Bell, Henry Robert (Oral history)

British private served with 27th Infantry Training Centre in Northern Ireland, 1940; NCO served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, India and Burma, 1940-1944; served with East India Command Headquarters in India, 1945

REEL 1 Background in Gateshead, GB, 1915-1940: area grew up in; family including father's service in First World War; family home; community; memories of childhood; attendance at church; time in Boys Brigade including uniform; education; period unemployed following school; story of old pithead; leisure activities including meeting of future wife; search for work following school; details of various jobs in retail; details of pay; story of nearly joining British Union of Fascists. REEL 2 Continues: closure of shop at start of war; attempt to join Navy and Artillery; posting to Durham Light Infantry; reaction of parents to his joining army; arrival of call-up papers; marriage; medical; journey to Northern Ireland via Preston. Aspects of period as private with 27th Infantry Training Centre in Northern Ireland, 4/1940-8/1940: details of barracks; seasickness on ferry; arrival at barracks; further details of barracks; out of bounds areas in Belfast; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; storage of kit; heating; cleaning of barrack room; problems with having the end bed; inoculations; ablutions; leisure activities; memories of Sergeant Gooseplatt; working day; morning procedures and breakfast; pace of drill; difference between Heavy and Light Infantry training; breakfast; weight gained; weapons trained with; issue and cleaning of rifle; route marches; period before allowed out of barracks; uniform and equipment issued including method of keeping trousers creased; opinion of boots; foot inspections; kit inspections; replacement of equipment; comradeship in and posting to signal platoon; make-up of signals platoon; learning of Morse code; description and opinion of Fullerphone; description of Field Telephone; nature of work. REEL 3 Continues: call signs; wireless sets used; efficiency of sets in jungle; weight of sets; finding faults; repairing of telephone lines; posting of signallers in Headquarters Company; first promotion; events around Dunkirk. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 8/1940-4/1942: joining of 2nd Battalion at Bridlington and all night Stand To; state of battalion; retraining as Light Infantry at Grangers Camp with B Company; morale of battalion; equipment situation; vehicles commandeered; memories of Colonel "Charlie" Wiehe; memories of signals officer Percy West; promotion to Lance Corporal and Signals Instructors Training Course at Catterick; discussion of role as Lance Corporal; increase in pay; role of battalion in Bridlington; description of radio set used; duties in signal station and accommodation including location of signal office; attitude of Regiment Sergeant Major toward signallers; rivalry with other units; story of an invasion scare; bombing of Hull and Bridlington; civilians in Bridlington; accommodation; work with sandbags; memories of George Lakenby; defences on beach; watching WAAFs doing physical training on beach; exercises with RAF Regiment. REEL 4 Continues: egg and chips; opinion of army rations; leave; anti-gas pregnated uniform; gas precaution training; firing on range with gas mask; equipment carried during assault training in India and story of route march; length of time in Bridlington; posting in Cheltenham; spell with 42nd Armoured Division in Bury St Edmunds including outbreak of scabies; return to 2nd Division; reason for replacement of Colonel Wiehe; opinion of battalion; activities in Cheltenham; dodging duties through attending Holy Communion; difficulties gaining further promotion; opinion of Signals Sergeant; journey to Glasgow; opinion of posting in Cheltenham; details of pay; story of Land Army dance; story of party in cider cellar; reactions to posting abroad; knowledge of destination; embarkation leave. Aspects of journey from Glasgow, GB, to Bombay, India, aboard the Empress of Canada, 4/1942-6/1942: embarkation; route marches onboard and details of ship; conditions on ship; rations; time allowed on deck; sleeping arrangements; beer available; strictness of captain; teaching of semaphore in ship's baths; blanco ban on ship; sleeping on deck; details of convoy and ship; leisure activities; duties; scenes in tropical areas; lectures; scenes on arrival in Cape Town; activities onshore; reason for almost not stopping in Cape Town; march to mountain camp. REEL 5 Continues: time in mountain camp; journey to India. