Chadwick, Thomas (Oral history)

British NCO served as driver with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, Greece and Austria, 1944-1946; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Greece, 1946-1947; served with 1st Bn King's Own, Yorkshire Light Infantry in Malaya, 1948-1949; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Germany, Korea and Egypt, 1949-1955; served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1955-1959; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1959-1960; served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1960-1962; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Hong Kong, 1962-1965; served with School of Infantry, Warminster, GB, 1965-1966

REEL 1 Background in Accrington area, GB, 1924-1944: interest in sports; education; family circumstances; swimming and boxing activities; interest in services and failed attempt to join Royal Navy; various jobs, 1938-1939; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; training with East Lancashire Bn, Local Defence Volunteers at Argyll Street Barracks, Accrington, GB, 1940-1944, including initial equipment and uniform, nature of duties, patriotism, night exercises, anti-parachutist patrols and fire watching and minimal formal training; work in reserved occupation at colliery and arrests due to repeated attempts to join Merchant Navy until eventual release after court case for military service. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with Salamanca Squad, Durham Light Infantry Depot at Brancepeth Castle, GB, 3/1944-6/1944: initial reaction to not being called up for of Royal Navy; reception; hair cut; opinion of Company Sergeant Major Ernie Aldridge; kitting out; question of civilian and military lifestyles; origins of recruits and question of identification of potential officers. REEL 2 Continues: attitude of recruits; story of recruit's desertion; question of bullying; hut accommodation and daily cleaning; use of button stick; opinion of instructors; food rations; cross country runs; disapproval of collective punishments; physical training and question of treatment of recruits below physical standard; story illustrating importance of drill; question of learning light infantry drill; treatment of recruits unable to do drill; rifle training including question of personal ability, question of relevance in action, importance of rapid fire and position of firing; question of method of moving behind cover in action. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of rifle grenades; method of cleaning of rifle; question of relevance and methods of bayonet training; opinion of Sten gun including question of double springing, pop up target shooting, effective range and stoppage clearance; opinion of Bren gun including question of over-accuracy, failure of initial belt system, comparison with Spandau and practice in stripping mechanism in dark; opinion of PIAT; opinion and methods of using of Mills, stun bakelite and phosphorous hand grenades including usage in house clearance and on meeting German patrols. REEL 4 Continues: cross country runs; tactical exercises on moors including value of gas cape in bad weather, digging slit trenches, purpose of fighting, reconnaissance and standing patrols, judging distance, attack formations, use of dead ground, problem with patrols not carrying out orders, question of administrative arrangements and question of avoiding falling asleep; state of recruits' morale; attitude to First World War veterans; inspection prior to award of 'stick' on guard duty; river crossing practice and drowning accident; live firing exercise; stories of accident with blank ammunition during squad drill in street fighting and moors exercises; lectures; occasional free afternoons; boxing activities; recreations including NAAFI canteens, visits to Durham and drinking habits. REEL 5 Continues: relationship with Duke of Wellington Regt; question of assessment as recruit; field training course at Thowton. Period in Glasgow, GB, 8/1944-9/1944. Voyage aboard Eastern Prince to Naples, Italy, 9/1944: story illustrating civilians' prior awareness of sailing date; conditions; possibility of German submarine attack; transfer of some Durham Light Infantry men to Duke of Wellington's Regt. Recollections of period with 7 Platoon, C Coy, 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 9/1944-12/1944: isolated perspective; opinion of Major Casey and Lieutenant H Spicker, relationship with NCOs; cases of self inflicted wound and injury; state of morale; question of mixed regional origins of soldiers; move into front line. REEL 6 Continues: desire to take responsibility as NCO; personal morale and effect of battle fatigue; method of taking up platoon defensive positions including distribution of defensive fire, digging in and use of reverse slope; question of treatment of soldiers who lost their nerve; stand to and administrative returns; sentry outposts on forward slope; importance of cigarette smoking; treatment for shock victims; supply system; composition rations; shaving; lice and crabs problems; latrines; German shell, mortar and nebelwerfer fire; use of mortars; role of artillery forward observation