Description
Object description
British officer cadet at Royal Military College, Sandhurst in GB, 1934-1935; officer served with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 6th Infantry Bde in GB, 1935-1936; served with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in India, 1936-1939; served with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 10th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in GB, France and Belgium, 1939-1941; served as staff officer with 4th Infantry Div in GB, 1941-1942; student at Staff College, Camberley, GB, 1942; served as staff officer with 7th Lorried Infantry Bde, 9th Armoured Div in GB, 1942-1943; served as staff officer with Rear Headquarters, Special Force, 3rd Indian Infantry Div at Gwalior, India and Main Headquarters, Special Force, 3rd Indian Infantry Div at Imphal and Sylhet, India, 1943-1945; served with 2nd Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and 1st Bn South Staffordshire Regt in India, 1945-1946; served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at General Headquarters, India in Delhi, India, 1946; served as staff officer with War Office, London, GB, 1947-1949; served with Light Infantry Training Bn at Bordon Camp, GB, 1949-1950; served as instructor with Staff College, Camberley, GB, 1950-1953; served with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 61st Lorried Infantry Bde in Minden, Germany, 1953-1954 and Jamaica, 1954-1955; served as staff officer with Headquarters, British Army of the Rhine in West Germany, 1955-1957; commanded 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 7th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in Osnabrück, West Germany, 1957-1959; officer served as chief instructor with Tactical Wing, School of Infantry at Warminster, GB, 1960; commanded 130th Infantry Bde (TA) in GB, 1961-1963; served as Director of Administrative Planning with War Office and Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1963-1964; student with National Defence College in Kingston, Canada, 1964-1965; staff officer served as Military Operations (I) at Ministry of Defence, London, GB, 1965-1966; commanded Singapore District in Republic of Singapore, 1966-1970
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1915-1934: family background; membership of Officer Training Corps (OTC) at Malvern College including training and instructors. Recollections of period as officer cadet at Royal Military College, Sandhurst in GB, 1934-1935: entrance examination, 1933; initial treatment of cadets; syllabus including theoretical tactics; use of Tactical Exercises Without Troops (TEWTS) and sand table; drawing and map reading exercises; assumptions about leadership; riding; nature of tactics taught; physical training; drill; degree of arms training undertaken; first parade; recreational activities; end of day activities; competition for passing out list; character of company sergeant major; assessment; term lengths; competitive games; signing in.
REEL 2 Continues: formal entertainment; opinion of food; college servants; junior recruit kit cleaning; discipline and punishments; morale amongst cadets; choice of regiment; selection interview by colonels of regiments; impact of Abyssinian Crisis, 1935; expectation of coming war; ideas on future conduct of war; threat of chemical warfare; lack of apprehension about Japan; attitude towards Germany and Adolf Hitler; degree of strategic reading carried out. Recollections of period as officer with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 6th Infantry Bde in GB, 1935-1936: how he was informed about which regiment he was accepted by; joining battalion at Blackdown Camp; taking church parade; attending six week cadre course at Small Arms School, Hythe; home and away battalions; strength of battalion and recruitment; strength and establishment; weapons training; live firing; assessment at end of cadre course; sources and motivation of recruits.
REEL 3 Continues: motivations and Cornish character of recruits; cook sergeant; composition of 6th Infantry Bde; experiment with motor transport; route marches; pattern of training and exercises; co-operation with RAF; communications; platoon and company organisation; shelter on exercise; night training; patrolling and sniping; tactics and effect of introduction of battle drills. Recollections of period as officer with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in India, 1936-1939: volunteering for service in India; pay and expenses; incentives to serve aboard; voyage to India; prior recollection of visit to to see father Captain Charles Tyacke's grave at Ham, Somme, France; initial impressions of India; expectations of service; joining battalion at Dimapur.
REEL 4 Continues: character of Dimapur station; internal security duties for Andaman Islands; train from Bombay to Dimapur; voyage to Andaman Islands on convict transport; origins of convicts; warders; climate on Andaman Islands; native population; emphasis on games; daily routine and use of club; contrast between battalions of Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; troops' indoctrination into battalion history; life centred on battalion; khaki drill uniform; accommodation; routine at Dimapur; married officers; food; insects.