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 1942: first impressions of India; uniform worn; train journey to Ahmednagar; accommodation; tree rats; sleeping arrangements; population of a barrack room; civilian workers in camp; problems with bed bugs; opinion of rations; discipline; washing facilities; water; description of camp; tricks played on bullock cart drivers; problems with noise in signals accommodation; impression of civilians; warnings about treatment of civilians; relationship with civilians; help given through rice famine; climate and issue of salt water; opinion of bread; supply of rations; protection against disease and sunburn including changes to these instructions; supply of water; pre-scheme water inspections; invasion training; opinion of description of heliograph; story of later training reinforcements on heliograph; accidents in training; routine duties; description of 48 wireless set; memories of officers. REEL 6 Continues: leisure activities; beer ration; playing hockey against officers; importance of mail; items sent from GB and opinion of cigarette ration; relationship with Inspector Milburn during leave in Bombay; lepers; out of bounds areas; trips to barber; cinema; description of swimming baths; story of charge for reporting sick before route march; use of pay; trip to Bombay beach and to swim in full equipment; posting Independent 4th Battalion Brigade advance party to Arakan. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Burma, 1942-1943: role of advance party; visit to Maungdaw and lecture from Military Police about stealing; opinion of expedition to Arakan; terrain and position of Japanese; advance toward hills; attack from Japanese; opinion of reasons for failure. REEL 7 Continues: contraction of malaria; period being carried along with battalion while ill; evacuation to Dakar; description of hospital; discipline; story of sentry killing a snake; staff in hospital; treatment received; symptoms of malaria; time in camp at Maungdaw; return to battalion; physical condition and duties; withdrawal of battalion; movement of withdrawal; claims about bad ammunition being used; problems with wireless batteries; other problems with items made in India; embarkation on coastal steamer; description of monsoon during voyage. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 1943-1944: arrival in Chittagong camp; accommodation; frogs in camp; state of battalion and talk from colonel about defeat; rank and problems gaining promotion; return to Ahmednagar; reinforcements; arrival of Colonel Brown; set of equipment designed for jungle fighting; problems with 48 set in jungle; problems with malaria in battalion; orders for troops who had had two bouts of malaria; details of second malaria attack; sick parade and problems reporting sick with malaria. REEL 8 Continues: description of Mahabaleshwar; treatment for malaria; swimming in reservoir; snakes; memories of medical officer; description of steamers used in landing training at Bombay; story of river landing; story of forced march in exercise forming a bridgehead; landing training; loss of sea transport for D-Day; story of platoon involved in a coastal raid; Christmas in army; concern would not return home if lost; morale following Arakan campaign; reception from Indian National Army POWs in Chittagong; opinion of Indian troops and civilians; policing of riots; story of sailor keen to attack a civilian; preparations for visit of Lord Mountbatten; talk from and opinion of Lord Mountbatten; story of visit from Wavell at Imphal; opinion of visits form high ranking officers; journey to Belgaum for jungle training. REEL 9 Continues: jungle terrain; exercises in jungle; wildlife in jungle; role with rifle company; mail; formation of battalion; description of dug-outs built; problems with wildlife during schemes; involvement with section patrols; pipe made and smoked; Stand To; noise at night in jungle; more on section patrols; memories of a Ghurkha major; return to Ahmednagar; news of Japanese invasion; issue of kit; train journey to Calcutta; rifle drill on station platform; rail journey to Manipur including fruit given by American troops; later story of American Military Police clearing a train for him. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 1944: arrival in Manipur; night in copse of carved phalluses; start of march to Kohima; terrain; Japanese positions; knowledge of situation; camps at Milestones 25 and 34; telephone line laid; formation of movement along road; new weapons in battalion; revolver issued and reason for not using it; tanks in area. REEL 10 Continues: arrival at Kohima; state of withdrawing Assam Rifles; knowledge of Japanese positions; scenes on arrival in positions; story of getting lost while fetching bedding; date of arrival; formation of battalion; description of terrain at Kohima; posting in D Company and area around company; proximity to Japanese positions; items in signal dugout; story of sniper hitting his mess tin; description of trenches; make-up of telephone exchange; freedom of movement; artillery fire landing in area; story of first Japanese attack; noise made by Japanese troops; posting on Garrison Hill; opinion of Japanese troops; length of and scenes during attack; activities during attack; quiet the following morning and first message received; orders to leave position and scenes on Garrison Hill; posting in Battalion Headquarters; Japanese attack on Hideki Tojo's birthday; memories of Captain "Tanky" Waterhouse; overrunning of C Company; end