officers; question of casualties from shells dropping short during creeping barrages; question of 'friendly fire' incidents. REEL 7 Continues: absence of German air activity and consequent drafts from anti-aircraft units; question of sniping; role of Vickers machine guns; comparison of Spandau and Bren guns; different types of patrols; description of fighting patrols including composition, preparations, comparison of Sten and Thompson guns, question of taking hand grenades, uniform worn, dirtying face, passwords, varying routes through barbed wire, formations employed, use of stun grenades in surprising and demoralising superior German patrols prior to opening fire and rapid withdrawal; description of reconnaissance patrols including question of patrol leaders unwilling to take risks, purpose ; weapons carried and use of clicks on wireless to communicate with other patrols. REEL 8 Continues: description of reconnaissance patrols including wireless communications, observation, avoiding contact with Germans, question of use and reaction to star shells, question of being surprised by German patrols and opinion of quality of German soldiers; description of standing patrols including numbers, warning defensive role, visual false alarms and difficulty staying awake; role of platoon commanders and NCOs; daily routine and recreations on rest periods; soldiers' attacks on regimental police to try and avoid returning to front; opinion of various officers and NCOs; amusing story of soldier's special leave after Verey pistol accident in attack; question of state of unit morale including effects of long service and value of experience; attitude to other units in 139 Bde; recreations. Recollections of period in Greece, 12/1944-4/1945: flight out to Athens, 12/1944. REEL 9 Continues: flight out; ignorance of situation; capture of group of soldiers by ELAS, 13/12/1944; amusing story of Sergeant Les Thornton's solo patrol whilst drunk; drinking habits; activities of ELAS insurgents; move to Phaleron; capture of group of soldiers by ELAS, 13/12/1944; promotion to corporal; street patrols; question firing on Greek civilians; use of rifles; story of Greek women killed by ELAS in attack on British position; house searches and difficulty in identifying ELAS insurgents; story of capture of supply of drink, resulting drunkenness and its confiscation by officers until VE Day; capture of group of soldiers by ELAS, 13/12/1944; relationship with Greek and Italian civilians; VIP visits; advance under sniper fire into Athens; departure of Major Casey and question of his loss of nerve; relationship with officers; move to Patras, 1/1945. REEL 10 Continues: return to Athens, 2/1945, sports day; drinking habits; relationship with Greeks; training; status as corporal; decision to become regular. Return to Italy, 4/1945: reactions; voyage aboard Ville d'Oran to Taranto; bad weather during journey in Landing Ship Infantry to Ancona; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945: prior news of peace treaty; visit for Catholic service in Milan. Recollections of period in Austria, 5/1945-2/1946: contact with Yugoslavian partisans; opinion of Russian troops; relationship with Austrian civilians; visit to Catholic retreat nunnery and clash with group of Nazis; collecting possessions of German POWs and burning currency; Luger souvenir; horsed patrols and question of dealing with British former POWs married to Austrian women. REEL 11 Continues: horsed patrols including question of dealing with British former POWs married to Austrian women and identifying former SS personnel; story of visit with Major Ronnie Sherlaw to German POW camp; story of pretending to be German POW; reaction to role escorting Croatians to Yugoslavia at Bleiburg; reaction to role escorting Cossacks of Kononoff Bde back to Soviet control at Bruckle; relationship with Austrian civilians; demobilisations; move to Wildon; Austrian civilians fear of Russian troops; visits to Graz; story of loss of swimming trunks during swimming competition at Klagenfurt; troops liaisons with Austrian women and VD problem; question of black market activities; regret at missing education classes; opinion of 'Geordie' magazine; move to Vienna, 10/1945; kitting out in Australian battledress and unofficial modifications to uniform; parades; guard duties; relationship with Allied troops; story of soldier with dental problems and loss of new false teeth. REEL 12 Continues: return to Wildon, 11/1945; lumber camps; dispute with Austrian instructor during skiing training; attending blacksmith's course and relationship with German instructors; demobilisations; disbandment of unit, 2/1946. Recollections of period with B Coy, 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Xanthi and Salonika, Greece, 3/1946-11/1947: pride in unit status; question regular nature of unit; promotion to sergeant; sporting reputation of B Coy; nature of sergeants' mess; drinking habits; story of inefficient NCO attempting to hide from brigadier's inspection; return of ex-POW NCOs, effect on promotion prospects and question of their competence; training exercises; question of hangovers; company sergeants' mess; move to Kalamaria Barracks, Salonika, 