Hay, Alan (Oral history)

British officer served with 13th and 17th Bns Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1940-1943; served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, Middle East, Greece and Austria, 1943-1946

REEL 1 Aspects of background in South Shields, GB, 1912-1939: education; work in accountant's office; awareness of local cadet activities with Church Lads Brigade and Boy Scouts. Recruitment and training with 1st Cadet Bn Durham Light Infantry at Londonderry Drill Hall, GB, 1936-1939: background to selection as officer; obtaining uniform; role of cadets; rifle training at Whitburn Range; military tattoos; drill; summer camps at Knaresborough; age of cadets; question of training as officer; veteran officers from First World War; officers' mess nights; contacts with territorial officers; inability to afford commission in territorials. REEL 2 Continues: failure of attempt to get territorial commission on approach of war, 1938-1939; volunteering as private with Durham Light Infantry and posting for training as potential officer with East Yorkshire Regt, 11/11/1939. Recollections of training with East Yorkshire Regt at Victoria Barracks, Beverley, GB, 11/1939-3/1940: story of reception in error as officers; volunteering to play rugby; story of friend's complaint over first meal; rugby match; barrack room; inclusion in special squad for potential officers; relationship with other ranks; drill; physical training and boxing; rifle, hand grenades and Bren gun training; night exercises; promotion to lance corporal; interviews as potential officer and importance of education; rugby activities; move to billets; recreations. REEL 3 Continues: leather kit; contact with Major Morebernard; ambition to become officer; interviews as potential officer. Recollections attending course at 163rd <The Artists Rifles> Officers Cadet Training Unit at Wisborough Barracks, Folkestone, GB, 3/1940-7/1940: reception from NCO; nature of training; tactical exercises and question of relevance in actions; guard duty and story of inspection prior to award 'stick'; question of relevance of operational road block and trench duties designed to counter possible German parachute attack during German offensive in France, 5/1940; question of table manners; question of being returned to unit; difficult officer; choice of commission into Durham Light Infantry. Reception at Durham Light Infantry Depot, Brancepeth Castle, 7/1940-4/1941: importance of correct officers kit; officers' mess; billets at Usher Moor. Period with 13th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Low Fell, Gateshead, GB, 7/1940-3/1941: reception; elderly composition of unit and officers; role training soldiers returned from Dunkirk; guard duties on airfields and ammunition dumps. REEL 4 Continues: attitude of reservist officers; visits to detachments guarding airfields and story of discovering target dummy aircraft close to troops' positions during flight above airfield; relationship with elderly officers; move Elmgrove Drill Hall; accompanying bomb disposal squad working in South Shields; story of inspecting poorly officered detachment in South Shields; story illustrating difficulty in training new officers without proper equipment; question of military efficiency of unit. Recollections of periods with 17th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Folkestone, Ottley Camp, Lands End, Bodmin Barracks, GB, 4/1941-10/1943: role of Colonel Chapman in securing posting; reception; question of utilisation of active service experience in tactical exercises and responsibility for organising exercise to emphasise importance of surprise attacks; opinion of Montgomery including his dislike of static defence tactics and introduction of all rank cross country runs; formation of 206 Independent Bde; posting as motor contact officer attached to brigade headquarters; story of using previous knowledge of planned exercise; billets; visiting brigade units with Brigadier Boxall. REEL 5 Continues: opinion of Boxall; composition and role of brigade staff; stories illustrating role as president of mess committee including visit of Duke of Gloucester; daily routine; role commanding headquarters defence platoon and story of guard insisting on seeing Montgomery's identity pass; accompanying Montgomery and role marking up planned fortifications to defend RAF communications centre at Folkestone; opinion of Montgomery and reactions to his speech to conference for all officers. REEL 6 Continues: morning visits to brigade units with Brigadier Boxall including Hay's unofficial role in alerting units and Boxall's assessment of battalion tactical exercises based on his practical experience in France, 1940; afternoon routine; opinion of brigade battalions; Montgomery's insistence on all personnel receiving military training and exercises to reflect disruption of war; mobile defensive arrangements for headquarters; story of Colonel Sebag-Montefiore acting as umpire for exercises; reasons for wanting to return to unit; story of Boxall attending battalion mess party; relationship with Boxall; return to unit, 4/1942; forced marches for all personnel during Exercise Tiger and consequent feet problems, 7/1942. REEL 7 Continues: move to Ottley Camp, 9/1842; relationship with Scottish battalion; move to Lands End, 12/1942; coastal defence role; story illustrating exercises with Home Guard; posting as captain command new Anti-Tank Platoon, Headquarters Coy at Bodmin Barracks; attending 6pdr anti-tank gun course; story of securing replacement as AT officer and promotion to company commander on move to Seaford, 5/1943; reaction