REEL 5 Continues: anti-mosquito measures; inspections of char wallahs and regimental facilities; contracting dengue fever; character of personal bearers; move from Dimapur to Lahore, 1/1938; recruitment of bearer by mess sergeant; qualities of good bearer; opinion of platoon and NCOs; relations with platoon and NCOs; importance of sport; internal security threat; description of riot drills; role of magistrate and co-operation with police; degree of awareness of nationalist threat; communal tension in Lahore; hot weather routine; character of Lahore; leave in Calcutta.
REEL 6 Continues: home leave, 1939. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 10th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in GB, 1939: orders to join battalion at Shorncliffe Camp; outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; battalion's return from guard duties in London; absorption of reservists; train journey to Southampton via Aldershot. Recollections of period as officer with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 10th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in France, 1939-1940: journey to France; duties at second in command of C Coy; company commander; organisation and weapons; atmosphere in battalion; initial impressions of France; battalion movement; accommodation and use of palliasses by troops at Oignes; question of troops not being prepared for Phoney War; relations with civilians; move to Belgian frontier, 11/1939; construction of defences near Roubaix; opinion of defensive positions; artillery support; changes in positions ordered by senior officers; attitude of troops and conditions.
REEL 7 Continues: company exercise on Vimy Ridge. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 10th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940: orders to rejoin battalion, 10/5/1940; sight of German bomber being shot down by RAF Hawker Hurricane; advance into Belgium; Belgian troops; in billets east of Brussels, Belgium; hunger; defensive positions on Louvain road; attitude of shot down German aircrew; disappearance of battalion of East Yorkshire Regt; means of communication; orders to withdrawal; presence of French Army transport and refugees on roads; deployment along railway line; billets on River Escaut; orders to move to west bank of River Escaut; German snipers firing on battalion; orders to withdraw to ridge; under artillery bombardment; move with reconnaissance party to Roubaix; occupying prepared positions at Roubaix; effect of shelling on battalion morale; nature of advance into Belgium.
REEL 8 Continues: Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 10th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in France, 1939-1940: formation of battle patrols, 1939; attachment to Black Watch; contrast between Black Watch and Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; character of NCOs and officers of Black Watch; Black Watch battle patrol; weapons carried; origins of battle patrol in First World War; move to Saar; origins of French NCO an French Liaison Officer (FLO); march to front line on Maginot Line; sergeant-major's relations with officer; description of front line; character of uneventful patrols; opinion of French Army positions.
REEL 9 Continues: how old forward French Army positions obstructed patrols; effects of cold; communications during patrol and visibility in moonlight; importance of sound; sight of German Army officer; artillery exchange; selection of men for battle patrol; qualities required for battle patrol personnel; an unsuitable man; battle patrol formations; terrain in Saar; battalion move to Saar, 3/1940; visit by Duke of Windsor; effects of long period of patrolling; effects of patrols being 'brigaded'; liaison with French Army; measures taken for safe return; incident of being shot at by British troops; keeping to timings and navigation at night.
REEL 10 Continues: morale of French Army; morale of British forces; opinion of French equipment in comparison with British; incident of being fired on from front and rear; German Army raiding party on battalion's right flank under cover of artillery barrage; General Alan Brooke's decision on raid; presence of pay book and grenades on dead German; patrol techniques; opinion of Brigadier Evelyn Barker; nature of brigade conferences; reaction of Brigadier Evelyn Barker to German raid; character of General Alan Brooke; character of Brigadier Evelyn Barker.
REEL 11 Continues: encounter with Brigadier Evelyn Barker; question of turnout; discipline; off duty in Metz, France. Recollections of operations as operations with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 10th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940: return to Gort Line after withdrawal from River Dyle, Belgium; description of positions; deployment of companies; frontage; defences in Gort Line; lack of information on overall situation; morale; German shelling; a successful patrol; appointment as company second in command and character of company commander; visits to platoons and sections; company command post; communication with adjutant and visit by battalion commander.
REEL 12 Continues: character of battalion officers; effects of fatigue; company headquarters personnel; role as second in command of company; company orders; duties of company sergeant-major; daily activities on Gort Line; close proximity of unseen Germans; surprise visit by Brigadier Evelyn Barker; orders to withdraw; march to rejoin battalion; rendezvous with motor transport; unawareness of position of battalion; shelling in village; cancellation of orders to counter-attack; holding council of war; meeting with Brigadier Evelyn Barker; orders to withdraw; rejoining battalion.
