Swann, Ronald William (Oral history)

British NCO served with 238 Bty, 115th Field Regt, Royal Artillery I and II Corps in GB, France and Belgium, 9/1939-2/1942; served with 115th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India and Ceylon, 4/1942-1/1943; officer served with 160th Jungle Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 3rd Indian Infantry Div in Bengal, India, 6/1943-5/1944; served with U Troop, 160th Jungle Field Regt, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition Operation Thursday in Burma, 5/1944

REEL 1 Background in Leicester, GB, 1919-1939: family; education; joining 115th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Territorial Army, 3/7/1939. Recollections of operations as NCO with 238 Bty, 115th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, I Corps in France and Belgium, 5/1940: move to France, 3/1940; move into Belgium, 5/1940; withdrawal to Tournai, Belgium; unit hit by German counter- battery fire at Saint Maur, France; opinion of German artillery accuracy; anti-tank defence duties in Mont Kemmel area, Belgium; German Air Force dropping of propaganda leaflets; arrival in Dunkirk, France and embarkation aboard HMS Codrington; role in battery; reaction to hearing that British Expeditionary Force was surrounded; experiences in perimeter at Dunkirk, France; fatigue on reaching Dunkirk, France; guns left behind at Mont Kemel, Belgium; state of East Mole at Dunkirk, France; conditions aboard HMS Codrington; reception in Dover, GB. Aspects of period as NCO with 115th Field Regt, Royal Artillery I and II Corps in GB, 1940-1942: attitude of civilians towards Dunkirk Evacuation; anti-invasion duties in East Yorkshire, 6/1940-7/1940; use of 4 Inch Naval Guns in anti-tank role in Beckenham and Bexleyheath areas; story of receiving invasion code-word 'Cromwell' in Beckenham, 9/1940. REEL 2 Continues: siting of guns at Black Prince Public House, Bexleyheath, 9/1940; watching brief for potential parachutists at North Cave, 6/1940-7/1940; move to II Corps at South Walsham, 12/1940; trouble with police for living off the land at South Walsham. Aspects of period as NCO with 115th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India and Ceylon, 4/1942-1/1943: voyage from GB to India via South Africa, 2/1942-3/1942; move on arrival to Bangalore, India; attempts to keep soldiers fit; move to Ceylon; demonstration of Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Field Gun's firepower; commissioning in India, 6/1943. Aspects of period as officer with 160th Jungle Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Bengal, India, 1943: joining unit at Chittagong; in reserve for Arakan Campaign at Cox's Bazaar; near training accident. Aspects of period as officer with 160th Jungle Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 3rd Indian Infantry Div in India, 1943-1944: reasons why part of 160th Jungle Field Regt was taken to Lalaghat to train with Chindits; artillery training at Lalaghat. REEL 3 Continues: his demonstration of dismantling of Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Field Gun; problems of flying mules into Burma. Recollections of operations as officer with U Troop, 160th Jungle Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition Operation Thursday in Burma, 13/5/1944-31/5/1944: flying into Blackpool landing zone; question of siting of strongholds; role of artillery covering General Joseph Stilwell's forces at Namkwin, flight to Namkwin, 6/5/1944; accident to his wrist unloading breech block of Ordnance OF 25 Pounder Field Gun; setting up artillery positio; Imperial Japanese Air Force and mortar attacks on position, 5/1944; attack on Japanese position at Pinbaw, 5/1944; question of Japanese timing; United States Army Air Force attack on Japanese artillery position; effect of Japanese 'coal scuttle' mortaring and wounding in eyes, 25/5/1944; opinion of influence of Lieutenant Colonel Walter Scott; move to Mokso Sakan above Lake Indawgyi, 25/5/1944. REEL 4 Continues: nomination to be flown out because of wounds, 31/5/1944. Aspects of hospitalisation for eye injuries and loss of left eye in 44th Indian General Hospital and 20th American General Hospital, Ledo, India, 6/1944: opinion of treatment by American surgeon Major Harold Scheie; further treatment and recuperation in India and GB. Reflections on service in Second World War: VE Day celebrations outside Buckingham Palace, London, GB, 8/5/1945; question of British Fourteenth Army being a 'Forgotten Army'; story of making post-war contact with Dr Harold Scheie; reaction to result of General Election in GB, 7/1945.