to news unit was to be broken up for overseas drafts, 10/1943; preparations. Voyage aboard Cameronia to North Africa, 10/1943: question of destination and possible posting to 16th Bn, Durham Light Infantry; role as troop deck officer; conditions; route; German air attacks. Voyage to Naples and period in transit camp, 10/1943-12/1943: relationship with Guards officers; problems over different drill; officers on draft. REEL 8 Continues: reactions to proposal to divide draft between battalions of 139 Bde; move up to join 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry. Recollections of initial period in Garigliano area, 12/1943-2/1944: reception from Colonel John Preston and subsequent meeting with General Hawksworth to avoid prospect of transfer as Anti-Tank officer to Hampshire Regt and consequent reversion to lieutenant; opinion of Captain Tom Reynolds and Major Duffy; posting to join D Coy at La Vaglie; introduction to Thompson machine gun; integration of new draft into platoon; move into front line on high ground in dry stream bed and subsequent flood; food rations; poor officer's servant; situation; ambush of Lieutenant Critchley's night patrol and question of lack of practical patrolling experience; felt patrol boots; night patrols including selection of personnel, prior briefing from Lieutenant Gifford Footer; weapons carried. REEL 9 Continues: account of night patrol including prior briefing from Footer; issue of patrol boots, plan to locate German front positions for artillery, clash with German advanced position, withdrawal in confusion, Verey Light signal to artillery and question of depth of penetration of Footer's patrol; scepticism as to performance of experienced NCO during first patrol; importance of maintaining personal weapon after Thompson machine gun jammed; standing patrol; posting to command D Coy; O Groups; relationship with forward observation offices and personnel of 449 Bty, 70th Field Regt, Royal Artillery; question of shells dropping short; situation and move into mountainous area; difficulty in using assault boats in crossing rivers; assisting Royal Engineers in repairing Calabritto/Cocoruzzo track; conditions of service during periods in front line ; composition rations; problems with US troops during river crossings; German nebelwerfer fire; leave in Sorrento; opinion of US troops and their problems during river crossings. REEL 10 Continues: view of troops moving up ready for assault on Monte Cassino; rest periods at La Vaglie; company officers; unofficial promotion to captain; state of unit; intelligence from Italian farmers; rumours on handing in G1098 stores. Voyage aboard Sobieski to Port Said, 2/1944: news of destination; conditions. Period at Qassasin Camp, Egypt, 2/1944-4/1944: presence of large numbers of troops; posting to command A Coy; rest and re-equipment. Period in Palestine and Syria, 4/1944-7/1944: tent camp near Nathaniya; story of troops stealing oranges; notification of training with tanks; period supporting Palestine Police to counter attacks by Jewish insurgents in Tel Aviv including situation, searching building after bomb scare, patrols to enforce curfew and story of attacking ringleader; reporting over-manning of kibbutz as base for future Jewish insurgency; nature of assault exercises with tanks; opinion of Colonel Johnny Preston. REEL 11 Continues: reasons for preference for return to Italy rather than invasion of France; question of re-equipment; opinion of reinforcements from disbanded anti-aircraft units; return to Italy. Period preparing for offensive on Gothic Line at San Secondino and Bastardo, 7/1944-8/1944: secrecy precautions during move to front line; attachment to improve co-operation with tanks; battalion fête; visit by Major General Oliver Leece. Recollections of operations against Gothic Line, 26/8/1944-9/1944: close escape from German shell during preliminary advance, 27/8/1944-28/8/1944; terrain and nature of German defences; lack of artillery or tank support; initial support role. Account of failed attack on Mondaino, 31/8/1944: situation; discussion with Colonel Worrall as to attack without support; German POWs; orders to attack without support; breakdown of attack due to enfilading fire from left; Desert Air Force bombing attack and subsequent occupation of outlying houses; situation. REEL 12 Continues: consolidating position; casualties including those caused by bombing attack and question of lack of effective support; head wound during night attack on German machine gun post; evacuation. Period in hospital and in convalescence home, 9/1944: classification as suffering from battle exhaustion in addition to wound; initial problems with balance and monitoring of condition; return to unit. Aspects of failed attack on Mondaino, 31/8/1944: subsequent interview with Worrall and question of his removal from command; question of justification for attack on Mondaino and situation during night attack on German machine gun post. Aspects of operations in San Marino area, 9/1944: crossing Rapido; situation; hand wound, 26/9/1944; evacuation. Period in Bari hospital, 9/1944-11/1944: question of amputation of fingers; discovery and removal of bullet casing in old head wound; rejoining unit at Forli. Recollections of period on internal security duties against ELAS insurgents in Athens, Greece, 12/1944-1/1945: prior air flight from Rome; political briefing; setting up positions at Acropolis; British forces present; retreat to Piraeus. REEL 13 Continues: situation; retreat to Piraeus; initial role in command of makeshift squad guarding empty hospital; positions along sea front at Phaleron; ELAS