Description
Object description
British private served with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1933; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1933-1935; private and NCO served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India and Sudan, 1935-1937; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in China from 1937
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Southwick, GB, 1912-1933: area grew up in; family; family home; closeness of community; work of stepfather; memories of childhood; education; details of work as errand boy and in colliery; clothes worn in pit; baths after work before and after building of pit-head baths; leisure activities; attendance at chapel; membership of Boys Brigade; uniform worn; activities with Boys Brigade.
REEL 2 Continues: discipline; activities at meetings; church parades; details of band; further details of colliery work; reasons for receiving fines at pit; attendance at night school; reason for leaving pit; process of joining army; knowledge of Durham Light Infantry; attempt of mother and uncle to buy him out. Aspects of period as private with Durham Light Infantry in GB, 4/1933- 6/1933: reception on arrival at Fenham Barracks; reaction to treatment; sleeping arrangements; visit to NAAFI and first night in army; first morning wake-up call; uniform issued; alterations made by tailor; storage of kit; buying of cleaning items; learning to cleaning uniform; description of barrack room including details of cleaning; making of bed; kit inspections; latrines and washing facilities; population of room; punishment given to bullies; comradeship; background of recruits.
REEL 3 Continues: reactions during first week; medical; football; morning procedures and description of pyjamas; parade for breakfast; breakfast; washing of utensils; physical training; shower break; issue of rifle; learning of drill; field craft training; morning break; lunch including serving of meals; afternoon activities; tea; evening activities; relationship with NCOs; lights out; standard of turnout for leaving camp; first weekend leave including description of swagger cane and attitude of civilians towards army; details of pay; barrack room damages.
REEL 4 Continues: rifle training; rifle drill; recognition training; marches; Light Infantry pace; contact with officers; opinion of Corporal Gray and other NCOs; gambling and army attitude to gambling; opinion of army life; length of basic training; posting to battalion at Catterick. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1933- 2/1935: reception from Regiment Sergeant Major Martin and posting in A Company; differences between depot and battalion; opinion of commanding officer Sebag Montefiore and NCOS; working week; pattern of training; company detail sheet and difference between guard and piquet duties; preparations for guard or piquet duty; opinion of guard duty; make-up of guard; inspection of guard; selection and duties of stickman; guard competitions; spare items kept for ceremonials and guards; methods of separating to choose stickman; guard duties; visits from orderly officer; others in guard room; supply of meal and tea for guard; relief from duty after a guard.
REEL 5 Continues: changing of guard; selection for battalion sports teams and reaction; piquet duties; discipline and punishments; storage and cleaning of rifle and weapon inspections; storage and buffing of bayonet; weapons in unit; equipment issued; description of greatcoat; problems with uniform; comparison of uniform with American; issue of No 1 uniform; wearing civilian clothes out of barracks; water bottle; description and firing of Lewis Gun; opinion of and problems with Lewis Gun; description and firing of 2" mortar; opinion of 2" mortar; description and firing of Boys anti-tank rifle; organisation of battalion; contact with officers; changes in training after arrival in battalion.
REEL 6 Continues: march to firing ranges at Bellaby; annual firing course; forced marches; foot inspections; care of feet; transport in battalion and opinion of bren gun carrier; teaching of regimental history; role of padre; success of battalion football team; leisure activities; leave; postings at Blackdown and in India; description of Blackdown; activities of battalion; placement on draft for India; embarkation leave. Aspects of journey from GB to India aboard HMT Mombasa, 2/1935: details of ship; duties onboard; leisure activities; gambling; enjoyment of journey; availability of cinema to officers and reaction; sleeping arrangements; rations; more on duties; discipline; length of journey; death of Private Scott; opinion and role of Regimental Police; seasickness; stop in Aden; journey to Bombay; role of draft. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 2/1935-2/1937: first impressions of India; stay in Kalaba Barracks; posting in and train journey to Deolali; khaki dress worn; activities in Bombay.
REEL 7 Continues: civilian workers in camp; treatment of civilian workers; problems with civilian break-ins; opinion of reasons guards and piquets did little against intruders; visits to Bombay; increase in pay; VD in battalion and warnings; army attitude to VD; description of camp at Deolali; duties and leisure activities; kitten kept as mascot; climate in Bombay and Deolali; health of battalion; opinion of Captain Paget and Lieutenant Johnson; memories of Sergeant Fairclough; preparations for journey to Sudan; relationship with Sikhs and Ghurkhas; opinion of mules; battalion manoeuvres; accidental shooting of civilians; sepoys attached to battalion; relationship with Black Watch; travelling around India to play for battalion football team; position played; sending off in cup final and punishment received; promotion to lance corporal; increase in pay; duties as lance corporal.
REEL 8 Continues: opinions about lance corporals; organisation of corporal's mess; contribution to mess; exchange of troops with 1st Battalion at Aden. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Sudan, 2/1937-10/1937: conditions on train journey to Khartoum and reaction to posting in Sudan; description in Khartoum; description of desert; piquet duties; opinion of civilians; climate; watered areas of camp; daily routine; journey to China. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in China, from 10/1937: first impressions on arrival in Shanghai; camp and accommodation; leisure activities; currency exchange; relationship with troops of other nations including sports; split of battalion; conditions for civilians; role in Shanghai; posting in Peking; opinion of Peking; guard and outpost duties; visits into Peking; arrival of bren guns; climate.
