Description
Object description
British private and NCO served as driver with No 44 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps attached to 12th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in GB, France, Belgium, North Africa, Italy and Greece, 1939-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Chesterfield, GB, 1918-1939: family; education; employment; learning to drive. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 7/1939-8/1939: attitude to call-up for military service, 7/1939; basic training at Aldershot; drill and physical training; weapons training; opinion of Bren Gun; recreational activities. Aspects of period as driver with No 44 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps attached to 12th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in GB and France, 9/1939-5/1940: move to Kensington Barracks, London; organisation of unit; move to France, 9/1939.
REEL 2 Continues: role as batman to Captain Hart. Aspects of operations as driver with No 44 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps attached to 12th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940: move to Belgium, 5/1940; sight of refugees; acquiring eggs; start of retreat towards Dunkirk, France; attack by German Air Force Junkers Ju 87 Stukas; destruction of vehicles; arrival on beach at Dunkirk, France; method employed to get to boats off shore; rowing to get to ship; problems with grounded rowing boat; arrival at Ramsgate, GB. Aspects of period as driver with No 44 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps attached to 12th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in GB, 1940-1942: re-organisation of company at Yeovil; move to Scotland for amphibious training; attitude towards army service.
REEL 3 Continues: anti-invasion and fire patrols at Yeovil, summer 1940. Recollections of operations as driver with No 44 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps attached to 12th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in North Africa, 1942-1943: acquiring extra clothing and equipment items; voyage from GB to French Algeria; initial impressions of French Algeria; latrines; characteristics of Bedford QL; speed restrictions on lorries; daily routine including breakfast and maintenance; vehicle markings and camouflage; filling up with petrol; petrol and ration 'fiddles'; carrying ammunition to Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Field Gun batteries; road conditions in North Africa.
REEL 4 Continues: use of aircraft spotter on roof; opinion of Americans; amusing story of period living by side on road on route to Cape Bon, Tunisia; contrast between attitude of Italian and German prisoners of war at Cape Bon, Tunisia; move to Egypt; driving through sandstorm. Aspects of period as driver with No 44 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps attached to 12th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in Italy, 1943-1944: move to Italy; role supplying ammunition for attack at Monte Cassino; blocked roads at Cassino town; impressions of Rome. Aspects of period as driver with No 44 Coy, Royal Army Service Corps attached to 12th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in Greece, 1944-1945: arrival in Greece, 12/1944; driving duties; dealing with lice after night in civilian billet; hearing of end of Second World War in Europe, 5/1945; return to GB, 1946; demobilisation, 1946; return to civilian life.