Carling, Hugh (Oral history)

British NCO served with Royal Army Service Corps, 7th Armoured Div, Western Desert Force in North Africa, 1940-1941; served with Glider Pilot Regiment in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as NCO with Royal Army Service Corps, 7th Armoured Div, Western Desert Force in North Africa, 1940-1941: reasons for move to North Africa; swamping in mud at Mersa Matruh, Egypt; sight of bombardment of Bardia, Libya, 1/1941; character of Royal Army Service Corps drivers; promotion to corporal; social activities in Cairo, Egypt; hospitalisation for lump on leg in Heliopolis, Egypt and GB, 1941. Recollections of training as NCO with Glider Pilot Regiment in GB, 1942-1944: reasons for volunteering for unit; selection at Glider Pilot Regimental Depot, Camp Fargo near Larkhill on Salisbury Plain; flying training at RAF Booker; selection to train for D-Day operations; memories of Captain 'Blubber' Boyd. Recollections of operations as NCO with Glider Pilot Regt during Operation Market Garden in Netherlands, 9/1944: patrol work after landing; reaction to discovery of German armour; wounding of comrade. REEL 2 Continues: wounding in mortar bomb explosion; orders to evacuate to River Nederrijn and narrow escape from accidentally opening fire on Polish paratroopers; evacuation by boat across River Nederrijn; character of glider flight to Netherlands and landing; opinion of Operation Market Garden; German sniper activity; dealing with absence of water and shortages of rations; aiding wounded German soldier; acquiring goulash from Dutch civilians; condition he was in after Operation Market Garden. Recollections of operations as NCO with Glider Pilot Regiment during Operation Varsity in Germany, 3/1945: influx of Royal Air Force pilots into unit after Operation Market Garden; reasons for nearly missing operation. REEL 3 Continues: question of Royal Air Force pilots lacking military and glider training; flight from GB to Germany in General Aircraft Hamilcar Glider No 272 carrying Universal Carrier and No 716 (Airborne) Light Composite Coy, Royal Army Service Corps personnel, 24/3/1945; fate of tank crew in gliders shot down; damage to his glider from anti-aircraft fire; obscuring of landing zone by smoke from bombed Wesel; landing amongst anti-glider obstacles under German fire; how first pilot Staff Sergeant Stan Pearson knocked himself out abandoning glider cockpit; getting Universal Carrier under way after landing; fate of Universal Carrier; in action at German headquarters; recrossing River Rhine; comparison between flying Airspeed Horsa and General Aircraft Hamilcar Gliders; method of getting doors of gliders open. Story of psychological problems after suffering concussion in post-war parachute drop. REEL 4 Continues: Reflections on military service in Second World War: dealing with Italian prisoners of war in North Africa, 1940-1941; story of effects of mass destruction of pets for People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in London, 1939; reaction to VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; story of forming guard of honour over remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Keyes in family chapel; father's business collecting waste oil from destroyers, 1945; his own and his wife's political opinions in Second World War; question of armed services voting for Labour Party in 1945; prior recollection of sight of German Zeppelin over South Shields, 1916. REEL 5 Continues: dealing with troops returning from Dunkirk as driver with No 13 Troop Carrying Coy, Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 6/1940; story of dealing with soldier who attempted to abscond.