Interview with Henry McArdle

British private served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in GB and North Africa, 1/1942-2/1943; prisoner of war in Campo PG 53, Sforzacosta, Italy, Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg and Arbeitskommando L25, Lauchammer, Germany, 3/1943-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Blackhill, GB, 1919-1941: family; education; recreational activities; involvement with church; civilian employment; recreational activities as teenager; story of wrecking brother's bicycle; move into new house and father's garden; effects of General Strike, 5/1926; membership of the Gloops Club; membership of 4th (Consett) Bn County Durham Home Guard, including unit officers, drilling with brooms, shooting practice. REEL 2 Continues: membership of 4th (Consett) Bn County Durham Home Guard, including uniform issued, mother's involvement with unit, instructors, drill, Bren Gun demonstration, rifle training, fire watching duties, attitude of civilians towards home guard, size of battalion, erection of tank traps and guard duties; presence of military forces in Consett area and relations with Irish troops; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; brothers war work; nature of German Air Force raids; civilian attitude towards war; reaction to Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; rationing; black market and internment of local Italian civilians. Aspects of enlistment in British Army in GB 1/1942: medical at Durham; call-up to Shorncliffe Camp; request to join Royal Air Force. Recollections of period as private with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in GB, 1/1942-12/1942: reaction and parents' reaction to call-up; reception on arrival at Shorncliffe Camp; first meal; sleeping arrangements; uniform issued; inoculations; accommodation; storage of equipment; presence of NCOs in hutted accommodation; cleaning of bed space; washing facilities; latrines; attitude to military life; further details of inoculations. REEL 3 Continues: drill and route marches; issue of rifle and bayonet; rifle drill; foot inspections; bayonet practice; drilling by numbers; physical training; cleaning of boots; story of being placed on charge for not cleaning boots properly; method of keeping crease in trousers; cleaning of buttons and badges; kit inspections; cleaning of rifle; death of NCO; obstacle courses; replacement of lost items; horseplay among troops; visits to Folkestone; relations with civilians; posting in C Coy; field training; German Air Force raids; settling into military life; mail; posting in Winchelsea; relations with civilians and Salvation Army; incident of mortar bomb fired over church; gas training; recreational activities; breakfast and display of timetable; accommodation; weapons training; exercises; guard duties; aerial activity; beach patrols; visits to Dover; wearing of forage cap; beach defences; opinion of training; leave; reaction to overseas posting abroad; send-off on return to battalion. REEL 4 Continues: preparation for embarkation; memories of officers and NCOs; opinion of battalion. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Algiers, French Algeria, 12/1942-1/1943: reaction on embarkation; sleeping arrangements; convoy; seasickness; supply of meals; recreational activities; rations; briefing on destination and opposition; enjoyment of journey; life jackets; opinion of hammocks; discipline. Aspects of operations as private with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in North Africa, 1/1943-2/1943: reception on arrival in Algiers, French Algiers; move into transit camp; impressions of Algiers, French Algeria; issue of 'Tommy Cookers'; British and American rations; preparations for front line service; journey to Green Hill, Tunisia; description of positions and slit trenches dug; weather; rum ration; guard duties and patrols; opinion of battalion's role; reaction to artillery fire; supply of rations; latrines; freedom of movement during day; aerial activity; advance for attack; exchange of fire with German forces; details of surrender; C Coy casualties; discussion of attack; reaction of troops to start of action at Green Hill, Tunisia; reaction and sounds of battle; reaction to shooting of troops with rifles; nature of advance, action and surrender; questions over advance. REEL 5 Continues: weapon carried into attack. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Tunisia, 2/1943-3/1943: march to German lines carrying ammunition; reaction to capture; march to railway yard; rations; march to Bizerte; stops on journey; attitude of German guards; handover to Italian Army; accommodation and rations; embarkation and conditions on board ship; bartering for food; opinion of treatment; arrival in and march through Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Campo PG 53, Sforzacosta, Italy, 3/1943-9/1943: delousing; work on hills; treatment received from Italian Army guards; journey to Campo PG 53, Sforzacosta; improvements in situation; description of camp; sleeping arrangements; entertainments; mail; informing family of situation; rations; parcels received; defences around camp; weather; collection of labels and poems; sporting activities; opinion of Italian Army guards; medical facilities; camp discipline; camp defences; shortening of trousers; problems with lice; roll calls; aid received from veteran prisoners of war; items made from Red Cross parcels; camp band; reaction to Italian capitulation, 9/1943; conditions on train journey to Germany. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg and Arbeitskommando L25, Lauchammer, Germany, 9/1943- 5/1945: arrival at Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg; delousing; markings on clothes; weather; reunion with cousin; homesickness; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; allocation to working party at Arbeitskommando L25, Lauchammer; accommodation; latrines; training and work as turner; working week; rations; story of Red Cross parcels issued as punishment; incident of prisoner of war beaten to death; German Army guards and camp commandant; relations with German Army guards; march to work; German captors treatment of Soviet prisoners of war; memories of German camp supervisor; football competition; aerial activity; attempted escapes; wire and sentry boxes around camp; reaction to increased Allied air activity. REEL 6 Continues: discipline; stealing among prisoners of war; memories of Ray Smith; punishment; mail; free time in camp; searches of accommodation; heating; further details of work; Red Cross investigation; German civilian colleagues; bartering; loss of weight; medical checks; visit to hospital; visits received from Red Cross; pay; punishments administered by German captors; clothing sent by military and mother; war news received from German captors; arguments among prisoners of war. Aspects of liberation and return from Germany to GB, 4/1945-5/1945: approach and arrival of Soviet Army; march away from camp with Soviet Army; sight of Germans hanged from trees; time spent in Mühlberg and issue of rations; arrival of Red Cross; march to Riesa with United States Army; treatment received from United States Army; accommodation; looting of shops; end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945; wait for flight to GB; march along decorated roads; wait for United States Army trucks in rain; character o truck drivers; drive to Halle; division into groups; accommodation; rations; activities in Halle; airsickness during flight to Brussels, Belgium; time spent in Brussels, Belgium, including debriefing; flight from Belgium to GB and posting to Worthing. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 1945-1947: medical and hospitalisation; walks in grounds; routine and discipline; journey to Midhurst. REEL 7 Continues: tests and move to sanatorium at Woolwich and District War Memorial Hospital, Shooters Hill, London; character of Woolwich and District War Memorial Hospital, including activities and visits from civilians; visit received from parents; transfer to Wolsingham Sanatorium; treatment and operation; length of stay; visits into Wolsingham; clothing; relations with civilians; visits to tuberculosis clinic; demobilisation. Post-war life and employment: pension received until starting work; fight with Royal British Legion for pension; settling into civilian life; civilian work; contact with 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry Regimental Association; opinion of military service.