Routledge, Percy Nicholson (Oral history)

British gunner served with with rocket firing Z Batteries, Royal Artillery at Grangetown, GB, 1940-1941; served with 114th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery, 36th Anti-Aircraft Bde, 3rd Anti-Aircraft Div in GB, 1941-1942; served as muleteer with No 51 Column, 51st/69nd Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 16th Infantry Bde, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition Operation Thursday in Burma, 2/1944-4/1944

REEL 1 Background in Keswick, Cumberland, GB, 1916-1940: family; education; employment; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; call-up for military service with Royal Artillery, 4/1940. Aspects of period as gunner with Z Bty, Royal Artillery at Grangetown, GB, 1940-1941: functioning and effectiveness of rocket firing batteries; accident when rocket hit council offices in Eston; German Air Force damage in Middlesborough area; level of public morale during bombing; German Air Force's use of 'chandelier' flares to illuminate targets; distinctive sound of German aircraft; arrival of female Auxiliary Territorial Service personnel to man batteries release male personnel for overseas active service. Aspects of period as gunner with 114th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, 36th Anti-Aircraft Bde, 3rd Anti-Aircraft Div in GB, 1941-1942: unit equipped with 3.7 Inch Anti-Aircraft Gun; gun site on Aberdeen Pier; move to Kyle of Lochalsh. REEL 2 Continues: posting to Royal Artillery Depot, Woolwich. Aspect of voyage aboard HMT Britannic from GB to India via South Africa, 8/1942-9/1942: assembling of convoy; reception in Durban, South Africa; arrival in Bombay, India. Aspects of training with 1st Bn Essex Regt, 23rd Infantry Bde for long range Chindit operations in India, 1943-1944: jungle training at Deolali; transfer to 1st Bn Essex Regt; nature of training in Shimoga jungle; transfer to No 51 Column. Recollections of operations as muleteer with No 51 Column, 51st/69th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 16th Infantry Bde, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition Operation Thursday in Burma, 2/1944-4/1944: Major General Orde Wingate's appearance on River Chindwin; role as muleteer; role of 'casualty ponies'; wireless equipment carried by his mule; personal weapons issued to column; his work with mule 'Boxer'; disposition of men in column; reaching first objective Lonkin Jade Mines; condition of Ledo Road; differing climatic conditions on march. REEL 3 Continues: reason for naming mule 'Boxer' and why he could never ride him; elements of mule handling including devoicing, method of loading, character of mules, controlling mules on inclines, accident in which mule hurt his shoulder and crossing rivers; use of dinghies to carry equipment across rivers; river crossing techniques; story of how he lost contact with column when 'Boxer' fell ill; organisation of march in relation to water points; sniper attacks on column and action taken; incident where Japanese column passed unit without noticing them; arrival at Lonkin Jade Mines. REEL 4 Continues: route of march; question of lack of disruption achieved by column; condition of column towards end of campaign; refusal of United States Army Air Force pilot to take mules on his aircraft at Aberdeen Landing Zone; loading of mules into RAF Douglas Dakota; flight from Aberdeen Landing Zone to Comilla, India, Aspects of hospitalisation of Chindits and mules in Comilla, India, 1944: physical condition on arrival in Comilla; minimal illness he experienced on Second Chindit Expedition; question of suitability of American K Rations. Aspects of period as muleteer with 51 Column, 51st/69th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 16th Infantry Bde, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition Operation Thursday in Burma, 2/1944-4/1944: silence discipline on march; brain tumour case on march; specialists taken on march; mules' air dropped rations; method of dropping supplies to column; water discipline on march; control of contact with Burmese civilians and role of Burmese guides; opinion he would not survive if captured. REEL 5 Continues: treatment of Burmese prisoners on column; stay in American camp on Ledo Road.