tactics of advancing behind screen of Greek women; state of morale; story of arms stolen from troops and subsequent discovery of tunnels between houses; house to house street clearing during development of block positions along main sea front road to Athens; taking command of A Coy; question of relationship with Worral and Major Laurence Stringer; support from tanks and Greek marines in clearing houses; question of relationship with Greek civilians; role defending neighbouring building with grenades thrown from roof during ELAS night attack on battalion headquarters; 13/12/1944; house clearing supported by tank; re-capture of power station; question of ELAS atrocities against Greek civilians; problems over support from Greek marines; problem with ELAS sniping; successful action by A Coy to capture Acropolis and question of use of 2" mortar. Various aspects of period at Patras, 1/1945-4/1945: situation; minefield casualty. REEL 14 Continues: service for minefield casualty; relationship with Greek civilians. Recollections of role during ELAS night attack on battalion headquarters; 13/12/1944: situation; occupying flat roof of neighbouring block of flats; ELAS threats to blow up building; use of grenades thrown from positions on flat roof to break up ELAS attack; explosion and collapse of outer wall; ELAS casualties. Recollections of period in Italy, 14/4/1945: situation; assistance of quartermaster in organising move as acting commanding officer during troopship move and ceremony on leaving Taranto; question of last German stand in Alps; celebration party on news of end of war. Journey to Unzmarkt, Austria, 5/1945: slow progress due to situation as Yugoslavian forces sought to occupy Trieste; visit to Venice; conflict between Yugoslavian and Italian partisans; state of unit discipline; crossing Caporetto Pass, 13/5/1944; presence of Russian troops; billets; orders to return to Bleiburg, 14/5/1944. REEL 15 Account of detachment with A and D Coys to deal with crisis over presence of Croatian and Yugoslavian forces in Bleiburg sector, 14/5/1945-17/5/1945: reporting to headquarters of 38th Bde at Bleiburg Castle; briefing as presence of Croatian troops and refugees avoiding Yugoslavian partisans; taking up visible defensive positions on high ground to establish British presence; situation; meeting with Brigadier Pat Scott and nature of Scott's negotiations with senior Croatian and Yugoslavian officers to secure surrender of Croatians to British forces including background to Scott's orders to return Croatians by deception to Yugoslavian territory; complications caused by presence of surrendered Cossack and German forces in Austria; move into valley; meeting Croatian civilian refugees; role escorting Croatians down valley and across border; situation; small scale personal attacks on Croatians by Yugoslavian partisans; reporting to brigade headquarters; surrender of Croatian troops and refugees and return to positions on high ground; thefts by Yugoslavian partisans from Croatian column. REEL 16 Continues: thefts by Yugoslavian partisans from Croatian column; situation; Yugoslavian control of Croatian column as they marched through Bleiburg and Hay's ignorance of intention to return Croatians to Yugoslavia; Croatian attempts to escape on realisation they were returning to Yugoslavia and personal reactions; rounding up stray horses with assistance of Austrian civilian woman used to locate border; international background to situation; question of subsequent treatment of Croatians; question of location of 38th Bde; rejoining unit. Recollections of period at Bruckle, Austria, 5/1945-7/1945: role of A Coy in collecting and distributing horses during surrender of Cossack Kononoff Bde; acquiring personal horses and taking part in battalion race meeting; imprisonment and forcible repatriation of Cossacks troops to Russian control. REEL 17 Continues: imprisonment and forcible repatriation of Cossacks troops to Russian control; attending 'open' army conference and embargo on Hay's attempt to discuss treatment of Croatians; story of attending Moral Rearmament Conference at Assisi, Italy. Period at Shwarznigg Schloss, Wilden, 7/1945-10/1945: patrols to identify SS 'Werewolf' personnel; German billet owners. Period as Allied ceremonial guard unit at Vienna, Austria, 10/1945-11/1945: situation; role guarding public buildings and question of Russian troops looting; story of taking ceremonial parade for Four Power conference; visits to Zarkas Hotel; stories illustrating relationship with Russians including difficulty in organising rugby match; concerts; question of fraternisation with Austrians. Period in Wildon, 11/1945-1/1946: recreations; 'Geordie' magazine; leave in Italy, 12/1945. REEL 18 Continues: leave; story of visit by General Charles Keigthley and background to award of US Silver Star to Company Sergeant Major A May, 6/1945; question of disbandment of unit and demobilisation. Attending courses at college at Pellugia, Italy, 1/1946-5/1946: background to accidental classification as regular and avoiding posting to regular unit; ruse to avoid duties and eventual self discharge. Stories of demobilisation at Aldershot, 5/1946: confiscating German souvenir weapons whilst in command of train; demob suit. Post-war career: blackouts caused by head wounds and consequent difficulties in concentrating on accountancy course; award of disability award only for hand injury; background to periods with local artillery territorial unit and 1st Cadet Bn Durham Light Infantry; nervous breakdown; question of position in accountancy firm; question of effect of war on career as accountant.