Binch, Wally (Oral history)

British private served with 70th (Young Soldiers) Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 1941- 1942; served with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, North Africa, Italy, Middle East and Austria, 1942-1946; served with 2nd Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt in Austria, 1946

REEL 1 Background in Nottingham, GB, 1923-1940 : family; memories of childhood; education; civilian work; purchase of and learning to play ukulele; busking in pubs; story of singing in microphone for first time; signs of approaching war; outbreak of war 9/1939; reactions to start of war; work with ukulele; details of Military Entertainments Unit concerts; drinking; encouragement from father; drummers in family; civilian work with meat agency including band formed with colleagues; black market; reason for joining Home Guard; activities with unit; story of an air raid; memories of blackout; air raid shelter in house; smokescreen set up; story behind reason for volunteering for army; process of joining army; reaction of father. Aspects of period as private with 70th (Young Soldiers) Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 1/1941-8/1942: issue of uniform; posting in Nottingham; sleeping arrangements; health; issue of meals. REEL 2 Continues: fire pickets; drill; role of drill; inability of take drill; physical training; details of fire pickets; inoculations; background of recruits; friends made; relationship with NCOs; kit inspections; loss of items; presence of ukulele; posting at and march to Bulwell Hall; NAAFI; washing facilities; Sunday visits from wives and girlfriends; field craft training; rifle training; cleaning of rifle; bayonet training; mother's attempt to get him out of army; Lewis gun training; Thompson Submachine gun lessons; grenade training; troops attending potential officers course at Bestwood Lodge; details of course; sing-songs with Phil Plowright and fight with Ron Kirby in The Spot; return to unit and charge for rusty rifle; details of punishment received; posting at Owsten Ferry; drilling in streets and reaction of civilian; learning to play trumpet with Frank Dutton; songs played on ukulele and changes made. REEL 3 Continues: duties at RAF Waltham; relationship with RAF personnel; learning to drive at Brigg; learning to drive and maintain motorcycle; duties as dispatch rider; story of crashing motorcycle; reliability of motorcycle; warm clothing worn on bike; memories of Frank "Spike" Gamble; fight with Ron Smedley; friends in unit; posting at Woodhall Spa; training; leave; firing course; duties at RAF Hibblestow; volunteering for draft and posting to 2/5th Battalion; reactions during journey to unit. Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 8/1942- 12/1942: first impressions of unit; size of draft; boxing; previous boxing experience; memories of Eddie Hallett including first song written with Hallett; weapons in anti-tank platoon; role in platoon; make-up and roles of gun crew; rivalry between sections; firing of anti-tank gun at Camber Sands; deployment and range of guns; opinion of anti-tank gun; transport of gun and crew; description and opinion of Vickers-Armstrong Carden- Loyds; accommodation at Hawkhurst; memories of Eddie Edwards and Lieutenant Johnny Walker; inoculations; inspection from King George VI; embarkation leave and reaction of parents to posting abroad; period at Aldershot; journey to Liverpool. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Algiers, Algeria, aboard the SS Derbyshire, 12/1942-1/1943: embarkation; reactions to posting abroad; conditions onboard; sleeping arrangements; seasickness; learning to smoke and giving up during voyage; song played onboard. REEL 4 Continues: lifeboat drill; freedom of movement and blackout; story of smoking below deck; knowledge and rumours of destination. Aspects of operations as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in North Africa, 1/1943-3/1943: first impressions of Africa; march to brickyard including Sherwood Foresters song; description of Tommy cookers used to brew-up on arrival; fruit bought from civilians and subsequent mess left; song written about the event; details of song writing with Eddie Hallett; performance of songs; sleeping arrangements; arrival of anti-tank guns and platoon transport; journey to frontline in Vickers-Armstrong Carden-Loyds including story of being gassed by engine; story of first employment by Colonel Stott; memories of Colonel Stott; arrival at Green Hill; details of anti-tank gun position created; camouflaging of position; description of terrain in area including spread of battalion; bodies of Argyll and Sutherland troops; slit trenches used by troops at day and night; Stand To; supply of rations; details