Description
Object description
British private served with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) Depot in GB, 1939-1940; served with 6th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 1940; served with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in France, Belgium, GB and North Africa, 1940-1943; POW in Italy and Germany, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Nottingham, GB, 1919-1939: family; memories of childhood; education; civilian work; playing of violin; activities with boy scouts; attendance at Sunday school; knowledge of events in Europe; father's military service; registration for service in May 1939; arrival of call-up papers; reactions on outbreak of war; cover taken when sirens went off for first time; air raid precautions at work; reactions to call-up; instructions in call-up papers. Aspects of period as private with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) Depot in GB, 10/1939-2/1940: reception on arrival at Normanton Barracks in Derby; issue and fitting of uniform; NCO instructors including initial impression; treatment from NCOs; sleeping arrangements; storage of kit; reveille; morning procedures; impressions of rations; cleaning of utensils; opinion of rations; morning inspection; opinion and role of drill; troops having problems with drill; lunch; cleaning of rifle; bren gun training; bayonet training; night exercises; picket duties.
REEL 2 Continues: leisure activities; relationship with and background of troops; bullying; relationship between sergeant and lance sergeant; contact with officers and senior NCOs; posting at Eckington; sleeping arrangements; guard duties; digging of trenches; grenade training; description of rifle grenade; field craft training; route marches; care of feet; physical training; boxing; opinion of physical training; tactical training; cancellation of firing course; weekend buses to Derby; settling into army life; posting to 6th Battalion at Market Harborough. Aspects of period as private with 6th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 2/1940-4/1940: accommodation; baths; background of troops; activities; length of posting; rifle experience; inoculations; size of draft; voyage to Cherbourg. Aspects of period as private in France, 4/1940-5/1940: reception on arrival in France; journey to Rouen; leisure activities; memories of Arthur King; journey to Rennes. Aspects of operations as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in France and Belgium, 5/1940-6/1940: sorting on arrival; equipment situation; initial division between troops; posting in C Company; memories of Captain Potter; journey to Tournai; role and scenes in Tournai; state of refugees; length of time in town; accommodation and rations; more on equipment situation; knowledge of situation; story of night in wood under shellfire including activities of Captain Potter.
REEL 3 Continues: rations during retreat; scavenging for food; water; sleeping arrangements; organisation of battalion during retreat; route taken; defensive positions taken on outskirts of Dunkirk; sniper activity; story of message taken; firing of rifle for first time; warm meal in café; knowledge of situation; march to beach; scenes on beach and cover taken; stuka attacks; length of time on beach; arrival of boats; boarding of boat. Aspects of period as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB, 6/1940- 12/1942: arrival at Margate; handing in of rifle; troops on boat; rations and train journey to Alfreton; uniforms issued; posting to Manchester; accommodation; state of battalion; duties as runner; posting at Rochdale; accommodation; Channel Island refugees; accommodation in Galashiels and Haddington; training for airfield defence duties in Galashies; and earlier airfield defence duties at RAF Tollerton; relationship with civilians; attempted formation of band in Haddington; involvement with and memories of concert party; training including work with rifle; proficiency with rifle; reason for avoiding sniper training; boxing; return to Galashiels and accommodation; death of mother and compassionate leave; training; washing facilities; posting in East Dereham; reaction to posting; accommodation; relationship with civilians; issue of meals; formation of band; reasons for posting as stretcher bearers.
REEL 4 Continues: details of NCOs course attended; reason for turning down promotion; make-up of medical section; duties and knowledge as stretcher bearer; instruments received by battalion; instrument issued; parade for Lord Ironside; band practice; memories of bandmaster Sergeant Benson; details of band; accommodation at Wymondham; memories of Colonel Stott; activities and importance of band; opinion of Regiment Sergeant Major Hennessy; accommodation in Wroxham; details of officer's mess appointments; leave; posting in Yarmouth; accommodation; defence duties in Folkestone; inspection from General Montgomery; Christmas 1941; accommodation at Lydd; posting to medical inspection room; battalion medical officers; sick parades; examples of self-inflicted wounds; conversion of bandsman to conscientious objector; treatment of malingering troops; troops receiving circumcisions; help given following accident during manoeuvres; reaction to event; inquest; equipment carried; improvisations; evacuation of wounded to and from regimental aid post; arrival and opinion of Bandmaster Heard; story of bank holiday in Ashford; other appointments including with dance band; appointment in officers mess; posting and accommodation near Hawkhurst; events following victory in Battle of Alamein.
REEL 5 Continues: accommodation in Camberley; story of playing at Sandhurst; inspection from King George VI; disbandment of band; train journey to Liverpool. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Algiers, Algeria, aboard the SS Derbyshire, 12/1942-1/1943: conditions onboard; sleeping arrangements; medical duties; problem with rations; activities during day; details of convoy; first impressions of Algiers. Aspects of operations as private with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in North Africa, 1/1943-3/1943: accommodation in brickyards; journey to frontline; arrival at Green Hill; location of C Company Headquarters and Stand To; officers and NCOs at headquarters; visits of padre; mortaring of headquarters; water ration; Stand To; sentry duties including donkey story; description of slit trench; experience of coming under mortar and shell fire; washing facilities and changes of uniform; cleanliness; rations including cookers made to heat food and water; story of patrol behind German lines; latrines; health of battalion; story of air raid; opinion of what made a good padre; withdrawal and return; positions dug at Sedjenane; message taken to Major Williams; reason for reporting to medical officer; situation at regimental aid post; arrival of and capture by Germans.
REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period as POW in transit, 3/1943: fellow Sherwood Foresters captured alongside; journey to Bizerte and initial treatment; handover to Italians; change in treatment; postcard sent home; rations; wait on ship in harbour; voyage to Palermo. Aspects of period as POW in Italy, 3/1943-9/1943: work in quarry; reception from civilians; rations; swapping of watch for food; air raid in Palermo; train journey to mainland; details of POW Camp; arrival of Red Cross parcels; organisation of camp; details of Red Cross parcels; activities occurring in camp; problems with lice; blowers made to heat tea; items made by POWs; church and padres; story of missionary; daily routine and activities available; hospitalisation; location of camp; news of Italian capitulation; fascist takeover of camp; POW smashing up of camp; conditions on journey to Germany. Aspects of period as POW at Stalag IV B in Germany, 9/1943-4/1945: details of camp; rations; opinion of guards; details of work on railway; acts of sabotage; communications; memories of South African POW; latrines; sleeping arrangements; clothing worn; issue of Red Cross ID cards and posting as medical orderly; camp band including description of trombone; details of camp at copper mine; reception on arrival; sick parade and medical staff; details of physical and mental illnesses; civilians working in mine; population of camp.
REEL 7 Continues: location of camp; working week; sabotage in mines; washing facilities; fumigation; memories of NCO camp leaders; story of POWs leaving camp to meet women; changes in rations toward end of war; scavenging for rations in local area; details of camp commandants; learning of German; trips to collect medical supplies; problems on trains as Russians advanced; morale; attitude to escape; relationship with civilian workers; story of SS officer; news of war; story of Dutch medical worker; wireless made in camp; changes among guards; arrival of American troops; reaction to liberation; joining with Americans; treatment of German guards; journey to POW Camp and treatment of Germans by Americans; flight to GB; delousing and processing on arrival; leave; settling into family life; change in mental state after war; problems with rations; medical; details of rehabilitation course at Hatfield House; end of service. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: civilian work; marriage and continuing problems; contact with comrades association; contact with friends from service.