Harrison, Frank (Oral history)

British private served with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1940; NCO served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, India and Burma, 1940-1945; NCO served in GB, 1946

REEL 1 Background in Ferryhill, GB, 1920-1940: family; education and money; work as apprentice bricklayer; leisure activities; attendance at chapel; discipline; details of pay; more on work as apprentice bricklayer; signs of approaching war; reactions of parents to war; attempts to join Navy and Royal Engineers including arrival of call-up papers; medical. Aspects of period as private with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 6/1940- 9/1940: arrival at Brancepeth Castle; reactions to Dunkirk; issue of uniform; posting in Esh Winning; accommodation; division into platoons; morale; sleeping arrangements; washing facilities; rations. REEL 2 Continues: reaction to posting in Durham Light Infantry; opinion of squad; opinion of NCOs and officers; recruits in squad; equipment and rifle issued; learning to march including pace; health of squad; dental work; reception from civilians; drilling in streets; learning of drill; reactions to possibility of posting abroad; knowledge of father's experiences in First World War; wearing and cleaning of equipment; wearing of puttees; learning to make bed; kit inspections; replacement of lost items; morning procedures; location of cookhouse; breakfast; opinion of cooks; timetable; rifle drill; learning by numbers; firing of course at Whitburn; opinion of Ross and Lee Enfield rifles; bayonet training; gas precaution training; route marches; foot inspections; leisure activities; relationship with civilians; parcels from home; weekend leaves; church parades; officers at Esh Winning; end of working day; evening activities; duties. REEL 3 Continues: gambling among recruits; army attitude toward gambling; cleaning of billets; punishments; nature and length of training at Esh Winning; posting to 2nd Battalion at Bridlington. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 9/1940-4/1942: state of battalion; promotion on arrival; posting in C Company; accommodation; coastal defence duties; defences on beaches; weapons in battalion; parades on beach with Regiment Sergeant Major Lackenby; sleeping arrangements; opinion of rations; cookhouse; cleaning of accommodation; route marches; return of troops to Brancepeth Castle and memories of Lieutenant Colonel Wiehe; relationship with regular troops; weapons training including opinions of Boys anti-tank rifle and Bren gun; opinion of Thompson sub-machine gun and Sten gun; learning about German army; gas precaution training; rifle and bayonet issued; memories of Captain Allen and Company Sergeant Major Brookes; opinion of training; fitness of battalion; details of schemes; story of an accident during a scheme and treatment received in hospital; ammunition used on schemes; training with supporting arms; posting in mortar platoon; firing of mortars; bombs used; range of 3" mortars; need for cover; dealing with misfires; ranging mortars. REEL 4 Continues: make-up of a mortar team; mortar drill; proficiency of team; pattern of training; details of course attended at Catterick and promotion to corporal on return; transport of mortar platoon and placement of mortars in carriers; reflections on time as lance corporal; details of pay; relationship with troops following promotions; officers and NCOs of mortar platoon; reinforcements; posting in Rillington; pattern of training; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; posting in Armoured Division at Bury St Edmunds; accommodation; relationship with civilians; return to Rillington; posting in Cheltenham; activities in Cheltenham; rumours of posting abroad; inspection from King George VI and Winston Churchill; departure of transport for Newport; departure from Cheltenham; train journey to Glasgow. Aspects of journey from Glasgow, GB, to Bombay, India, aboard the Empress of Canada, 4/1942-6/1942: boarding of ship; conditions onboard; loading of ship; reactions to posting abroad; details of convoy; route taken to Freetown; sleeping arrangements; guards and anti-aircraft guns onboard; duties during voyage; seasickness; rations; beer available in canteen; leisure activities; stop at Freetown; arrival in Cape Town; camp and training; rations; contact with Australian troops; continuation of voyage; knowledge of destination; coping with climate; army attitude to sunburn; voyage across Indian Ocean; arrival in Bombay; reactions to posting in India. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 6/1942-3/1943: train journey to Ahmednagar. REEL 5 Continues: first impressions of India; accommodation in Ahmednagar; cleaning of billets; terrain in area; reason for playing sports; visits to bazaar; canteen; civilian workers in camp; sergeants bunked with; precautions against malaria and salt tablets; problems with sores; climate; problems with flies and hawks; rations; organisation of sergeants mess; latrines; leisure activities; football; treatment of civilians; pattern of training; rank; make-up of and duties with mortar platoon; death of Sergeant Tommy Green; standard of turnout; church parades; religions in battalion; constant nature of work; details of pay; duties of orderly sergeant; mail and parcels; importance of mail; leave; jungle warfare training; learning about Japanese troops; posting in Poona; invasion training. REEL 6 Continues: changes in commanding officer and memories of Colonel Theobald; memories of mortar platoon officers; qualities looked for in an officer; return to Ahmednagar; posting north of Bombay; invasion and jungle training; death of Captain Lyster-Todd; story of final invasion practice; swimming training; train journey to Chittagong; stops on journey and sleeping arrangements; malaria among troops; treatment of malaria; death of Private Cheshire; malaria symptoms; leave in Bombay; VD in battalion; army attitude toward VD; leisure activities in Bombay; out of bounds areas in Bombay; other troops in Bombay; arrival in Chittagong; Christmas 1942; state of