Description
Object description
British trooper trained with 60th Training Regt, Royal Armoured Corps at Tidworth and Bovington Camps in GB, 1941-1942; trooper and NCO served with 3rd Royal Tank Regt, 8th Armoured Bde, 10th Armoured Div in North Africa, 1942-1943; NCO served with 3rd Royal Tank Regt, 29th Armoured Bde, 11th Armoured Div in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1922-1941: membership of Home Guard; family's military service; attitude to prospect of military service in Second World War; German Air Force bombing of Leatherhead; early interest in aviation and engines; employment; incidents during German Air Force raids. Aspects of enlistment in Royal Armoured Corps, 1941: registration for military service in Guildford; rejection by RAF; cousin killed in action; choice of Royal Armoured Corps; reaction of parents. Aspects of period as trooper with 60th Training Regt, Royal Armoured Corps at Tidworth and Bovington Camps in GB, 1941-1942: reaction to leaving home and initial accommodation; disciplinary incident; basic training; driver and maintenance course; pride in drill; instructing NCOs.
REEL 2 Continues: recruits' adjustment to army life; opinion of NCO squad leader; inspections; attitude towards smoking in accommodation; hospitalisation for impetigo; accident during exercise; posting to Bovington Camp; incident of lost pistol. Aspect of voyage aboard HMT Queen Elizabeth from GB to Egypt via South Africa, 1942: embarkation; voyage from GB to South Africa; replenishing supplies in South Africa; arrival at Port Tewfik, Egypt. Aspects of period as trooper with 60th Training Regt, Royal Armoured Corps at Tidworth and Bovington Camps in GB, 1941-1942: driver training at Tidworth Camp; first experience of A9 Cruiser Mk I Tank; tank driving test; opinion of training on engines; opinion of Matilda Tank Mk II; question of British tanks being easier to drive but lacking armament.
REEL 3 Continues: drivers' view from different types of tanks; tank hatches; intercom system; random selection of tanks during training; use of Lloyd Carrier; opinion of training; use of goggles; daily routine; cleaning kit; use of tank overalls; parades; problem with sweaty feet; use of sand table simulator at Tank Gunnery School at Bovington Camp; use of 2 Pounder Gun on moving platform for training; preference for driving; memories of Sergeant Frank Shepherd; gunnery training at Bovington Camp; question of superior German optics used in tanks; reaction to first and second times in action; a case of battle fatigue; reaction to sight of dead; later posting to Scotland to aid Polish armoured regiment, 1944.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of Polish tank drivers; reaction to receiving new tanks at Bridlington, GB, 1944. Recollections of operations as trooper and NCO with 3rd Royal Tank Regt, 8th Armoured Bde, 10th Armoured Div in North Africa, 1942-1943: first crew in Egypt; posting to 8th Armoured Bde; attitude towards cavalry; arrival in Egypt and initial impressions; lesson in difficulties of moving in soft sand; physical condition; joining unit in desert; unit tanks; driving in soft sand; comparison between M3 Lee and Grant Tanks; comparison between A15 Crusader Tank and M4 Sherman Tank; opinion of different M4 Sherman Tank engines; routine maintenance; clearance of air filters; comparison between diesel and petrol engines; loss of two tanks during Battle of El Alamein, 10/1942-11/1942; procedure for baling out of tank and drivers' exit; gunnery training on arrival in Egypt.
REEL 5 Continues: experience of gunnery in action including ambush on Axis supply column; opinion of captured Axis rations; false surrender by infantry in bunker and wounding of Sergeant Bill Shepherd; further details of ambush on Axis column; impressions of Axis leather equipment; attitude towards Axis tanks and troops; attitude towards potential death and destruction; reaction to sight of dead tankman; psychology of tank crews; attitude towards 'bomb happy' trooper.
REEL 6 Continues: attitude of infantry in tank under bombardment; incident of Jack Barnes having a premonition of death; story of how Jack Barne's mother attended a séance; movements of troops prior to Battle of El Alamein; attacks by German Junkers Ju87 Stukas; night attacks illuminated by parachute flares; incident of being lost in desert at night; use of night leaguers; sight of falling bomb from tank; sleep and bedding; opportunities for cat-naps; washing clothes; water supply; rations and cooking arrangements; opinion of flimsy cans and fresh meat ration; contents of ration packs.
REEL 7 Continues: use of self-heating cans; routine maintenance of tanks; fuel and ammunition replenishment; brewing up; NAAFI supplies; presence of sand in food; the 'dawn brew'; use of desert sores and attending mines course to avoid transfer; problems with insects; supply of alcohol and mail; sense of anticipation prior to Battle of El Alamein; reaction to artillery barrage; memories of Battle of El Alamein; effects of hitting mine and subsequent actions; crew relations; individual characteristics of tanks.