REEL 13 Continues: loss of valise and good boots; presence of Junkers Ju 87 Stukas during withdrawal in motor transport; how divisional commander criticised march discipline; debussing in wood; awareness of British Expeditionary Force evacuation; essential equipment carried; question of not hearing Junkers Ju 87 Stukas screaming; orders received for attack from Kemmel, Belgium; formation used for advance to contact; immobilisation of vehicles; orders to hold canal bank and nature of terrain; under German mortar fire whilst moving out of woods; treatment of casualty; approaches to Nieuport Canal, France; sight of long range machine gun fire; decision of company commander to change commanding officer's orders; location of battalion headquarters in First World War blockhouse; preparations for defence; German shelling of positions and casualties; lack of artillery support; location of neighbouring companies.
REEL 14 Continues: being relieved at night and move into reserve; orders to attack and subsequent cancellation; adjustment of battalion position; firing on German machine gun position; sight of Royal Air Force Bristol Blenheim bombing attack on German positions; sight of Fleet Air Arm Fairey Albacores; expectation of evacuation; casualty; a near miss from machine gun fire; rations; awareness of role protecting evacuation area; troops' morale and fatigue; confidence in own survival; judging direction of shells by sound; German harassing machine gun fire; orders to withdraw at night; practicalities of withdrawal.
REEL 15 Continues: reasons for loss of left hand platoon; night movement; sight of fires caused by German shelling at La Panne, Belgium; orders to take cover; reassembling and collection of stragglers; directions received from military policeman; attacks by German Air Force; depletion of his party; sight of evacuation vessels on arrival on Bray-Dunes, France; taking cover in cellar full of French Army troops; advice received from British staff officers; allowing troops in his party to decide whether to go into sea or stay on beach; standing in sea; picking up by lifeboat and transfer to Royal Navy minesweeper; stay in ward room; reception on arrival at Sheerness, GB; train to Burton upon Trent, GB; sleeping in mess ante-room; French Army rearguard near La Panne, Belgium; troops attitude towards standing in sea.
REEL 16 Continue: on train from Sheerness, GB; question of handing rifles in on board ship. Recollections of period as officer with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 10th Infantry Bde, 4th Infantry Div in GB, 1940-1941: period at Burton upon Trent; reformation of battalion at Sherbourne; disappearance of commanding officer, his batman and driver; casualties during campaign; issue of American Browning Pistol and requisition of civilian vehicles; arrival of reinforcements; coastal defence duties on Selsey Bill; casualties caused by mines; use of barbed wire and underwater obstacles; artillery support; long battalion frontage; expectations of timing of German attack; atmosphere in battalion; sight of air battles, summer 1940; behaviour of shot down German Junkers Ju 87 Stuka pilot; German Heinkel He 111 landing on beach; accommodation; battalion morale during German Air Force bombing campaign; married men; leave; case of absence without leave; discipline in battalion.
REEL 17 Continues: strength of battalion, summer 1940; posting out of older officers; becoming company commander of C Coy; opinion of company sergeant-major; arrival of new platoon commanders; character of company second in command; appointment as adjutant; arrival of new commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Roy Urquhart; character of old commander officer and his removal; duties of adjutant; battalion command team; Lieutenant-Colonel Roy Urquhart's command style; character of Brigadier Walter Clutterbuck; training in New Forest; nature of exercises including effects of introduction of battle; drills.
REEL 18 Continues: tactics employed prior to introduction of battle drills; participation in 'desert' exercise on Salisbury Plain; endurance exercises; physical and psychological aspects of effective leadership; fitness levels of Lieutenant-Colonel Roy Urquhart. Recollections of period as staff officer with 4th Infantry Div in GB, 1941-1942: appointment as divisional staff officer; divisional move to Aldershot then Scotland; appointment as G-3 Ops; concern with march tables; major movement exercises; control of movement exercises; passing orders from brigade level; G-1 Ops conferences; composition of G staff and use of liaison officers; march orders; character of G-1 Ops; character of divisional commander.
REEL 19 Continues: exchange of 11th Infantry Brigade for 21st Army Tank Brigade, 6/1942; duties as brigade major; character of his brigadier and his sacking after amphibious landing exercise; character of new brigadier; orders for amphibious landing exercise; opinion of battalion commanders; brigade headquarters staff; division of labour and daily routine; how old brigadier led staff in physical training exercises; Combined Operations training; liaison with Royal Navy; attitude towards preparation of landing tables; nature of amphibious landing exercises; presence of brigade tactical headquarters on exercise including communications; presence of Lord Louis Mountbatten as observer; further details of amphibious landings.
