Vizard, Arthur Ernest (Oral history)

British machine gunner served with 8th Bn Middlesex Regt in GB, 1936-1939; officer served with 7th Bn Middlesex Regt in Northern Ireland, 1941; served with 70th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1941-1942; served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, Italy, Middle East, Greece and Austria, 1943-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in London, GB, 1918-1939: father's background and death serving with Australian Imperial Force, 10/1918; education at Royal British Orphan School, Watford including daily routine, subjects taught and importance of sporting activities; attitude to father's death; work as office boy for various firms; work as internal auditor with hotel firm. Recruitment and training as Vickers machine gunner with C Coy, 8th Middlesex Regt at Northolt Drill Hall, GB, 1936-1939: reasons; medical; drill; Vickers gun training including team drill, firing at summer camp and use of 'tap' method of changing target; beaten zone. REEL 2 Continues: Vickers gun training including beaten zone, dismantling gun, sings Vickers song and clearing stoppages; rifle training; composition and transport as machine gun battalion; uniform; relationship with other ranks; NCOs and opinion of officers; signal training in field telephones, message construction, Morse code, laying and repairing telephone wire; awareness of approach of war and reaction of mother; summer camp. Mobilisation and initial period at Northolt and Kensington, 9/1939: local defence guard duties; training in 18 radio set during signal course at Catterick Camp; reactions to selection for possible commission; consequent retention as company quartermaster sergeant with B Echelon whilst unit was in France, 1/1940-6/1940. REEL 3 Continues: return of unit, 6/1940. Recollections of period with 170th Machine Gun Officers Cadet Training Unit at Aldershot and Droitwich, GB, 1940-1941: German air raids and consequent move to Droitwich; learning to drive; method of night firing on fixed lines; relationship with NCO instructors; nature of theoretical training; introduction to conduct in officers' mess; recreations; course examinations; question of being returned to unit; question of relevance of prior Boy Scouts activities; kiting out as officer and allowance; story of receiving first salute from regimental sergeant major; question of needing private income. Recollections of period with 7th Machine Gun Bn, Middlesex Regt at Portrush and Portstewart, Northern Ireland, 1941: prior period awaiting posting; regimental insignia; posting to command platoon; absence of internal security problems; story of being detained after misreading map and accidentally crossing Eire border; reaction to being posted to Durham Light Infantry. REEL 4 Continues: reaction to being posted to Durham Light Infantry; prior return to depot after court of inquiry. Recollections of training with A Coy, 70th (Young Soldiers) Bn Durham Light Infantry at Aycliffe and Barnard Castle, GB, 1941-1942: condition of young recruits on arrival; opinion of various officers including Colonel Hubert McBain and question of ranker officers; question of use of machine gun officers on infantry posting; story illustrating improvement in condition of recruits during training; opinion of Colonel Peter Jeffreys; move to Westwick Camp, Barnard Castle as demonstration battalion for School of Infantry tactical exercises; survival exercises introduced by Jeffreys; street fighting exercises; live ammunition exercises; anti-personal mine casualties; opinion of various personal weapons including Thompson machine gun, various types of hand grenades; revolver and preference for rifle; PIAT mortar; limpet mines. REEL 5 Continues: story of visit by Churchill; opinion of methods of Colonel G S Fillingham; embarkation leave and arrangements to get married after war prior to taking draft to North Africa, 12/1942. Voyage aboard cruise ship to Algiers, Algeria: 1/1943: life boat drill; PT sessions. Period at No 3 Infantry Reinforcement and Training Depot at Fort Tulow, 1/1943-2/1943: first impressions of Algiers; role as reinforcements for 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry; story of confusion over differing light infantry drill on joint parade in Algiers; move up of reinforcement drafts. Recollections of joining 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 3/1943: situation after Battle of Sedjenane; relationship with supporting artillery unit of 449 Batttery, 70th Field Artillery, Royal Artillery; heavy casualties suffered in night attack; reception from new Colonel Johnny Preston and formation of E Company from draft under Vizard's command. Recollections of detached operations with E Company in North Africa, 3/1943-4/1943: taking over from paratroopers in Tarbarka area; water supply; reconnaissances required by confused situation; reverse slope defensive positions. REEL 6 Continues: state of unit and role as independent companies supporting other units; opinion of Colonel Johnny Preston; orders to support 2/5th Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) at Maison Blanche; sending back sergeant who refused to obey orders; situation; situation on reaching Maison Blanche; evacuating wounded; reactions to first casualties; period attached to 2/5th Sherwood Foresters; situation; daytime German air attacks and consequent supply problems; composition rations; removal of insignia of rank; cooking arrangements; story of arrival of company second in command Lieutenant Tom Reynolds; role of officer's servant; senior NCOs; role of corporal section commanders; role of officers in attack; circumstance of Major Keith Martin's death from