REEL 8 Continues: move to Mersa Matruh, Egypt; incident of attending court martial in Alexandria, Egypt; return to unit after court martial trial; period in Alexandria, Egypt during court martial trial; drive along coast road; risk of booby traps; means of finding regiment; rationing on route; arrival at Mareth Line and use of deception measures; view from gunsight of knocked out Panzer Mk III Tank; opinion of German Panzer Mk IIIs and IVs Tanks in comparison with M4 Sherman Tank; engagement with Italian M-13 tanks; opinion of German Panther Tank; driver's view of tank battle and sounds of action; driver's preoccupations and preference for driving over gunnery; night march around Tripoli, Libya; capture of Italian manned fort and infested underwear; bombardment by artillery at Enfideville, Tunisia.
REEL 9 Continues: Axis positions in hills around Enfideville, Tunisia; use of captured German half-track; recreational activities; move to coast south of Homs, Libya; expectation of posting to Italy; question of transfer to cavalry; presence of artist in unit; move to Alexandria, Egypt; voyage aboard SS Nieuw Amsterdam from Egypt to GB including rations; opinion of officers and NCOs; a petition to regimental sergeant major against commanding officer; regimental commanding officers; incident of being attacked by friendly aircraft; air situation during North African campaign; mines shifted in sand.
REEL 10 Continues: Recollections of period as NCO with 3rd Royal Tank Regt, 29th Armoured Bde, 11th Armoured Div in GB, 1943-1944: move to Newmarket; second move to Bridlington; condition of M4 Sherman Tanks taken over from 17th/21st Lancers at Bridlington; contrast between diesel and petrol tank engines; fully equipped new tanks; amphibious training; effects of tracks on roads; attachment to train Polish tank drivers in Scotland, 1944; taking defective tanks to Wool; lack of contact with other units in brigade; move into barracks at Aldershot; a problem with guard at Aldershot; loss of new tank to squadron commander; arrival of new officers at Bridlington; qualities needed by officers; squadron commander's advice; comparison between tank and cavalry regiment officers; confidence in troop leader.
REEL 11 Continues: waterproofing tank and testing it; on stand-by at Aldershot; sight of gliders and jet aircraft at Aldershot; move to assembly area; reaction to officers' home leave; awareness of situation in Normandy, France; issue of escape packs and invasion money; journey to port and reversing onto landing craft. Recollections of operations as NCO driver with 3rd Royal Tank Regt, 29th Armoured Bde, 11th Armoured Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: sealing of tanks from outside; effects of fire from battleships; landing delayed by deep water; crossing beach; expectation of opposition; location of soft skinned vehicles; issue of bread and beer; reaction to waiting for action; incident of being sniped by female civilian; inspecting knocked out German Panther Tank.
REEL 12 Continues: smell of knocked out tank; reaction of troops to sight of Panther Tank; in action at Hill 112; own behaviour under fire; 17 Pounder Gun ammunition; withdrawal from Hill 112; fate of stray tank; use of slit trench for shelter; deployment for Operation Goodwood; sight of heavy bombers; ground heaving from artillery barrage and German mortar opening fire during advance; sight of dazed Germans surrendering; how troop leader changed tanks after radio failure; how troop leader climbed onto front of his tank after own hit; taking cover behind ridge; crossing Caen-Falaise railway line; regimental losses and replacements; reorganised into two small squadrons; attack in support of Guards Armoured Division; static turns to collapse slit trenches; hit on tank and baling out; taking cover behind wall.
REEL 13 Continues: arrival of M4 Sherman Tank and reluctance to enter house in village; effects of calvados on his co-driver; failure to start tank; role of co-driver; how co-driver was replaced by ammunition and escape route for driver compromised; fate of cattle during campaign; promotion to corporal; question of aspiring to command tank; night movement; nervous collapse and hospitalisation in American hospital at Saint-Lô; transfer to British hospital in Bayeux; discharge. Aspects of operations as NCO with 3rd Royal Tank Regt, 29th Armoured Bde, 11th Armoured Div in North West Europe, 1944-1945: journey to return to unit in Netherlands; overshooting front line in Netherlands; reception in Brussels, Belgium; arrival at regiment and treatment.
REEL 14 Continues: occasional German artillery shelling; demotion to lance corporal. Aspects of period as NCO with No 778 Car Company, Royal Army Service Corps in Germany, 1945: test to drive staff cars; behaviour of brigadier; crash after night-time drive; posting out of unit. Aspects of period as NCO with British Army in Germany, 1945-1946: guard duties at Detention Centre; guard duties at General Headquarters; guard duties at munitions factory at Minden; duties in charge of rations at Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp; problems encountered during role; attitude towards military service; problems readjusting to civilian life.
REEL 15 Continues: further details of adjusting to civilian life.