REEL 20 Continues: exercise to cross River Thames and debriefing by General Bernard Montgomery; arrival of 21st Army Tank Brigade, 6/1942; degree of infantry-armour co-operation; priority for amphibious landings; support elements; post-exercise conferences. Aspects of period as student at Staff College, Camberley, GB, 1942: selection for staff course; syllabus and instruction; demonstration by airborne forces; nature of exercises; syndicates; benefits of staff course. Aspects of period as staff officer with 7th Lorried Infantry Bde, 9th Armoured Div in GB, 1942-1943: posting as brigade-major; opinion and character of 9th Armoured Div; deployment of brigades; opinion of divisional brigadiers.
REEL 21 Continues: participation in Exercise Spartan, 3/1943; realistic training in Yorkshire Wolds; indoor exercises; effects of constant movement during Exercise Spartan, 3/1943; use of brigade command vehicle; opinion of Brigadier Basil Rackham; live tank firing in Yorkshire Wolds; role of lorried infantry; atmosphere in division; divisional communications net; style of orders for exercises; move to Sussex. Aspects of voyage aboard MV Dominion Monarch from GB to Egypt, GB, 1943: reaction to posting to India; embarkation; convoy through Mediterranean arrival at Port Said. Aspects of voyage aboard MS Sobieski from Egypt to India, 1943: conditions on board; reading article about Chindits in Blackwood Magazine whilst on board.
REEL 22 Continues: Recollections of period as air staff officer with Rear Headquarters, Special Force, 3rd Indian Infantry Div in Gwalior and Main Headquarters, Special Force, 3rd Indian Infantry Div at Imphal and Sylhet, India, 1943-1945: reasons for location of headquarters; initial impressions of organisation of headquarters; attitude of personnel transfer from 70th Infantry Div; question of doubts over ethos and validity of Special Force operations; character of Major-General Orde Wingate; further details of posting to India; degree of knowledge of previous Chindit operations; lack of experience of air operations; first clash with Major General Orde Wingate over report; subsequent clash with Major-General Orde Wingate over authorisation of air support during Second Chindit Expedition; question of Major-General Orde Wingate unpredictable nature; Major-General Orde Wingate's sacking of officer who complained; types of officers with Special Force; description of Operations Room.
REEL 23 Continues: Major-General Orde Wingate working routine and concern with detail; role of deputy commander; character of Rear Headquarters at Gwalior and Main Headquarters at Imphal and Sylhet; opinion of communications; overlapping echelons of headquarters; character of headquarters staff; role co-ordinating air supply dropping; contrast in attitude of United States Army Air Force and Royal Air Force; maps; procedures based on experiences of First Chindit Expedition; marking of drop zone; provision of close air support for Second Chindit Expedition; types of aircraft used by No 1 Air Commando, United States Army Air Force; Japanese air threat towards Chindit landing zone; fate of Supermarine Spitfires; daylight air supply drop; how monsoon prevented United States Army Air Force escort taking off.
REEL 24 Continues: view over Burma from aircraft during air supply flight; dropping supplies; lack of threat from ground fire; contrast between physical state of pilots and Chindits; air evacuation of casualties including use of Short Sunderland Flying Boats from Lake Indawgyi; loading Douglas Dakotas for air supply drops; nature of loads carried; administration of air supply drops; impressions of General William Slim at Headquarters, Fourteenth Army, Comilla; air supply drop exercises at Jhansi; liaison duties at Headquarters, Fourteenth Army, Comilla; dealing with Brigadier Mike Calvert; liaison with Air Staff at Headquarters, Fourteenth Army, omilla; lack of involvement in 'fly ins' during Second Chindit Expedition.
REEL 25 Continues: conversations with Lieutenant-General Geoffrey Scones, commanding officer of IV Indian Corps about defence plans for Japanese offensive, early 1944; reaction of Major-General Orde Wingate to removal of 23rd Infantry Bde from Second Chindit Expedition; sources of intelligence; attitude towards Burmese hill people; question of possibility of rebellion in India; changes in Indian Army, 1939-1943; political atmosphere in India, 1944-1945; awareness of Indian National Army; causes of glider crashes during 'fly-in'; question of unpractical nature of daylight 'fly ins'; memories of Peter Fleming; reaction at headquarters to Major-General Orde Wingate being overdue on flight out of Burma; reaction to loss of Major-General Orde Wingate.