7/1946; duties as provost sergeant including reasons for selection and supervising guard room prisoners; story of soldiers road accident involving death of Greek civilians; story of Greek mess waiter buying items of uniform. REEL 13 Continues: story of Greek mess waiter buying items of uniform later shot as guerrilla by Greek police; arrest and punishment of drunk soldiers causing disturbance in tavernas; story of drunken NCOs shooting at lamps of unpopular Greek café; relationship with military police; story of celebrations, fights and fatal accident during ceremony to 'christen' bagpipes with NCOs of Highland Light Infantry; VD case; role checking appearance of soldiers' uniform; story of accidentally shooting Colonel Jimmy Gray's dog; use of term 'Green Archer' for thieves in DLI; gradual increasing of military standards and question of importance of 'spit and polish'; polishing extra pair of boots specially for parades; demobilisation and re-enlistment as regular, 1946; compulsory return to GB, 12/1947. REEL 14 Voyage back to GB, 12/1947. Period in GB, 12/1947: leave; awaiting posting at Light Infantry Brigade Training Centre, Bawdon; desire for overseas service. Posting to join D Coy, 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Glugor and Minden Barracks, Penang, Malaya, 6/1948: voyage out; tropical uniform; Singapore transit camp; question of reception for large draft of national servicemen from 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry; eccentric company sergeant major; relationship with national servicemen; internal security duties dealing with civilian rioting in Georgetown area; Malayan attacks on planters; question of use of staves on internal security duties; story of wrongly arresting suspicious character in barracks area; mixed race nature of sergeants' wives; relationship with planters. Recollections of period on detachment with 11 Platoon, D Coy, 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Malaya, 6/1948-3/1949: dispersal amongst plantations guarding planters; acting as platoon commander; stories illustrating unfriendly attitude of planters to soldiers; story of friendly planter; hut accommodation; role organising defence of plantation; daytime familiarisation patrols; answering emergency call to tin mine and casualties amongst European personnel. REEL 15 Continues: night flying patrols including method of selecting personnel, instant readiness, trucks, weapons, cautious approach, establishing security cordon and interrogation of locals, relationship with Malayan Police; question of origins of Malayan insurgency; nature of attacks on British troops; nature of jungle; high casualties amongst planters; ethnic origins of Malayan population; account of being ambushed in error by Malayan police during night familiarisation patrol, resulting exchange of fire, death of policeman, consequent trial for murder, compensation paid to the widow and defence case; role of former Palestine Police personnel in training Malayan Police; question of notification prior to patrols; method of identifying Malayan insurgents hiding in Malayan villages; terrain in rubber plantations and elephant grass areas; food rations; sporting activities; relationship with other ranks; question of liaisons with Malayan women; jungle patrols including question of appropriate food rations. REEL 16 Continues: jungle patrols including question of appropriate food rations, rate of progress, leeches problem and story of leech attached to penis after swimming in river, ringworm and tinnia problems, effects of humidity and jungle sores; discomfort lying out overnight covering tracks on ambush patrols; state of health; importance of sea bathing during rest periods at Penang; effects of snake bites; jungle patrols including single file formation and question of ambush, Malayan insurgents ambush of British soldiers' swimming party; jungle patrols including bivouacs, night guard and question of operational effectiveness; attacks on Malayan insurgents camps; burning Malayan villages feeding Malayan insurgents. REEL 17 Continues: tactics employed in attacks on Malayan insurgents camps; method of identifying Malayan insurgents hiding in Malayan villages; jungle patrols including difficulty in hacking path, duration, communications; detachment to Cameron Highlanders including disappointing airdrop and story of soldier's accidental shooting of Malayan civilian; story of failing to take anti-malaria mepacrine tablets; planter's anti-mosquito and malaria methods; death of NCO from tick borne typhus; troops' state of health; ear infection after bathing in pool and medical treatment; state of morale; question of effect of fatigue and health on military efficiency; jungle patrols; rest periods after jungle patrols including reception, clearing leeches, bed and necessity of new uniform. REEL 18 Continues: recreations during rest periods after jungle patrols; story of planter killed by one of his workforce; role of ex-Palestine Police personnel and Malayan Police in defending planters; opinion of Eban head-hunters used as trackers on patrol; contacts with pygmies on jungle patrol and accuracy of their blowpipes; unsuccessful company attack on Malayan