Description
Object description
British signalman served with No 2 Coy, Royal Corps of Signals, 42nd (East Lancashire) Div in GB, 1933-1939; signalman served with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, II Corps in GB, France and Belgium, 9/1939-5/1940; served with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Egypt and Iraq, 6/1940-6/1941; served with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, Habforce in French Syria, 6/1941-7/1941; NCO served with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 7th Support Group, XXX Corps in North Africa, 11/1941-1/1942; served with Signal Section, 70th Infantry Div in India, 2/1942-2/1943; served with Royal Corps of Signals, 3rd Indian Infantry Div and Special Force Signals with Rear Headquarters for Chindit Expeditions at Gwalior, India, 2/1943-7/1944; served with Royal Corps of Signals in GB and Germany, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Chesterfield, GB, 1916-1939: father's military service in First World War; family; education; employment as miner. Recollections of period as signalman with No 2 Coy, Royal Corps of Signals, 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Div in GB, 1933-1939: reasons for joining Territorial Army; organisation of company; nature of training including Morse Code and heliograph; line training and procedure; description of A Wireless Set; driving course at Lichfield; summer camp at Holyhead, 1933; relations with NCOs in unit.
REEL 2 Continues: wireless operators tests; unit officers; duplication of unit at Glossop; description of No 11 Transceiver Set; civilian employment as lorry driver; transporting searchlight unit to Godmanchester during Munich Crisis, 9/1938; method of setting up line; mobilisation, 8/1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; move to Bakewell. Recollections of period as signalman with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, II Corps in GB, 9/1939-2/1940: attachment of his section to 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery; vehicles used; method of operating No 11 Wireless Set.
REEL 3 Continues: rejoining unit at Headley Down; section duties; initial relations with Royal Artillery personnel; training at Bordon Camp; organisation of unit signals; lack of Christmas leave; painting code numbers on vehicles. Aspects of period as signalman with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery II Corps in France, 2/1940-5/1940: move to France, 2/1940; drive in freezing conditions; billeting in village school; route marches in icy conditions; servicing vehicles; sleeping arrangements in village school; rations; visits to café.
REEL 4 Continues: move to Lille. Recollections of operations as signalman with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, II Corps in France and Belgium, 5/1940: move into Belgium, 10/5/1940; move to Brussels, Belgium; withdrawal to Albert Canal, Belgium; helping refugee; withdrawal to Armentières, France; firing guns at Messines, Belgium; spiking of guns and destruction of vehicles; use of two vehicles to transport personnel towards Dunkirk, France; shortage of rations; under air attack in Poperinghe, Belgium; state of roads; destruction of vehicle; on foot towards Dunkirk, France; arrival in dunes at Dunkirk, France.
REEL 5 Continues: situation on beaches; German Air Force attacks; problems of obtaining places in smaller craft on beaches; move towards East Mole, Dunkirk, France; evacuation by paddle steamer from East Mole, Dunkirk, France, 31/5/1940; reception at Folkestone, GB. Recollections of period as signalman with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 6/1940-2/1941: in transit camp at Prestatyn; rejoining regiment on Salisbury Plain; rumour of return to France; question of lack of presence of Royal Air Force over Dunkirk, France; morale after Dunkirk Evacuation; lack of suitable equipment for beach defences at Lulworth Cove, 6/1940; move to Findon near Worthing; arrival of guns; in observation post on South Downs; invasion stand by.
REEL 6 Continues: German Air Force aircraft shot down in Findon area; move to Lindfield. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Scythia from GB to Egypt via South Africa, 2/1941: embarkation at Gourock, GB; in convoy to South Africa; hospitality of South Africans; arrival in Port Tewfik, Egypt. Aspects of period as signalman with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Egypt and Iraq, 3/1941-6/1941: move to camp; acclimatisation; unit equipment; convoy from Egypt to Iraq, 5/1941; line laying; move to RAF Habbinyah, Iraq; signal duties in RAF armoured car. Aspects of operations as signalman with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, Habforce in French Syria, 6/1941-7/1941: volunteering for service in French Syria; German Air Force bombing of column at Juba Pass; Allied attack on Palmyra.
REEL 7 Continues: move into Palmyra after armistice; move to Damascus, then Lebanon. Recollections of operations as NCO with No 236 Signal Section, Royal Corps of Signals, 60th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 7th Support Group, XXX Corps in North Africa, 11/1941-2/1942: move to Libya; participation in Operation Crusader, 11/1941; taking message to Brigadier Jock Campbell; narrow escape from German shelling on airfield; nature of sandy terrain; use of knocked out armoured car; promotion to lance corporal; withdrawal from airfield; formation of Jock Column artillery shelling of column; technique of 'netting in'; spotting and shelling of Axis tanks hull down in desert.
REEL 8 Continues: under fire from Axis tanks; method of brewing tea; rations; ablutions; quiet nature of desert at night; state of health; relations with officers and NCOs; attempt by 2nd New Zealand Infantry Div to relieve Tobruk, Libya; withdrawal of Axis forces; move back into Egypt, 1/1942; voyage from Egypt to India, 2/1942. Aspects of period as NCO with Signal Section, 70th Infantry Div in India, 2/1942-2/1943: move to Poona, then Ranchi; role driving signal officers; attending infantry course.
REEL 9 Continues: jungle training. Recollections of period as NCO with Royal Corps of Signals, 3rd Indian Infantry Div and Special Force Signals with Rear Headquarters for Chindit Expeditions at Gwalior, India, 2/1943-7/1944: promotion and attitude towards posting; description of working routine of signals office; nature of signals sent from Chindit columns; naming of unit; life in Sergeants' Mess; contracting malaria; signal problems encountered.
REEL 10 Continues: methods of communication with Chindit columns; move into transit camp at Deolali. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Corps of Signals in GB and Germany, 1944-1945: posting to Nottingham as instructor to Auxiliary Territorial Service; reversion to rank of corporal; posting to Germany; demeanour of Germans; demobilisation at York, 12/1945; effects of wartime service and return to civilian life.