of attacks at first light; scenes in area; story of losing rifle on battle patrol under Captain Greenwell; make-up and role of battle patrols; supply of rations; story of hot stew; story of being fired on when left dugout; latrines; water ration; washing with tea; opinion of time at Kohima; work of padre and medical officer; Japanese positions; signals work; description of Japanese spring grenade and battalion gun. REEL 11 Continues: reactions of troops and self during attacks; runners at Kohima; orders to speak Geordie on radio; Japanese calling out in English; repairing of telephone lines; communications; rumour of Japanese treatment of a captured officer; discussion on not taking POWs; worst attacks at Kohima; sniper activity during day; later use of machine gun snipers; opinion of American medical staff; burial of casualties; officer casualties including story of reinforcement officer killed shortly after arrival; memories of Captain "Tank" Waterhouse; medals won at Kohima; length of time on garrison Hill; thoughts that would not leave; reason for wanting to leave; comradeship; weakening of Japanese attacks; activities of Royal Berkshire Regiment; news of proposed battalion attack; move off hill and boarding of carriers; story of troops shot when he tried to retrieve aerial rods from abandoned radio; cover taken from machine gun fire and problems with Everest pack; rejoining of Headquarters; lift gained from tank; casualties and reaction to events; death of colonel; visit to Bath Unit; posting to Dimapur; reinforcements; arrest of West African troops. REEL 12 Continues: reserve position taken in Naga village; impressions of and relationship with Naga people including radio position in village and alcohol available; Japanese treatment of the Naga; reinforcements; journey to and location of Imphal including description of village en route; description of trucks travelled in; situation in Imphal; arrival in rear Japanese lines; Japanese withdrawal; killing of wounded Japanese troops; approach of tanks from Imphal and state of tank crews; story of patrol attended including maps available; movement up Aradura Spur; fire from own guns and snipers; story of standing patrol sent out to reconnoitre bridge and run from Japanese troops; terrain in area; rum drunk on return; fate of one soldier from platoon; opinion of Japanese. REEL 13 Continues: story of brigade message requesting whereabouts of POWs; description of Japanese POWs seen; story of Japanese suicide bomb attack on a tank; story of retrieving a drum cable left by a cable party; description of booby trap laid by British; description of Japanese dugout at side of a road and their destruction; improvement in weather; rest at Milestone 86; accommodation; swimming pool made; story of ducks killed in pool; morale; story of hornet attack; details of area around Milestone 86; message received from general Slim; posting in Guard of Honour for issue of medals; journey to location of medal awards; reason for pulling out of guard; other units at Milestone 86; return to bull and rivalry between units; leave in Bombay including mail. Aspects of hospitalisation in India, 1944-1945: story of collapsing in pay queue and stay in hospital; night in cell in Secunderabad; convalescence working with animals; visits into Secunderabad; interview with committee; other patients in hospital. REEL 14 Continues: length of time in hospital; jobs in hospital; convalescence in Deolali; exam for entry into East India Command Headquarters. Aspects of period as NCO with East India Command Headquarters in India, 1945: duties at Headquarters in Calcutta; temporary services with Royal Army Service Corps and Indian Army Corps of Clerks; memories of Major White and young female clerk; relationship with Indian troops; memories of typewriting teacher; stories of bugs; impressions of Calcutta; details of a festival; opinion of Calcutta; accommodation; memories of bearer; story of spider in bedroom; duties; memories of commanding officer; opinion of Indian and Ghurkha troops; relationship with civilians; news from battalion; organisation of sergeants mess; memories of sergeant in charge of mess; VJ Day celebrations; reactions at end of war; news of return to GB. REEL 15 Continues: magic displays seen in India; description of Handley Page Halifax; opinion of Douglas Dakota and flight to west India; transfer to Halifax; problems on initial flight; relationship with aircrew; geese in Red Sea; week in Jerusalem; description of and stop at Castel Benito; flight to GB. Aspects of period as NCO in GB, 1945-1946: reception on arrival; stop in London; posting at Beeston Castle; details of time in camp; duties on Chester bus; Christmas leave 1945; bout of malaria; journey home and reception on arrival; pride of father; process of demobilisation in York; items kept from service. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: difficulties settling into civilian life; final medical in India; demobilisation leave and pay; length of time taken to settle; civilian work; favourite elements of army service.