REEL 26 Continues: question of Major-General Orde Wingate's plans only existing in his head; background to appointment of Lieutenant-General Walter Lentaigne to command Second Chindit Expedition; character of Lieutenant-General Walter Lentaigne and his approach to operations; difficulties of Chindit operations; use of small tactical headquarters; appointment as G-2 Ops and duties; typical working day at headquarters; tempo of orders and operations; subordinate formations during Second Chindit Expedition; opinion of commanders of columns; overall concept of operations and strategic situation; command system; opinion of intelligence; briefings at General Joseph Stilwell's headquarters; General Joseph Stilwell's attitude towards those operating in jungle.
REEL 27 Continues: Lieutenant General Walter Lentaigne response to General Joseph Stilwell's attitude; visit to commander of Chinese division; attempts to persuade Chinese to attack; situation at airstrip; character of Chinese General Li; visits by General William Slim and Lord Louis Mountbatten; opinion of General Joseph Stilwell's anti-British attitude; contrast between British and American view of orders; confrontation between General Joseph Stilwell and Lieutenant-General Walter Lentaigne; impressions of Chinese troops; description of American briefings; contrast between British and American briefings; General Joseph Stilwell's issue of written orders; being relieved by British 36th Infantry Div; Royal Air Force briefings; messing arrangements and rations; American and British attitude towards uniform.
REEL 28 Continues: return to India from Burma, 9/1944; plans for future Chindit operation in Burma; disbandment of Chindits; lessons learnt from Chindit operations; impact of news of war's progress in Europe; leave in GB, 3/1945-5/1945. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in India, 1945: posting to battalion as company commander after period in transit camp; origins of personnel; opinion of company sergeant-major; nature of training; importance of battle drills in jungle; jungle training; character of platoon commanders; importance of platoon commanders communicating; character of brigadier and battalion commander; expectation of participation in invasion of Malaya; brigade exercise; importance of silent movement in jungle; troops' attitude towards jungle warfare; attitude of troops' to rumour of posting to North West Frontier.
REEL 29 Continues: attitude of regular soldiers and officers; battalion move to transit area; arrival of Australian officers; troop train to Chindit training area near Jhansi; area; lack of motivation of troops. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn South Staffordshire Regt in India, 1945-1946: posting to battalion; condition of battalion; story of Australian officer and company cooks during period with 2nd Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry; political atmosphere in India. Recollections of period as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at General Headquarters in Delhi, India, 1946: opinion of future of India after Partition; aim of internal security training; manifestations of communal violence and Royal Indian Navy Mutiny, 2/1946; troops' attitude towards internal security duties; opinion of roles of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Field Marshals Archibald Wavell and Claude Auckinleck; manpower duties with Deputy Assistant Adjutant General; Adjutant General's staff.
REEL 30 Continues: working procedures; manpower conferences; difficulties with rundown of army; movement orders; circulation of orders; financial implications; cycling to work; clerical staff; apprehension of Eurasian community; Indian Medical Service; return to GB. Recollections of period as staff officer with War Office in London, GB, 1947-1949: appointment as G2 SD1; impressions of GB, 1947; involvement in assisting civil power; visit to 10 Downing Street; movement and co-ordination movements; consequences of an inaccurate ACI; working conditions and methods; other duties; organisation of SD branches; clash with Military Operations Branch; contacts with other ministries; risk of disorder in strike breaking.
REEL 31 Continues: disaster relief during spring floods; relations with media; SD control of movement; story of consequences of clerical error; post-war reorganisation of Territorial Army; difficulties with reorganisation of Territorial Army in Wales; functions of SD1; importance of accuracy of ACIs; system of consultation in War Office. Aspects of period as officer with Light Infantry Training Bn at Bordon Camp in GB, 1949-1950: opinion of qualities of National Servicemen; basic training; scale and timing of intakes; character of recruits; syllabus of basic training; own duties and instruction. Recollections of period as instructor with Staff College, Camberley, GB, 1950-1953: outline of duties.