Chittagong; accommodation; posting in Maungdaw; jungle training; weapons carried; illnesses in jungle and precautions taken including water supply; inoculations; terrain around Maungdaw; cancellation of amphibious assault and advance into Arakan. REEL 7 Continues: work with mules; march to Donbaik and relief of Indian troops; positions dug; Japanese positions; scenes and smell; proximity to Japanese positions; setting up of mortars; wounding during Japanese mortar attack; evacuation to Regimental Aid Post. Aspects of hospitalisation in Burma and India, 1943: journey to Maungdaw; description of hospital; treatment received; journey to Dakar; further treatment and description of wounds; hospital staff; casualties in battalion; description of Dakar hospital; contraction of malaria; telegram sent home to mother; nurses in hospital; scenes and smells on ward; discipline; opinion of convalescence camp; accommodation; decision to leave camp; story of journey to Chittagong. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 1943-1944: interview with commanding officer; morale of battalion; reaction to situation; return to Ahmednagar; leave in Bangalore; spread of 2nd Division and posting in Belgaum; jungle training; preparations in Ahmednagar; reinforcements; arrival in Dimapur and knowledge of situation; opinion of Japanese troops; disappearance of Inniskillin troops in Arakan; details of Sten guns; relationship with American troops; supply of rations. REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India and Burma, 4/1944-3/1945: journey to Kohima; clearance of road; terrain; relief of Royal West Kent Regiment and briefing before arrival; state and opinion of relieved troops; location of mortars and rifle companies; observation post; activities of platoon; details and opinion of mortar positions; proximity to rifle companies; communications; location of battalion headquarters; commanding and platoon officers; positioning of slit trenches; supply of rations; air drops; sounds of battle; use of mortars during Japanese attacks; number of shells fired and effect on mortar barrel; bombs used; opinion of platoon's action bombs dropped amongst trees; items dropped from air; start of monsoons; rum ration; accuracy of air drops; more on items dropped from air; noise and light from mortars; opinion of Japanese artillery; firing mortars from reserve position; meeting with older brother; arrival of Major "Tank" Waterhouse; casualties in mortar platoon and division; booby traps; smell from battlefield; treatment of POWs; reactions on arrival at Kohima; troops he believes should have been decorated; soldier who cracked under strain; reactions to coming under shellfire; wish to see Divisional Memorial; opinion and description of Naga people; departure from Kohima. REEL 9 Continues: Japanese snipers and mortars; problems with ammunition; sniper fire aimed at mortars; medal awards made at Kohima and attitude of troops to awards; unit comedians; desires following action; conditions in trenches; death of disliked officer; religion; rest and advance to Imphal; booby traps; reaction to seeing dead bodies; anger towards Japanese; morale; relief of Imphal; retreat of Japanese; arrival of Lieutenant Rawlings; patrol on roads; stop in Imphal; activity on march to Mandalay including transport of mortars; pass through Kabaw Valley; mail; censorship of mail; activities of mortar platoon; arrival of tanks; movement south beyond Mandalay; method of getting carriers and troops across rivers; crossing of Chindwin; morale; story of wounded Japanese soldier; more on booby traps and usual Japanese treatment of own dead; move into central Burma; flight from Myingyan to Calcutta. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 3/1945-4/1945: accommodation and time in rest camp; impressions of Calcutta; leisure activities; resentment against officers; preparation for move to Rangoon. REEL 10 Continues: Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Burma, 1945: movement toward Myingyan; work observing for mortars; capture of railway station and train; flight to India. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 3/1945-4/1945: accommodation in Calcutta; story of a storm at Calcutta; boarding of ship with 29th Division; seasickness; conditions onboard. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Burma, 4/1945-12/1945: landing in Rangoon; scenes on march through city; reception from civilians; state of Rangoon; accommodation; use of patrols; arrival of mobile cinema; discovery of convent and supply of food to it including story of ex-Durham Light Infantry soldier in convent; training of reinforcements including death of father; volunteered to stay in Far East; contact with Japanese POWs; acclimatisation and background of reinforcements; relationship with civilians; troops leaving for Malaya; celebrations at end of war; duties. Aspects of journey from Rangoon, Burma, to Liverpool, GB, 12/1945: details of ship boarded and her crew; population of ship; items flying from mast; discipline; sleeping arrangements; contact with nurses on ship; stops at Colombo and Port Said; conditions on sea; leisure activities and discipline; voyage through Mediterranean; stop at Gibraltar; arrival in Liverpool. REEL 11 Continues: date of arrival at Liverpool. Aspects of period as NCO in GB, 1/1946-6/1946: uniform worn; train journey to Greatham; accommodation; parade and posting to Chelsea; reception on arrival home and leave; accommodation in Chelsea; duties at Knightsbridge in reception centre; rations; relationship with staff and POWs passing through; marriage; leisure activities; state of London; posting in Morpeth; duties with cadets; leisure activities; accommodation; Victory Parade in Newcastle; process of demobilisation in York; medical; gratuity; leave and start of work; tax refund received; items bought from money. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: work as bricklayer; problems settling into civilian life; comradeship in army; membership of old comrades associations; disgruntlement at being the Forgotten Army; opinion of Mountbatten and General Slim.