Usher, Raymond (Oral history)

British private served with 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regt in Germany, 1951-1952; served with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 10/1952-5/1953

REEL 1 Background in Hull, 1933-1951: family; education; German Air Force attacks on Hull and Withernsea c1943; call up for National Service, c6/1951. Aspects of National Service in GB and Germany, 1951-1952: infantry training at Strensall Barracks,1951; move to 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regt in Germany, 1951-1952; move to Buxtehude; story of how East Yorkshire Regt 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 Yorks Regt; posting to Korea, 1952. Voyage from GB to Korea aboard Devonshire, autumn 1952. Recollections of operations with A Coy, 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 10/1952-5/1953: reception in Pusan, 10/1952; 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; poisonous snake danger 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 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; 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 re-arranging United Nations' minefields; relations with US and Dutch troops; leaving Korea, 21/5/1953; return to GB on board Empire Pride.