Welsh, Frederick "Fred" (Oral history)

British private trained with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1940; served with 4th (Holding) Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1940; private and NCO served with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, Cyprus, Iraq and North Africa, 1940-1942; POW in North Africa, Italy and Germany, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Ferryhill Station, GB, 1919-1940: area grew up in; family; involvement with cricket and football; family home; memories of childhood; attendance at chapel; father's interest in countryside; more on involvement with sport; effects of 1926 Strike; hardship; discipline; closeness of community; education; attendance at technical classes; work on colliery farm and with horses in pit including details of pay; working hours on farm and in colliery; knowledge of events in Europe; outbreak of war; neighbours joining RAF; reaction of parents to outbreak of war; call-up to army; medical at Durham Drill Hall; reason for wanting to join Military Police. Aspects of period as recruit with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1/1940-5/1940: arrival at Brancepeth Castle; accommodation in Willington; washing facilities; meeting of John Wise on journey to Brancepeth Castle; opinion of NCO instructors. REEL 2 Continues: processing at Brancepeth Castle; issue of uniform; sorting into platoons and journey to Willington; sleeping arrangements; washing facilities; introduction to NCOs; recruits in platoon; dining room; issue and cleaning of rifle; drills learned; fitness training; reasons for not being allowed a weekend pass; opinion of treatment received; refusal to give to collection for sergeant; opinion of sergeant major and contact with officers; breakfast; opinion of rations; settling into army life; working day and evening duties; morning procedures; morning activities; details of route marches and cleaning of boots; more on issue of rifle; learning of Light Infantry pace; relationship with civilians; lunch and problems faced by cooks; issue of meals; cleaning of utensils; afternoon activities and pride in regiment; tea; more on relationship with civilians; evening activities; kit inspections; relationship with recruits in barrack room; story of soldier who stole iron rations in desert. REEL 3 Continues: length of basic training; posting in Ushaw Moor; accommodation; summary of training; story of first soldier seen shot and rifle training at Whitburn ranges; learning of regiment's history; learning to dig trenches; opinion that training was based on First World War; field craft training; bayonet training; gas precaution training; selection of troops for specialist training; lectures at Brancepeth Castle. Aspects of period with 4th (Holding) Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 5/1940-6/1940: Dunkirk and posting in West Hartlepool; accommodation; selection of troops for France; duties for those left behind; help given by Home Guard; story of fifth columnist including complaint against John Wise; dock and road block duties; mounting of guard; story of soldier without hat; range of duties and difficulty of getting leave; situation following Dunkirk and joining of 9th Battalion in Rugeley. Aspects of period as private with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1940-5/1941: state of D Company on joining; morale and comradeship; news of what had happened in France. REEL 4 Continues: memories of officers and NCOs; postings in Devon and Dorset plus duties; accommodation in Charmouth; dispersal of civilians; defences built on beach and movement of them following high spring tide; glow worms on beach; area covered; reason Dorset and Devon would have been difficult to invade; telephone duties; invasion scare; Stand To; story of large fishing catch; guard duties; rest period in Bridport; navy patrols off coast; spread and activities of brigade including road blocks in Charmouth; weapons in battalion; opinion of chances against invasion; air activity; story of Spitfire shot down; parachutists landing in sea; guard duties on German planes shot down; air raids and service of Tiverton Fire Brigade; training with Home Guard in Minehead; relationship with civilians and Christmas 1940; inoculations and embarkation leave; posting in 16 Platoon Mortar Section; make-up of 2" mortar section; description and firing of a 2" mortar including story of visit from Brigadier Churchill; ammunition carried; efficiency of uniform. REEL 5 Continues: procedure for bombs fired; range of 2" mortar; firing drill and jobs of mortar crewmembers; opinion of 2" mortar; specialist weapons in platoon; reason for posting in Tiverton; route marches; weapon training; haversack rations; story of help given to comrade during a march; advancing under a creeping barrage; conditions