insurgents' camp; Malayan insurgents jungle warfare skills; Malayan insurgents use of brylcream to oil weapons; opinion of Bran and Sten guns; planter's suicide; hospitality of tin mine manager and casualties after subsequent attack by Malayan insurgents. Account of clash with Malayan insurgents during patrol near Soni Kerangen river, 11/1/1949: prior intelligence of Malayan insurgents' presence; composition of patrol; exchange of fire; setting fire of elephant grass to cut off escape; circling behind and success in shooting Malayan insurgents; reactions to award of Military Medal. REEL 19 Continues: story of providing covering fire for soldier during action and his subsequent gratitude; Malayan insurgents refusal to surrender and shooting them including woman at close range; arrival of Malayan police; resisting temptation to steal proceeds of robbery found on corpse and its subsequent disappearance; question of reaction to shooting woman; reactions to award of Military Medal and question of subsequent special pension; debriefing. Death of father and consequent return to GB, 3/1949. Period at Durham Light Infantry Depot near Nottingham, GB, 4/1949-5/1949: writing lecture on Malayan campaign, decision to ignore army censorship and subsequent broadcast at BBC Manchester, 5/1949; opinion of Malayan planters. Running jungle training cadre at Light Infantry Brigade Training Centre, Bawdon, ca 6/1949. Period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry at Dortmund, Germany, 6/1949-2/1950: initial posting to C Coy; attending 3" mortar course in GB including method of firing, ranging, beaten zone, role of team members. REEL 20 Continues: attending 3" mortar course in GB including question of maintaining ammunition supply, moving positions when under counter-battery fire, role of mortars and misfires, return and posting as sergeant to Mortar Platoon, Support Coy; composition of platoon; opinion of Colonel Michael Hamner; story of fighting in bar in Communist area, arrest and subsequent punishment; drinking habits; relationship with German civilians and story of fight based on wartime antagonism; story of young soldier attempting to shoot provost sergeant who had disciplined him and his subsequent suicide; routine duties and training; NATO exercises on moors suspended because of accident; social life and sergeants' mess. Period at Wavell Barracks, Spandau, Berlin, 2/1950-2/1952: role guarding Spandau Prison. REEL 21 Continues: swimming and boxing army championship activities and question of being excused duties during training; relationship with German civilians; casualties from training mortar accident; reaction to news of posting to Korea; replacements for soldiers unwilling to serve in Korea. Period in GB, 5/1952-7/1952: leave; training in Catterick area; opinion of Colonel Peter Jefferies. Journey aboard Empire Trooper to Pusan, South Korea, 7/1952-8/1952: route marches when ashore; olive green drill uniform; recreations. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during operations with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Korea, 8/1952-9/1953: move to concentration area; terrain; use of artificial moonlight during move into line at Nachon; nature of trenches; frozen ground in winter; dugouts. REEL 22 Continues: dugouts; reverse slope mortar positions; opinion of French Canadian troops; use of petrol poured into barrel to increase mortar range; mortar pits and command post dugout; wireless communications and following directions from observation post NCO to range mortars on to target; effects of climatic factors on mortar accuracy; mortars beaten zone; deception shoots; situation and terrain in No Mans Land; role manning command post; role of A, B and F echelons; food rations; water supply and purification tablets; shaving; trips to mobile bath houses. REEL 23 Continues: trips to mobile bath houses; latrines; responding to requests for help and superior accuracy of long distance US artillery; composition of 139 Bde; composition of Australian units; rest periods; opinion of national servicemen; recreations during rest periods; story of clash with Canadian Military Police after visit to out of bounds area; awareness of presence of Chinese troops; special cold weather uniform; reactions to Chinese shellfire; fatigue; promotion to company sergeant major of C Coy, 12/1952; opinion of company commander Major Johnny Tresawna; officer casualties; role as CSM in maintaining morale; story of Tresawna not understanding Geordie dialect from soldier requesting compassionate leave. REEL 24 Continues: role comforting soldiers receiving 'Dear John' letters; story of soldier snapping under strain; preparations for patrols; stand to casualty and ammunition reports; reserve ammunition store; move into line in Hill 355 sector, 1/1953; hilly terrain and use of 'flying fox' aerial railway; shell shock victim after Chinese shell direct hit on company headquarters; nature of company headquarters; daily routine duties; opening small arms fire; propaganda from 'Asiatic Annie' broadcast by megaphone from Chinese aircraft illustrating their accurate intelligence of troop movements; question of lack of patrolling carried out by US