Tremain, Bert (Oral history)

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Accepted Non-commercial Use

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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
2134414094
Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Description

Object description

British private trained with Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Fort Stamford, Plymouth in GB, 1/1940-3/1940; NCO served with 4th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in GB, 1940-1944; served with 5th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in North West Europe, 1944-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Launceston, GB, 1917-1939: family; employment; physical activities; air raid warning, 3/9/1939; expectation of war. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Fort Stamford, Plymouth in GB, 1/1940-3/1940: call-up for military service, 1939; reception; accommodation; origins of recruits; an exchange with sergeant-major; Tremain's later conduct as sergeant-major; issue of rifle; reveille and morning run; ablutions and breakfast; opinion of rations; weapon training and judging distance; opinion of Lee Enfield Rifle and Bren Gun; drill on slope; route marches and effect of army socks; battle order; move to Glenholt Camp after three month basic training; instructors. REEL 2 Continues: formation of 4th and 5th Bns Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; selection process for infantry. Recollections of period as private and NCO with 4th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in GB, 1940-1944: shooting; adjustment to military discipline; off duty activities; 'stick man' on guard duty; training with Carrier Platoon at Roborough; strength of platoon; promotion to corporal; fatal accident on battle course; learning to drive Universal Carrier; braking system on Universal Carrier; speeds of and tactical training on Universal Carrier; improvised repair to petrol pump; replacement of Universal Carrier's tracks; checks. REEL 3 Continues: miles to gallon, fuel capacity and crew; organisation into sections and platoons; supporting role for infantry; opinion of Boys Anti-Tank Rifle; formation used in attack; proposed duties against invasion; sight of wounded returning from Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; move to Selby; winter conditions, winter 1940-1941; acquisition of chicken; relations with civilians; training; move to Northern Ireland; accommodation; relations with civilians; out of bounds areas in Belfast; home leave; rations in Northern Ireland including popularity of porter; entertainment. REEL 4 Continues: return to GB; organisation of camp for Canadians prior to D-Day. Recollections of operations as NCO with 5th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 214th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: voyage from GB to Normandy in landing craft; on draft as battle casualty replacement; debris on beach; move inland; sight of Carpiquet Airfield under bombardment; terrain; use of 'scrapes'; joining Carrier Platoon in battalion at Hill 112; a near miss from German shell; drinking local cider; opinion of his carrier section; taking up positions on Hill 112; use of slit trench in hedge; under German artillery and multi-barrelled mortar fire; opinion of Company Quatermaster Master Sergeant; use of artificial moonlight; advance to Mont Pinçon; rescue of 7th Bn Somerset Light Infantry wounded at Mont Pinçon. REEL 5 Continues: movement mainly by road; degree of support for infantry; German defensive positions; dealing with snipers; use of flamethrowers to deal with snipers; treatment of prisoners of war; advance over Mont Pinçon; scouting and picketing field and discovery of German dugout; story of narrow escape by battalion intelligence NCO; advance for attack on Jurques Ridge; incident of RAF Hawker Typhoons attacking short; traffic jam at Vernon on River Seine. Recollections of operations as NCO with 5th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 214th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 1944-1945: crossing pontoon bridge on River Seine; action at Pressagny-l'Orgueilleux, France. REEL 6 Continues: French civilian child shot by Germans for warning of their positions at Pressagny-l'Orgueilleux, France; French treatment of collaborators; treatment of wounded French Resistance member at Pressagny-l'Orgueilleux, France; award of medal for action at Panilleuse, France; fortnight stay at Panilleuse, France; story of visit to Paris, France; opinion of commanding officer; method of conveying orders; battalion 'O' groups; general maintenance in field; advance into Belgium; reception on arrival in Eindhoven, Netherlands; crossing River Nederrijn at Nijmegen, Netherlands; discovery of radio set in Dutch house; long delay prior to Operation Market Garden. REEL 7 Continues: rapid advance to Driel, Netherlands; encounter with German tanks; character of night move; German tanks knocked out by Projector Infantry Anti-Tank (PIAT) and grenades; failure of DUKWs to enter river; deployment of Universal Carriers on bank of River Nederrijn, Netherlands; firing in direction of Arnhem, Netherlands; move to village and relief by Americans; move to Nijmegen, Netherlands and recall to retake village; impressions of Americans; in reserve in mining area at Brunssum, Netherlands; maintenance of carriers; relations with Dutch family in Brunssum, Netherlands. REEL 8 Continues: attack on German ammunition train south of Driel, Netherlands; weather conditions; German use of airbursts in Reichswald Forest, Germany; advance through Reichswald Forest, Germany; issue of Weasel Amphibious vehicles; orders to join C Company as company sergeant-major; company headquarters in potato cellar in barn; shelling of company headquarters by Allied tanks; driving ammunition carrier away and reaction to isolated position after shelling of barn; duties of company sergeant-major; settling into C Company; memories of Major Kitchen; crossing River Rhine, Germany; impressions of Germany. REEL 9 Continues: Dutch civilian's attitude towards German and British troops; acquiring German vehicle in Bremen, Germany; discovery of Model T Ford; informality in company; VE Day in Germany, 8/5/1945; clash with officer over purloined bottle of whiskey; occupation duties at Lüneburg, Germany; contracting jaundice and hospitalisation; occupation duties in village on River Elbe, Germany; drowning of unit member in River Elbe; policy to avoid clashes with Soviet forces. Aspects of demobilisation and return to civilian life, 1945: demobilisation suit. REEL 10 Continues: demobilisation leave; visit to old employer in Ealing; membership of Royal British Legion; qualities of good soldiers and officers; characteristics of Cornish soldiers; importance of Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Regimental Museum at Bodmin.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production Company)
de Lee, Nigel (Recorder)
Tremain, Bert (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1997
Dimensions: whole: Duration 290, Number Of Items 10
Catalogue number: 17356

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Tremain, Bert (Oral history)

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