of compo rations; sharing out and cooking of rations; story of civilian girl; maintenance of anti-tank gun; talk among troops. REEL 5 Continues: story of falling asleep during a guard duty; visits from Lieutenant Walker; shaving of hair; cleanliness; contact with civilians including rumours connected with them; Arab language learned; story of firing rifle for first time and song written about event; air activity; story of heavy shelling and reaction to suffering first casualties; death of padre; visit to rest camp in Sedjenane Woods including song written about rest camp; orders to withdraw from positions; removal of anti-tank guns including destruction of one stuck in mud; number of guns in platoon; song about spiking of stuck gun; story of withdrawal to and return from Beja; return to Green Hill and digging in of gun; sound of approaching German attack; attempt to borrow a rifle; area covered by gun; signs of German attack; story of troops shooting at civilians; appearance of German troops behind positions; immobilisation of anti-tank gun and withdrawal under road; fire faced and joke told during withdrawal; route taken during withdrawal; details of position arrived at; report made to Captain Johnny Walker; news of approaching tank; role taken up; firing of gun at German armoured car; bombs used; lull in action; offer of whiskey and reply; sounds of action. REEL 6 Continues: firing on second and third armoured vehicles and escape of crew; later complaint from Captain Walker; aircraft recognition flashes worn; order to turn gun around; proximity of action; reason for not being able to do so; actions of original gun crew; scenes of German troops; firing of rifles at troops and withdrawal; picking up of rifle; knowledge of Eddie Hallett's and gun crew's whereabouts; panic among troops; own reaction to situation; details of withdrawal to wadi; location of wadi; state of battalion; recovery of transport including Vickers-Armstrong Carden-Loyds containing ukulele; return to battalion on motocycle; reprimand on arrival; landmarks in Djebel Aboid area; arrival of 6lb anti-tank guns; comparison of 6lb with 2lb anti-tank gun; details of further withdrawals including reconnaissance undertaken by Bernie Dukes; story of coming under fire with Eddie Hallett; capture and two colleagues and reactions; story of seeing captured Sherwood Foresters; reasons for not remembering following actions; withdrawal from Tamara; reason for departure of losing old colonel; memories and opinion of Colonel Eric Hefford; performances of songs; songs written about Sedjenane; night in trenches and problems with arm during Stand To; evacuation to 95th Algiers; reactions to problem; reunion with battalion at Blida. Aspects of hospitalisation in North Africa, 1943: treatment of arm; story of fainting on hospital steps; uniform worn in hospital. REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in North Africa, 1943: re-posting to anti-tank platoon; night manoeuvres; motorcycle ridden; duties as dispatch rider; opinion of posting; 20th Birthday and friendship with Eddie Hallett; mountain training; details of open air concerts given including singing of Two Little Anti-Tank Guns; involvement of Sergeant Jock McKay; other people who helped out; make-up of audience; start of reputation; music sent from Nottingham; strings sent for ukulele; parcels from home; details of mail; activities on leave in Algiers; relationship with brigade troops; relationship with Royal Army Service Corps; period at Bizerta; story of running out of petrol during journey to Bizerta; knowledge of posting in Italy; preparations for invasion; contact with HMS Aurora's crew; transport in platoon; voyage to Salerno including opinion of K Rations and news of Italy's capitulation and reaction. Aspects of operations as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in Italy, 9/1943-2/1944: arrival and disembarkation; movement inland; first impressions of Italy; setting up of anti-tank gun and search of abandoned house; withdrawal with infantry; halt of withdrawal; search of abandoned house and gramophone records found; reaction to minenwerfer fire; sighting of anti-tank gun; proximity to Hospital Hill and sound of action there; wounding and evacuation of "Heavy" Edwards. REEL 8 Continues: evacuation of Jock McKay; reporting to Captain "Black Flash" Shaw; proximity of Regimental Aid Post to front; messages delivered to anti-tank gun position; weapon carried; story of German motorcyclist; length of period in forward positions and knowledge of German positions; position occupied above Pregiato; relationship with civilians; passing through of armour; story of reaction to minenwerfer fire; loss of motorcycle; piano taken from damaged house; return of Captain Johnny Walker from hospital and gun given to him; state of Salerno; journey to River Volturno; position occupied during crossing of Volturno; impressions of German POWs; capture of Captain Walker; posting of Captain Shaw as platoon officer; reinforcements; return of Eddie Hallett from hospital; reason for disbanding of anti-tank platoon; employment of platoon; impressions of Gurkha troops; posting in A Company at Mount Tougon; accommodation; proximity to German troops; story of mountain sheep; story of a patrol with Captain Lord; withdrawal from hill; nicknames among troops; memories of Captain Walker; reactions to coming under fire; journey to Port Said. Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in Middle East, 2/1944-7/1944: arrival in Egypt; leave in Cairo including visit to fortuneteller; weapons training with reformed anti-tank platoon. REEL 9 Continues: song about Vickers training; song about Salerno; song about King Farouk; concerts including reflections on Division concert parties; patrol duties in Haifa including situation in Palestine; details of camp; visits to Damascus; appearance of photograph on army educational poster; other appearances of photograph; story of fainting from sunstroke; use of dust as blanco; opinion of bull; return voyage to Italy including 21st birthday show. Aspects of operations as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in Italy, 7/1944-12/1944: details of concert given in Grolla Catania; singing of Those Two Muckers Hallett and Binch; inspection from King George VI; details of journey to Gothic Line including burial of German troops; duties of platoon in line; posting as commanding officer's dispatch rider; memories of Colonel Welshman and dispatch rider duties; story of near miss of mortar shell; death of Bernie Dukes; wounding of Eddie Hallett; rest period at Verucchio including memories of civilian harmonica player; songs about fighting opposition; D- Day Dodger song. REEL 10 Continues: crossing of canal; terrain; talk of River Po; journey through Rome; leave in Verucchio; flight to Salonica. Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in Greece, 12/1944-4/1945: posting in S Company; guard duties on docks; relationship with civilians; story of reaction to shots heard after a concert party; song written about Greece; posting in Athens; accommodation; visits into Athens; brigade sports day; inspection by Anthony Eden; voyage to Taranto. Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in Italy, 4/1945-5/1945: concert party with Norman Pickering; VE Day celebrations; journey into Austria. Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in Austria, 5/1945-3/1946: first impressions of Austria; erection of POW camp; state of POWs; return of Sherwood Forester POWs; accommodation in Eberstein; learning of German; first contact with civilians; patrols in countryside including attitude of civilians met; contact with and attitude toward Cossack troops; riding school and gymkhana; music being sent from GB; make-up of band; maintenance of microphone; songs played; practice time and punishment given as band; first big show performed; singing and details of 139 Brigade song; concerts with brigade units; song about life in Britain; song about Austrian women; routine on days before concerts; posting and arrival in Leibnitz; first visit to displaced persons camp; delousing; background of displaced persons; reaction to concentration camps; story of sergeant wanting to kill POWs; memories of guitar belong to a displaced person; dances in displaced persons camp and other venues; end to concert parties; activities during leave in Graz including singing Nazi songs. REEL 11 Continues: older German songs learned; patrols on Yugoslav border; posting as dispatch rider; leave in GB; concerts with Eddie Hallett; reasons for getting jankers; disbandment of battalion; promotion in battalion; posting as assistant store man and involvement with black market; final parade. Aspects of period as private with 2nd Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regt in Austria, 3/1946-11/1946: reception on arrival; standard of turnout; dismissal of a charge; dances in sergeants mess; relationship with Loyals troops; duties; story of selection for and duties in firing squad; reaction to duty; relationship with civilian woman; relationship with civilians; marriage; demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: story of retrieving wife from Austria; birth of son; civilian work and second marriage; story of reunion with Eddie Hallett in 1973; memories of Eddie Hallett; story of gift from Captain Walker in late 1970s; formation of and work with 2/5th Branch of Sherwood Foresters Association; visits to North Africa and Italy; end of association; planned visit to Sedjenane.