerous situations; second incident at Man Kam To, 24/8/1967- 25/8/1967. REEL 20 Continues: ending of trouble on border, 8/1967; problems after kidnapping of Inspector Knight, 9/1967; discussions of British tactics adopted; question of handling Gurkha troops; attitudes of Gurkha troops towards situation and Chinese rioters; attitude of Hong Kong Chinese living in New Territories and in Hong Kong.