troops; story of discovering and countering new Chinese tactics on patrols in No Mans Land; story of interrogation of Chinese POW taken on snatch patrol; opinion of Chinese troops and their successful use of mortars; description of fighting patrols to dominate No Mans Land including weapons, use of gaps in barbed wire, terrain; importance of surprise in attacking Chinese patrols and question of use of Stun and phosphorus grenades; standing patrols. REEL 25 Continues: opinion of Second Lieutenant Peter de la Billiere including his nickname 'Eddie Smith'; casualties; story of death of Tresawna when ambushed whilst returning from No Mans Land with patrol and subsequent recovery of his corpse; story of soldier accidentally shot on patrol and reporting to Jefferies; personal morale on last patrol; question of tactic of attempting to dominate No Mans Land; success of US long range artillery in stopping Chinese attacks; story of return to Hook sector having been relieved by US troops following Chinese attack during peace negotiations, 7/1953; reports of nature of Chinese mass attacks; story illustrating language problems during attack by Commonwealth Div and subsequent return to lines of wounded. REEL 26 Continues: unit's support role during attack by Commonwealth Div; story of daylight raid filmed for propaganda purposes on strong Chinese positions at Mungaydi Diggings; story illustrating Jefferies avoidance of unnecessary casualties; question of missing officer rumoured to be living in China; cold conditions and use of self heating cans and heaters; shooting rats; shooting accidents; case of NCO's self inflicted wound; story of soldier wanting to marry Korean woman; story of officer's commemoration of coronation of Elizabeth II; question of Chinese infiltration behind Allied lines; question of wearing armoured vests and helmets; recreations; question of stores and messes burnt to conceal accounting problems; drinking habits in sergeants' mess; story of drunken US soldiers; generosity of US soldiers; question of US troops lack of tactical skill; story of erecting barbed wire fence in No Mans Land. REEL 27 Continues: story of Chinese removal of barbed wire fence in No Mans Land due to failure of US troops to patrol in No Mans Land; personal morale; rest period on signing of peace treaty; filling in trenches and conversation with Chinese officer; laying anti-personnel minefields; letter and parcel contact with GB. Voyage to Egypt, 9/1953: argument with Captain Farrar-Hockley over officers' invites to sergeants' mess party; meeting with Colonel Carne and question of over run of 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt. Aspects of period in St Gabriel's Camp, Egypt, 1953-1955: nature of routine; relationship with Egyptian civilians. Return to GB, 1955: marriage; break up and reformation of unit. Recollections of period as permanent staff instructor with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Chester-le-Street, GB, 1955-1959: reactions to posting; comparison of territorials and regulars; question of age and origins of territorials; fraudulent claims for territorial drills; territorials pay and allowances. Period as company sergeant major with C Coy, 1st Bn, Durham Light Infantry at Honiton, GB, 1959-1960: story illustrating conditions during winter exercises on Dartmoor; question of age and physical fitness; question of incompetent NCOs; opinion of officers. REEL 28 Continues: reaction to home service. Period as regimental sergeant major with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Durham, GB, 1960-1962. Period as Regimental Sergeant-Major with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Kowloon, Hong Kong, 1962-1965: question of taking commission as quartermaster; reception; role of participatory sport in unit; importance of enforcing dress code and question of drinking habit in sergeants mess; story of swimming race across Hong Kong Harbour; decision not to accept offer of civilian employment as dock inspector with involvement in youth boxing organisation due to question of children's education; accompanying troops on exercises; role of provost sergeant; story illustrating disagreement with Colonel Fleming over methods of punishing soldiers for minor offences; stories illustrating character of Colonel May in Egypt, 1953-1955; guard duties; social life; question of age. Period as Regimental Sergeant-Major at School of Infantry, Warminster, GB, 1965-1966. REEL 29 Continues: administrative role as RSM; reaction to leaving Durham Light Infantry; methods of establishing authority in sergeants' mess; treatment of Rhodesian officers on Declaration of UDI, 1966; question of weapons training; story illustrating attitude of Colonel Lowery; contacts with Christine Keeler and rumours of her activities; drunken activities of officers; story of wife's role in securing Chadwick offer of employment as mayor's officer; reasons for accepting demobilisation. Aspects of civilian career: work as mayor's officer in Wallasey; question of adaptation to civilian life; question of joining Merchant Navy; career at Cammell Lairds; attending Durham Light Infantry Regimental Association; drinking habits; opinion of Albert Shippen.