British shellfire during attack on Sidi Barka, 22/4/1943; question of popularity as officer and necessity of speech training in Geordie accent. Aspects of operations, 4/1943: posting to command A Company; reinforcements; question of light infantry pace. REEL 7 Continues: period on detachment as liaison officer with Headquarters, II Corps, US Army. Recollections of attack on Sidi Barka, 22/4/1943: briefing and plan of attack; slight bayonet leg wound; intent to disable to kill when shooting; nature of social contact with other officers; review of various officers and NCOs; situation. Advance to Tunis, 4/1943-5/1943: transport; tracks across plains; situation; stories illustrating character of Brigadier Hunt and Colonel Preston; use of grenades and tactics in street fighting in Medjez El Bab; reception from Tunisian civilians; opinion of Tunisian farmers. Recollections of detachment escorting German POWs by train to Casablanca, 4/1943-5/1943: morale of German POWs; problems. REEL 8 Continues: illustrations of discipline and morale of German POWs. Recollections of period training at Blida, 6/1943-8/1943: unofficial bell tent; route marches; drill; sporting activities; concert parties; opinion of Major George Ballance; removal of protective mineral jelly and assembly of newly arrived Vickers machine guns; training squads from Support Coy in Vickers machine gun; tactical exercises in Atlas Mountains; rifle company weapons and composition of Support Company; question of use of Bren carriers; nature of officers' mess and question of drinking habits; visits to seaside resort; officers' mess etiquette; relationship with senior NCOs; company disciplinary procedures and question of regular offenders subsequent quality in action; story illustrating Preston's belief in power of discipline; opinion of Preston in comparison to other colonels in 139 Brigade. REEL 9 Period training at Bizerta, 8/1943-9/1943: training in areas geographically similar to Salerno area, Italy; re-equipment; recreation; air activity; brigade tactical exercise; briefing from Admiral Moran on landing plans; inspecting Landing Craft Infantry and composition of crew; German air attacks and reaction to wounding of Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks. Recollections of voyage via Sicily to Salerno, Italy, 2/9/1943-9/9/1943: crowded conditions for A and C Companys aboard LCI 345; difficulties getting ashore at Castalamarie, Sicily; medical teams; feet hardening; difficulties on re-embarkation; reactions to news of proposed Italian surrender and dispute with padre over his thanksgiving service; seasickness; wireless messages; view of initial assault and supporting monitors; landing under fire at Green Beach, Salerno, 9/9/1943. REEL 10 Continues: tactics employed in crossing beach area during landing under fire at Green Beach, Salerno, 9/9/1943; successful withdrawal of LCI. Recollections of initial movements, 9/9/1943-12/9/1943: move inland towards Salerno/Positano road; casualties; consolidation of positions; naval support bombardment and withdrawal of German Tiger tanks; establishment of Regimental Aid Post; coming under command of Colonel Aubrey Miller of 6th Bn, Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment until arrival of Preston, 10/9/1943; reaching Salerno/Positano road; effects of fatigue; capture of Salerno and situation, 10/9/1943; German shellfire during 'O' Group briefing with Preston; role of 'beach brick' Recollections of attack to the left of Hospital Hill, 13/9/1943: plans for A Company attack; increasing German opposition; death of Lieutenant Tom Logan; re-organising attack; overall situation; success in stopping German counter-attack to right; continuing advance; increasing German mortar fire; back wound from splinter and collapse with loss of blood; second hand reports of successful completion of action under Sergeant Major Wilson. Evacuation aboard hospital ship to Tripoli, Libya, 13/9/1943-15/9/1943: prior refusal of morphine whilst being carried back on stretcher. REEL 11 Continues: story illustrating of morale of casualties; question of German fire hitting ship; organisation of casualties into medical categories; prior treatment and conditions at dressing station; operation on back at sea; question of ''Blighty'' wound; reception on disembarkation. Period in No 1 South African General Hospital in Tripoli, 9/1943-11/1943: segregation with serious casualties and selection for early tests on penicillin; attack of hepatitis. Period in Red Cross officers convalescent camp in Tripoli, ca 11/1943. Period in Algeria, 11/1943-3/1944: desire to return to unit; period at No 3 IRTD at Fort Tulow; period in Algiers railway marshalling yards; refusal offer as commandant of German POW camp; visits to estaminets and developing friendship with Canadian pilots. Story of going AWOL and returning to rejoin unit at Syria, 3/1944: story of persuading Canadian pilots to fly him to Cairo, Egypt; story of getting assistance from Durham Light Infantry officer at Cairo headquarters. REEL 12 Continues: story of getting assistance from Durham Light Infantry officer at Cairo headquarters; journey by train to Haifa, Palestine and story of close escape from arrest from Palestine Police; difficulty in finding location of unit; success in contacting unit; reception from Preston; story of interview with Brigadier Alan Block; posting to command Headquarters Company. Period in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and El Qassassin Camp, Egypt, 3/1944-7/1944: rounding up Vichy French personnel in Beirut; supporting Palestine Police against Jewish insurgents; story of inviting John Glubb to officers' mess and illustration of discipline he enforced in