REEL 32 Continues: theoretical exercise in logistics; use of 'The Pink'; need for Directing Staff (DS) to prepare thoroughly; organisation of staff college; development of exercises; attitude towards teaching; work as G2 Co-ordinator; pressure of work; length of course; changes at staff college since his time as student in 1942; correction of written exercises; character of students; qualities of good staff officers; reporting system; specialisation of instructors in specific subjects; set works on morale; Very Important Person (VIP) lectures; discussions on question of morale; question of morale during retreat to Dunkirk, 1940; other Very Important Person (VIP) lecturers including Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery; opinion of Commandant Gerald Lathbury.
REEL 33 Continues: attitude towards period at staff college; reconnaissance for exercises; relations with Royal Air Force; joint exercises with Royal Air Force and Royal Navy; presence of foreign students; extension of appointment to three years. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 61st Lorried Infantry Bde, British Army of the Rhine at Minden, Germany, 1953-1954: return to battalion; role of lorried infantry brigade; exercises; difficulties of specialised training; question of over emphasis on field training; value of exercises; selection of soldiers for signals and support companies; relations with German civilians; battalion sporting activities; command post exercises; plans for withdrawal; lack of mention of nuclear weapons; crash deployments. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Jamaica, 1954-1955: battalion move to Jamaica, 3/1954; reasons for deployment to Caribbean.
REEL 34 Continues: visit to British Honduras; jungle training; opinion of training in Jamaica; political situation in Jamaica; attitude of troops to posting to Jamaica. Recollections of period as staff officer with Headquarters, British Army of the Rhine in West Germany, 1955-1957: posting as GSO1 Ops, Northern Army Group, 3/1955; liaison duties with Belgians and Americans; lack of contact with West German forces; operational concepts, 1955-1957; further details of duties; visit to Soviet Marshal Andrei Grechko in East Berlin; visits to American Headquarters in Heidelberg; degree of involvement in defensive plans; impressions of Belgian and Dutch troops; staff at Northern Army Group; staff procedures.
REEL 35 Continues: prior recollection of battlefield tours to Normandy whilst instructor with Staff College, Camberley, 1950-1953; view of Russian threat, 1955-1957; tactics implemented to British Army of the Rhine by autumn 1957; question of air superiority; participation in Exercise Ground Study run by General Richard Gale.
REEL 36 Continues: his role during Exercise Ground Study; relations with General Richard Gale; how he was told by General Richard Gale that he was to command 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; General Richard Gale's style of command and character; doctrine in British Army of the Rhine; emergency deployment plan; integration of French forces; character of study periods; nature of large scale summer exercises; long term preparations for annual exercises; British Army of the Rhine annual training programme; contrast between 1940s and 1950s exercises.
REEL 37 Continues: Recollections of period commanding 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 7th Infantry Bde, 1st Div, British Army of the Rhine in Osnabrück, West Germany, 1957-1959: first concern to find specialists for battalion; retention of National Servicemen as three year regular troops; attitude of National Servicemen; selection of specialists; need to impress own attitude on battalion; style of command; fortune in having good regimental sergeant-major and Cornish soldiers; informal visits to cookhouse and NAAFI; knowledge of senior NCOs and most of officers; attitude towards commanding battalion; reorganisation into brigade groups; brigade rotations; brigade and battalion operational tasks; use of 'bank posts' on River Weser; exercise when 'bank posts' company withdrew prematurely; nature of exercises.
REEL 38 Continues: anti-tank defensive measures; character of exercises with 1st Bn Gordon Highlanders; armoured support; artillery support and Forward Observation Officer (FOO); air support; anti-tank mines; question of insufficient time to create anti-tank obstacles; warning times; preparations of infantry positions; selection of sites for hides; early command post exercise; degree of training received by National Servicemen; challenge to officers and NCOs of training National Servicemen; attitude towards end of National Service; comparison between Osnabrück and Minden; degree of contact with German civilians; accommodation; question of strength of battalion; introduction of L6 Wombat Recoiless Anti-Tank Rifle; duties as commanding officer; degree of contact with brigade; battalion training programme.
REEL 39 Continues: awareness of potential of amalgamation with Somerset Light Infantry; informing battalion of amalgamation in 1959; preparations for amalgamation; question of regimental customs and cap badge; reaction of NCOs and officers towards amalgamation; opinion of effects of end of National Service; changes in organisation of British Army of the Rhine. Aspects of period as chief instructor with Tactical Wing, School of Infantry at Warminster, GB, 1960: posting to school; organisation of school; duties as chief instructor; development of new tactics; use of demonstration troops to test new tactics; discussions on new tactics and use of syndicate for instruction; command structure; impact of introduction of section radio.
