Description
Object description
British private trained with General Service Corps in GB, 1943; served with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in GB, 1943-1944; served with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and North West Europe, 1944; NCO served with 4th (Holding) Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1945-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bodmin and Wells, GB, 1925-1943: family including Danish roots and changes to surname; memories of childhood; education; cricket; membership of cubs and Regnal League; religion; awareness of events in Germany; reactions on outbreak of war 9/1939; shop work in Bodmin and Wells; joining of ARP in Bodmin; ARP duties; reaction to move to Somerset; time in Wells; attitude towards joining army and medical in Bristol; call-up; story of journey to Colchester. Aspects of period as recruit with General Service Corps in GB, 4/1943-5/1943: arrival at barracks; enjoyment of training; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; comradeship among recruits; settling into army life; reveille; daily routine; drill; rifle training; opinion of what makes a good shot; opinion of Bren gun; Bren gun crew; stripping Bren gun; opinion would not see action; length of basic training; route marches; opinion of instructors; army language; kit inspections; visits to Colchester; expectation of placement with Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; presence of Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry at Colchester; posting to 1st Battalion at Ringwood. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in GB, 5/1943-4/1944: welcome from Regimental Sergeant Major; uncle in cookhouse; journey to Rookley on Isle of Wight; accommodation; bayonet training; opinion and importance of bayonet training.
REEL 2 Continues: firing on weapons range; description of PIAT gun; proficiency with different weapons; proficiency required before specialist training; throwing of grenades; training in trenches; cooking on route marches; reason for joining signals platoon; summary of signals training; radio procedures including nickname; reason for not finishing course; importance and learning of Morse code and semaphore; comradeship; relationship with older soldiers including story of charge for using wrong mess hall; cookhouse duties; hospitalisation in Newport with appendicitis; convalescence at Osborne House and Taunton; duties at Taunton; leave; opinion of reasons for transfer to 151 Brigade; reactions to leaving Duke of Cornwall's. Aspects of period as private with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 4/1944-6/1944: arrival with and welcome from unit at Aldershot; settling into unit; map used for briefings; memories of platoon officer; contact with Durham troops; description of camp in Ramsey; reactions to approaching action including story of white cross delivery; signs of bomb happiness in corporal.
REEL 3 Continues: reactions to not being posted as a signaller; absence of landing training; activities in Ramsey camp; rifle inspections and cleaning; posting in Bren gun crew; comradeship in accommodation; memories of corporal; issue of French money; routine during six days aboard USS Rapier before D-Day; sleeping arrangements; concern that Germans would know of invasion; voyage to France; boarding of landing craft; description of craft; after effects of journey in landing craft; mood in craft; landing including problems with leggings worn and depth of water; equipment carried. Aspects of operations as private with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North West Europe, 6/1944-8/1944: opposition faced; scenes on beach; movement up and off beach; arrival in Bayeux including opposition faced; reactions to shell and mortar fire; separation from platoon and panic created by corporal; slit trenches dug; setting up of Bren; reunion with battalion; story of cow setting off a trip wire; story of search for Germans in a wood and fight to regain positions; reconnaissance during night before Lingèvres; situation at Lingèvres including shave before battle; opposition faced during advance through cornfield; markers left for stretcher bearers; reason for slow advance; length of advance.
REEL 4 Continues: problems with artillery barrage; opposition faced; arrival in village; sniper in tower and death of forward artillery officer; first German killed including after effects; Germans spotted in field and killed; position of German tanks in Lingèvres; death of Colonel Wood and succession of Major Mogg; group gathered for attack on tanks; role of Bren gun fire when attacking a tank; advance toward tanks; attack on tanks; appearance of third tank and withdrawal; cover taken from tank fire; move of tanks into village; cover taken from five tanks in field; actions of nervous sergeant and Scottish corporal; firing of Bren on evacuating tank crew; sharing out of rations; appearance of anti-tank platoon; reputation of German tanks not taking prisoners; casualties and relief from Gloucester Regiment; rations; story of meeting old signal corporal; explanation of Tac Headquarters; telephone lines laid during action; interview with signals officer; laying of telephone lines; radio set carried on a night patrol; story of patrol in Villers Bocage; role of signaller on patrol; repairing of lines including story of a passing German patrol while undertaking repairs; routine duties; reliability and range of radio sets; more on routine duties.
REEL 5 Continues: maintenance of lines at Tilly- sur-Seulles; problems with blister; time in Bayeux rest camp; return to unit at St Pierre le Vielle; attack from Germans during move into positions; consolidation in field; wounding from shell at Point 249; effect on outlook of being hit by a shell; opinion of reason for attack; initial treatment; description of wounds; evacuation under shellfire; treatment at regimental aid post including possibility of having leg amputated; period in tented hospitals; opinion of treatment; role of Royal Signals troops with battalion; situation with leg on return to GB; treatment with penicillin; size of wound; voyage to and treatment on arrival at Gosport. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 8/1944-4/1945: refusal to stay on same ward as German wounded; hope for move to St Laurence's Hospital in Bodmin; reactions to hospitalisation in Manchester; treatment received; reactions to missing war. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 4th (Holding) Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 4/1945-7/1947: duties at West Hartlepool; continuing psychological problems including visit to psychiatrist; guard duties in Bishop Auckland and opinion of posting; story of being caught shirking duties; help given for kit inspection; return to unit; medical grading; posting as signaller on return to West Hartlepool; training with PBX switchboard.
REEL 6 Continues: duties in signals office; move to Sedgefield and sports played; VE and VJ Day; selection for instructors course at Catterick; entrance test and promotion; summary of instructors course; offer of role as sergeant instructor; results; promotion to corporal on return to unit; marriage and promotion to sergeant; duties as sergeant at Brancepeth Castle; reason for not staying on in army; details of civilian work following demobilisation; relationship with family in West Hartlepool; psychological problems after demobilisation.