Arab Legion; question of Arab/Jewish situation; opinion of Palestine Police; composition of Headquarters Company; training exercises with tanks; Bren carrier training limited by sandy conditions; question of role of padres including burial of corpses whatever religious denomination; question of troops buying pornographic literature; recreations in Egypt; pastoral role of padres and officers dealing with marital problems uncovered in censoring letters and question of compassionate leave. REEL 13 Continues: opinion of Colonel Dennis Worral; acting as spare company commander following diminished role of Headquarters Company on formation of Support Company and complication of official B1 medical status; journeys for dinner in Damascus. Voyage back to Italy, 7/1944. Period at Bastardo, Italy, 7/1944-8/1944: summer fête; training; opinion of Major Harry Meiner; briefing for attack on Gothic Line from General Hawksworth. Recollections of operations against Gothic Line, Italy, 8/1944-11/1944: secret night movements to concentration area; situation; role with B Echelon in co-ordinating transport requirements; nature of terrain; difficulties in supplying hot food and consequent issue of composition rations; German scorched earth policy in retreat; view of 2/5th Bn Sherwood Foresters crossing River Foglia and attack on Monte Vecchio; 30/8/1944; attacks on Mondaino, 31/8/1944; German shellfire disruption of transport and Hawksworth's reaction to consequent traffic congestion; German nebelwerfer fire; medical personnel and evacuation of casualties. REEL 14 Continues: medical personnel and evacuation of casualties; situation and heavy casualties at Gemmano Ridge, 9/1944; padres; difficulty in getting supplies forward at Gemmano; troops acquisition of unofficial uniform and equipment; state of unit morale; Lieutenant Russell Collins success in street clearing operations; question of use of phosphorous grenades; role of Pioneer Platoon; state of unit morale after Gemmano; temporary period in command of D Company; opinion of Quartermaster Bert Newman; opinion of Major Ray Mitchell and story of his caricature of Brigadier Block; opinion of Major Pat Casey; reduction to three companies due to casualties; rest period at Verucchio, 27/9/1944; role as President of Regimental Institutes and Mess Committee; dance band; tea wagon run by Nora Raschen; reactions of drafts from anti-aircraft units. REEL 15 Continues: capture of Cesena, 20/10/1944; story of wounded German spitting in Vizard's face and opinion of German troops; question of reception from Italian civilians; meeting Italian partisans in Monte Gridolfo sector; presence of German troops in neutral state of San Marino; death of Company Quartermaster Sergeant Mather from land mine; anti-personnel mines; emergency move, 11/1944; question of state of unit morale; question of Salerno mutiny; convoy arrival at Rome; re-armament. Airlift to Kalamachi aerodrome, Athens, Greece, 3/12/1944. Recollections of internal security operations in Athens, Piraeus and Patras, Greece, 12/1944: briefing; ELAS sniper casualties during journey into Athens; situation in Athens. REEL 16 Continues: briefing; role in organising of defence of headquarters and repelling ELAS night attack, 13/12/1944; difficulty in clearing houses; move towards railway; question of Greek civilian casualties; relationship with Greek civilians; situation; visit from Anthony Eden; role of Greek navy; role organising Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1944; reputation of KKE; former role of ELAS as British trained force against German occupation; state of former German and ELAS billets; ELAS withdrawal; voyage to Patras, 1/1945; reception from parties of Indian troops and ELAS partisans; situation; evacuation of ELAS partisans, 1/1945; original lack of maps; advance to Araxos airfield; truce arrangements, 14/1/1945; relief and return to Athens. REEL 17 Continues: role as general security force and training Greek National Guard; opinion of adaptability of British soldier; news of war situation; return to Italy, 4/1945. Recollections of German surrender and advance into Austria, 5/1945: reactions to German surrender; orders for rapid advance; celebrations and improvements in conditions of service; minimal contacts with retreating German troops; effect of billeting process on initial relationship with Austrian civilians at Wildon; assistance from German POW working party; horses from Russian Cossacks POWs; relationship with German POW working party; meeting with column of Croatian civilians in Caparetto area; taking cover from small arms fire randomly aimed by Yugoslavian partisans. REEL 18 Continues: guards provided in Vienna; demobilisation release groups; GB leave including contacts with Second Front units, graffiti on truck and visits to relatives of casualties; skiing training; improving relationship with Austrian civilians; visit to 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry and mess game of British Bulldog; postings to other units; Christmas show for Austrian civilians, 25/12/1945; accelerating rate of demobilisations and role as remaining senior officer; final disbandment of unit, 16/2/1946. Demobilisation at Woking, 2/1946: question of pension as B1 category; demobilisation suit. Aspects of formation of 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry Association, 1946: issue of address book to all men; taking personal responsibility for calling on relatives of casualties from Vizard's company; story of Major Laurie Stringer's initial difficulty with Durham dialect. Post-war career in oil industry: difficulty in finding work; reduced salary in comparison with pay as major; question of remaining in army.