REEL 40 Continues: role of commanding officer of demonstration battalion; introduction of General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG); debates on plans to introduce armoured personnel carriers; reorganisation of infantry battalions; question of vulnerability of infantry in armoured personnel carriers; use of carriers by British Army; replacement of 17 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun; platoon and company commander courses; course students; system of assessment; reasons for returning students to unit; changes to exercises; company commanders course. Recollections of period commanding 130th Infantry Bde (TA) in GB, 1961-1962: background to taking command; location of headquarters in Exeter.
REEL 41 Continues: presence of officers with war service in brigade; attitude to command; difficulties arising from voluntary principle; attempt of compel attendance at annual camp; regular officers and NCOs in Territorial Army units; attendance of annual camps; brigade unit strengths; recruitment and duration of recruit training; nature of recruit training; evening drill; value of Territorial Army units; various camps used for training; duration of service; selection of NCOs and officers; contact with regular formations and Army Cadet Force (ACF); shift in emphasis on arms training to tactics. Recollections of period as Director of Administrative Planning with War Office and Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1963-1964: attitude to posting.
REEL 42 Continues: duties; initial visits to French and West German armies; aims to rationalise logistics and administration; reasons for need for rationalisation; reaction of units towards process of rationalisation; approaches of French and West German armies; negotiation for necessary changes; American approach; further details of unit reactions to creation of corps; his staff; need for co-operation with Royal Air Force and Royal Navy; question of position of medical services; Chief of the General Staff's annual conference; major tactical exercise, 1964; attitude of Royal Air Force towards overuse of transport aircraft.
REEL 43 Continues: question of pre-positioning of stores in Far East and Mediterranean; working routine; lack of effect of day to day emergencies; selection to attend National Defence College in Canada, 1964; changes when War Office became Ministry of Defence; role of personal assistant; system of rotating postings. Recollections of period as student with National Defence College in Kingston, Canada, 1964-1965: origins of student body; life in Canada; syllabus; study of Canadian Defence Forces; emphasis on American-Canadian affairs; syndicate work; attitude of Canadians to Commonwealth; political atmosphere in Canada; Canadian support for United Nations; policy studies.
REEL 44 Continues: visit to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe(SHAPE) during college world tour; itinerary of world tour; briefings and receptions; joining African option on world tour; visit to Egypt; visits to Yugoslavia and Aden; itinerary of North American tour; impressions of American armed forces; impressions of United States Navy; impact of developments in Vietnam; visit to France; Canadian views of French; impressions of Israel; Indian-Pakistan tensions, 1965; nature of syndicate research paper; notification of next appointment.
REEL 45 Continues: Recollections of period as Military Operations (I) at Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1965-1966: role and duties; branches of Military Operations; division of duties between Military Operations and staff duties; Director of Military Operations; accommodation; problems with Rhodesia; nature of tensions in Far East; meetings relating to aircraft carriers for Royal Navy and his attitude towards controversy; contingency planning under Director of Plans; lack of apprehension about Arab-Israeli tensions; work routine; army concern over aircraft carrier controversy; attitude towards use of helicopters; other duties.
REEL 46 Continues: briefings to other branches of Ministry of Defence and establishments; different levels of security; lack of involvement in defence procurement; conduct of meetings; reasons for leaving post early. Recollections of period commanding Singapore District in Republic of Singapore, 1966-1970: situation in Singapore; plans for internal security duties in event of civil disturbances; security exercises; British military presence in Singapore and its purpose; own administrative role; use of locally enlisted personnel; role of Command Secretary; relations with civilian population; his senior commanders.
REEL 47 Continues: role as 'housekeeper' during rundown of base in Singapore; contact in Singaporean Government; question of size of command; effect on atmosphere in Singapore of race riots in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia, 1968; measures taken by Singaporean Government to quell potential riots; his anxiety about Royal Air Force families in Singapore; guarded facilities and capacity of Changi Airfield; disposal of military schools during rundown; reasons for extending posting; attitude towards posting, Aspects of retirement from British Army, 1970: attitude towards retirement; return voyage to GB; appointment as Controller of Army Benevolent Fund; comparison between military and civilian employment.