on moors; exercises on Exmoor; sleeping arrangements; rations; hot baths on return to Tiverton; rest day following; opinion of rations; theft of rations in supply line; opinion of treatment during training and in field; second hand story of injuries suffered by bren gun team; injuries during training; aerial gas attack; equipment carried; troops falling out of route marches; socks worn; foot inspections; story of getting lost on a route march and inspection from Duke of Norfolk; high ranking visitors; standard of turnout; pride in regiment; characters in each platoon; friends in platoon; events on 21st birthday and sharing commodities between comrades; story of private rejoining battalion at Gazala. REEL 6 Continues: effect of losing a comrade; embarkation leave; knowledge of destination and issue of khaki dress; inoculations; send off from civilians and march to station; train journey to Gourock. Aspects of journey from Gourock, GB, to Port Suez, Egypt, aboard the SS Orduna, 5/1941-7/1941: boarding of ship; reactions to posting abroad; description of SS Orduna; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; conditions on mess decks; disappearance of escort to fight Bismarck; more on sleeping arrangements; soldier taken ill with seasickness; storage of hammocks; boat drill and inspections; anti-aircraft duties; physical training; cleaning of rifles; training with Bren; lectures; sleeping on mess deck; more on anti-aircraft duties; discipline; comradeship; bingo and gambling; boxing tournaments; crossing the line ceremony; activities of crew. REEL 7 Continues: opinion of rations; conditions onboard; lectures and news of war; collision with Duchess of Richmond; damage suffered and slow journey to Durban; make-up of convoy; route taken to Freetown; bumboats in harbour; reception in Durban; relationship with civilians including visit to Escombe; story of charge after late return to ship; parade through Durban; voyage to Red Sea and bombing of Georgic. Aspects of period in transit through Egypt, 7/1941: first impressions of Egypt; journey to Qassassin; accommodation; selection for advance party to Cyprus; story of journey to Famagusta including rations and accommodation; description of ship; unloading of equipment. Aspects of period as private with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Cyprus, 7/1941- 11/1941: journey to Lakatamia; role on airfield; description of platoon stores; fruit available on island; responsibilities in stores; transport situation; impressions of Cyprus; leisure activities. REEL 8 Continues: aerodrome defences; story of officer testing guard; sleeping arrangements; rations; relationship with civilians and with troops of other regiments; visit to brothel and warnings about VD; story of Tommy Mitchell's rifle; visits to Limassol; news of posting away from Cyprus and role in rear party. Aspects of journey from Famagusta, Cyprus, to Kirkuk, Iraq, 11/1941: voyage from Famagusta to Haifa; description of journey into Iraq; crossing of Valley of Jordan; condition of roads; seating in trucks; movement of convoy; setting- up of camp each night; clearance of camp in mornings; morning procedures; route taken and terrain; stop at RAF Habbaniyah; journey through Baghdad. Aspects of period as private with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Iraq, 11/1941-2/1942: role in Kirkuk; drainage dug around tents and sleeping arrangements; population of each tent; Christmas parcels received and rum ration; methods of keeping warm; heaters in cookhouse. REEL 9 Continues: rations; opinion of cook; story of earlier complaints about food; story of fighting patrol; guard duties; problems with feet; rumours about leaving Iraq; problems with cold and keeping warm; visit to Kirkuk for funeral of Sergeant Henderson; football; problems with boredom; honesty among troops; Christmas 1941 and mail; availability of chickens; story of John Wise's hernia problems; news of posting away from Iraq. Aspects of journey from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Gazala Box, Libya, 2/1942-3/1942: arrival of trucks; route marches at end of day; route taken; problems with thieves at RAF Habbaniyah; scenes in Jordan; train journey up desert; contact with and treatment of civilians selling goods en route; description of desert terrain; Junkers Ju 87 Stuka raids; signs of previous fighting and areas of water supply; reactions on entering a fighting area. Aspects of operations as private and NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 3/1942-5/1942: digging and camouflage of positions; gaps in minefields; problems with dust; wire in front minefields; observation posts dug; length of day; activity at night; time of Stand To; problems with heat and flies; approach of a Khamsin and protection against it; water ration; coping with heat. REEL 10 Continues: memories of Private Tom Porter; promotion to Lance Corporal; superiority of German weapons and changes in battalion; course taken in spigot mortars; early return to unit during retreat from box; rations and meals; thirst and visits from NAAFI; story of mission to identify a group outside wire; problems Private Tom Porter had with heat; relationship with Tom Porter; more on visits from NAAFI; use of water for washing; health of battalion; improvisation with rations; description of patrols; details of patrols including description of heaters made from petrol tins; skill of Royal Army Service Corps at making tea; section patrols; role of patrols; early warning devices on wire; memories of Lieutenant Campion; discussion on Rommel's superiority; story of company patrol to capture Tmimi Aerodrome including actions of Major Sleight; reactions to coming under shellfire and Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; contact with and firing at German troops; weapons faced; casualties; reactions following action. REEL 11 Continues: make-up and Jock columns; speed of columns; night laagers; role of columns; positions and activities of D Company; care needed during movement; contact with Axis troops; navigation around desert; conditions in desert; mail; Stand To; memories of Lieutenant Colonel Percy; background of battalion members; opinion and memories of officers; air activity including story of firing at a Messerschmitt; standard of turnout; examples of poor officers; opinions of NCOs; opinion of 16 Platoon and Lieutenant Johnson; memories of Lieutenant Jackson and Major Jackson; Axis assault on Gazala Box; orders given to 50th Division; signs of being surrounded; reactions to situation and actions involved in; story of how Major Jackson lost his arm; plan for withdrawal; scenes on arrival in gap; attempt to escape in truck without brakes; lift gained in Cheshire Regiment truck. REEL 12 Continues: scenes on withdrawal to coast; drive along beach and wounding; breakfast and wash; work of Military Police; description of wounds; Messerschmitt attacks; treatment received for wound; position taken and journey in truck; story of capture in wadi including fear from 88 artillery fire. Aspects of period as POW in North Africa, 1942: exchange of cigarette for coffee; search; impossibility of escape; arrival and guard in German camp; collection of rations from truck; reason for learning to look after yourself; organisation of selves; march to wired compound; Colonel helping with search on arrival and attempt to confiscate of food; reactions following capture; handover to Italian Army; opinion of Italians and treatment; aversion of drafts to Italy; movement from camp to camp; escape attempt and punishment given; deterioration of health; condition in Tripoli camp including latrines; infestation with fleas; journey to Benghazi; rations; postcard sent to Vatican City; posting as missing; health and conditions; reported sick and voyage to Palermo; treatment of officers. Aspects of period as POW in Italy, 1942: opinion of Italian American guard called Baker and journey through Palermo; wash and shave on arrival at camp; journey to mainland Italy; food stolen on docks and from Baker's haversack. REEL 13 Continues: train journey to Carpi including conditions and contact with civilian. Aspects of period as POW in PG73, Italy, 1942-1943: march to camp; description of camp; search on arrival; reception from POWs; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; absence of heating; welcome in Hut 33; issue and filling of paliasse; wait for food; health; organisation in hut; further description of camp including defences; washing facilities and latrines; playing area and health of POWs; administration block; church and work of padre; contact with second compound; medical facilities; work and opinion of guards; story of guard from Gateshead; guards' accommodation; problems with lice; issues of rations including standard of meat; arrival and division of Red Cross parcels; use of empty tins as cookers including items used for fuel; bartering system; tricks with coffee; cakes; parcel day sweeps; card schools; puncturing of parcel tins and complaint to Red Cross; Italian hiding of parcels. REEL 14 Continues: description of Red Cross parcel box and dartboard made from one; dartboard league; concerts and theatre; Christmas Red Cross parcel; treatment for lice; hospitalisation with dysentery; bulk issue of Red Cross parcels; gradual improvement in health; weight and advice on leaving hospital; package received from regiment; items manufactured from parcel materials and opinion of Canadian Red Cross parcels; lectures and classes; use of books and books received; concert productions; inter-hut football competitions; cup final day; international matches; absence of working parties; problems from sharing items from parcels; camp discipline; morning roll call and retaliation from guards; problems with cold during winter; conversations about food; light in hut and around perimeter; presence of guards. REEL 15 Continues: tricks played during roll call; length of time in camp; news of Italian capitulation; warning from British officers; attempt to dig a tunnel; arrival of Germans; opinion that escape was futile; story of drunk German guards trying to make POWs put lights out in hut; issue of Red Cross parcels; escape of one prisoner; march to railway; clothing situation; conditions and rations on train journey to Germany; talk of escape and reasons for not doing so; morale and opinion of officer POWs. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 1943-1945: state on arrival; march to Stalag XVIII B; formation of working parties; birth of barbed wire corporal; reason for attending working parties; relationship with German guards; details of working party including food perks; opinion of camp and rations; discipline; camps in areas attached to Stalag XVIII B; mail and humour among POWs; story of "Tiger" Flowers and his bombing predictions; working party making roads in Ganz; learning of German; accommodation and changes following visit of Swiss Red Cross; responsibilities of employers; rations. REEL 16 Continues: working day; evening activities; comradeship through tea; details of work; tricks played and following tribunal; replacement work and weather conditions; threats from and calibre of guards; second tribunal; work unloading goods and shifts; action taken after being refused tea; cement loading competition; results from introduction of loose cement; talk from Regiment Sergeant Major; showers built; recording of occupation; meal breaks; heating in accommodation; German respect for Red Cross; treatment of non-British prisoners; SS guards; belief Hitler had been killed in bomb attack; recreation in woods and replacement with walks; warnings against fraternisation; manipulation of guards; air activity; treatment of Russian prisoners; story of trip to cinema in Marburg and imprisonment. REEL 17 Continues: Christmas celebrations in Italy; recycling in camps; air raids; working week; day taken sick and syringing of ears; bombing of Marburg while at hospital including staff of hospital; signs Allies were winning war; return to camp following hospital raid; opinion of POWs; food given by civilian woman and reason for her stopping; work repairing bomb damage and looting; contact with civilians; interview following arguments with foreman; arrival at farm in Wolfsburg; relationship with family; breakfast; accommodation; details of work and winter conditions; New Year celebrations; health; clothing situation; sleeping arrangements; lagergeld; mail; change in attitudes of Germans as war ended; allotment of farm produce. REEL 18 Continues: arrival of retreating Germans; visit from German sergeant major; reason given for and news of march west; items packed for journey. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1945: start of march; joining of main columns; strafing from RAF; casualties; disorganisation of march; reorganisation into national groups; visit from injured Russian; problems with Russian prisoners; German sergeant major in charge and rations issued; stealing of food and other items from houses; bartering with civilians; SS town passed through; sleeping arrangements; march over Alps; breaks during day and visit from Red Cross wagon; need to be wary of thieves; POWs dropping out of march; rain on Saller Pass; arrival in aired compound near Salzburg; rumours of war's end; disappearance of guards; theft of truck and looting at railway station; conversion of truck to caravan and shop opened; attitude of civilians; motorbikes stolen; description of compound; dinner with French POWs; arrival of American troops; reactions to liberation; journey to airfield; opinion of treatment from Americans; health during march; length of march; story of skimmed milk; opinion of porridge; delay of journey home; flight to Brussels; processing by British; night in Brussels; flight to GB; reception from WAAF. REEL 19 Continues: agreement for processing through night; delousing; medical; issue of uniform and badges; telegram sent home; forms filled in; story of singing in bed; train journey to Darlington; journey home to Ferryhill; reception on arrival home; leave including welcome home parties; medical at Otley; reason for discharge; pension; difficulties getting work; help given by army; civilian work; bitterness at medal awards and disbandment of Durham Light Infantry; clothes issued on discharge; characters met in army including story of unhygienic POW; best officers served under; acceptance of army discipline; fear during a bombardment and an air raid; opinion of German and Italian troops.