Symes, Laurence Richard (Oral history)

British private served with 5th/7th Bn Hampshire Regt in GB, 1939; NCO served with 7th Bn Hampshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 1939-1945

REEL 1 Background in Buckland Newton and Christchurch, GB, 1920-1939: family; education. Aspects of period with 5th/7th Bn Hampshire Regt in GB, 1939: background to joining Territorial Army at Christchurch, 4/1939; training received prior to Second World War. Recollections of period as NCO with 7th Bn Hampshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 1939-1944: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; need to counter Irish Republican Army (IRA) threat and guard duties on Isle of Wight; German shelling of Dover, 1942-1943; his shooting down of German Air Force aircraft with Vickers Machine Gun near Betteshanger, 1942; public morale in Dover and relations between civilians and troops; question of belief in prospect of German invasion; training in preparation for invasion of Normandy, France, 1943-1944 and question of role of cycle platoon; visit by General Bernard Montgomery. Recollections of operations as NCO with 7th Bn Hampshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: landing on Gold Beach, 22/6/1944; move to positions at Baron-sur-Odon; German use of loudspeaker and mortaring at Baron-sur-Odon, 5/7/1944. REEL 2 Continues: battle for Maltot, 10/7/1944; role carrying ammunition in Universal Carrier; trapping of his Universal Carrier in German latrine trench system, 10/7/1944; unit casualties, 10/7/1944; reasons for failure of attack at Maltot, 10/7/1944; attitude of German prisoners of war at Maltot, 10/7/1944; attitude towards Germans; loss of senior officers in unit to artillery fire, 7/1944; atmosphere in bocage; German ranging on crossroads; attack on Jurques, 2/8/1944-4/8/1944; loss of Sergeant Arthur Stagg, 31/7/1944; sight of smashed German horse transport at Chambois in Falaise Gap, 22/8/1944; reaction of British Army troops to French women looting German dead at Chambois, 22/8/1944. REEL 3 Continues: clearing of farm buildings in Tilly-sur-Seulles, 28/8/1944. Recollections of operations as NCO with 7th Bn Hampshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-5/1945: reception on entry into Brussels, Belgium, 8/9/1944; retreating Germans deliberate fouling in Brussels, Belgium; advance to Nijmegen, Netherlands, 9/1944; character of German rations found at Nijmegen, Netherlands; reception from Dutch civilians, 9/1944; attacks on brick factory held by Waffen-SS on River Dyle, Belgium, 10/1944; truce to remove wounded from battlefield; meeting with German veteran who served on River Dyle, Belgium, 1992; story of company mascot a piglet called 'Corporal Grunt' in reserve at Groesbeek, Netherlands, 10/1944. REEL 4 Continues: attempt to retrieve bodies from minefield in Panhandle Wood, 21/11/1944-22/11/1944; orders to guard against Germans dressed as Americans at Turnhout, Belgium, 12/1944; move in Buffalo LVT-4 Amphibious Vehicles to Bedburg-hau, Germamy, 2 /1945; German artillery bombardment at Bedburg-Hau, Germany, 2/1945; capture of unit members at Berkhofel, Germany, 13/2/1945-15/2/1945; Canadian method of mortar bombing in Reichswald Forest, Germany, 22/2/1945; attack on Waldenrath and advance to Putt, Germany, 2/1945; sight of Prime Minister Winston Churchill during crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; lessening of resistance after River Rhine crossing in Germany; sight of money in street where bank safes had been blown at Cloppenburg, Germany; signs of war coming to an end, 5/1945; problems with non-fraternisation order in area around Lüneberg Heath, Germany. REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of period with 7th Bn Hampshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div during occupation of Germany, 1945: horse riding at Celle; address by General Brian Horrocks about what to expect from Soviets in Berlin; behaviour of Soviets in Berlin; story illustrating American attitude towards discipline; Soviet officers' entertaining of British officers in Berlin; question of psychological state at end of Second World War; problems adjusting to civilian life after Second World War; question of need for counselling for those who serve in military. Reads address by F D Graaf at ceremony to commemorate sacrifice of members of 43rd (Wessex) Div.