Pitman, Robert James (Oral history)

1758132128
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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British sapper served with No 1 (Electric Light & Works) Coy, Dorsetshire (Fortress), Royal Engineers in Weymouth, GB, 1937-1939; NCO served with Royal Garrison Artillery in GB, 1939-1941; served with 555th Coastal Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1941-1943; served with 297th Bty, 207th Fixed Defences Regt, Royal Artillery in Italy, 7/1943-5/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Weymouth, GB, 1918-1937: family; education. Aspects of period as sapper with No 1 (Electric Light & Works) Coy, Dorsetshire (Fortress), Royal Engineers in Weymouth, GB, 1937-1939: reasons for joining Territorial Army, 11/1937; method of operating searchlights; locations of searchlight batteries in Weymouth area. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Garrison Artillery in GB, 1939-1941: reasons for rapid promotion from gunner to NCO; duties in Weymouth. Aspects of period as NCO with 555th Coastal Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1941-1943: various locations of batteries in Devonshire and Dorsetshire; memories of German Air Force raid on Exeter, 4/5/1942; German Air Force strafing of Exmouth; course on moving artillery pieces with block and tackle at Llandudno, 1943. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as NCO with 297th Bty, 207th Fixed Defences Regt, Royal Artillery in Italy, 1943-1945: voyage aboard HMS Letitia from GB to Sicily, 7/1943; landing at Augusta, Sicily, 7/1943; evacuation to North Africa with dysentery; treatment and return to battery in Sicily; explosion of SS John Harvey containing Mustard Gas in Bari Harbour, 2/12/1943; presence of Italians in unit; setting up artillery barrage to protect Naples, 12/1943; role operating against German E boats from Gorgona Island; firing on German miniature submarines north of Leghorn; Italian artillery operated by unit; opinion of Italian maintenance of guns; impressions of Italian campaign; German Air Force attacks on unit. REEL 3 Continues: generosity of British Army troops towards hungry Italian civilians; end of the war in Genoa, 5/1945. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Garrison Artillery in GB, 1939-1941: equipment available for coastal defence in Dorset; German Air Force bombing of Portland and Weymouth, 1940-1941; opinion of German militarism.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Pitman, Robert James (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1993-06-03
Dimensions: whole: Duration 90, Number Of Items 3
Catalogue number: 13239

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Pitman, Robert James (Oral history)

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