Usher, Raymond (Oral history)

British private served with 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regt, British Troops Berlin in Berlin, Germany, 1951-1952; served with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 9/1952-5/1953

REEL 1 Background in Kingston upon Hull, GB, 1933-1951: family; education; German Air Force attacks on Kingston upon Hull and Withernsea, 1943. Aspects of enlistment and training at Strensall Barracks, GB, 1951: call-up for National Service, 6/1951; infantry training at Strensall Barracks. Aspects of period with 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regt, British Troops Berlin in Berlin, Germany, 1951-1952; move to Buxtehude; story of how battalion had to pay for barrack room damages in Berlin; emphasis on bull in unit; selling cigarettes to Germans; transfer to 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt and contrast with 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regt. Recollections of operations as private with A Coy, 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 9/1952-5/1953: posting to Korea, 1952; voyage aboard HMT Devonshire from GB to Korea, 8/1952-9/1952 reception in Pusan, 9/1952; state of Korean housing in Pusan; move by train to tented Britannia Camp; taking over reserve positions from 1st Bn Welch Regt, 10/1952; concert by Frankie Howerd and Eve Boswell; reasons for commanding officer of A Coy being relieved for unsuitable behaviour. REEL 2 Continues: relieving 1st Bn Australian Regt in front line at Yong Dong; rat infested bunkers at Yong Dong; dangers of poisonous snakes in bunkers; dangerous methods of making fires and heating bunkers; clothing worn, winter 1952-1953; relieving 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in front line, 1/12/1952; Chinese psychological efforts relating to Christmas; offer of five days leave in Tokyo, Japan for any Chinese soldier captured alive; nature of casualties; United Nations' air superiority; South Koreans attached to unit and their complaints about rations; Christmas dinner spoilt by Chinese shelling, 25/12/1952; state of troops' health in front line; length of periods spent in front line. REEL 3 Continues: experiment with sleeping in daytime; stealth of Chinese troops; rumour of Chinese rearranging United Nations' minefields; relations with American and Dutch troops; leaving Korea, 21/5/1953; return voyage aboard HMT Empire Pride from Korea to GB, 5/1953-6/1953.