Henderson, Ronald (Oral history)

British private served with No 19 Primary Training Centre, General Service Corps at Carlisle, GB, 10/1942-11/1942; trooper served with 61st Training Regt, Royal Armoured Corps at Barnard Castle, GB, 11/1942-5/1943; served with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 27th Armoured Bde, 79th Armoured Div in GB and Normandy, France, 5/1943-6/1943; served with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 8th Armoured Bde in North West Europe, 7/1944-3/1945; served with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) in Germany, 4/1945-4/1947

REEL 1 Background in Barnard Castle, GB, 1924-1941: family; childhood in Barnard Castle; leisure activities; attendance at Sunday School and Church Lads' Brigade; education; attempt to join Royal Air Force; contact with mother; further details of education; employment and pay; employment constructing building army camps in Barnard Castle area. Recollections of period as member of 17th (Barnard Castle) County of Durham Home Guard in Barnard Castle, GB, 1941-1942: joining of Home Guard; uniform and weapons issued; duties; joining National Fire Service; details of Home Guard unit. REEL 2 Continues: composition of unit; firing on Deepdale Ranges; background of Home Guard volunteers; training received; description of uniform and turnout; relations among Home Guard volunteers; opinion of Ross Rifle; further details of uniform worn; pace of drill; opinion of chances of Home Guard against German opposition; drill nights and duties; attending schemes with British Army; route marches; civilian work with National Fire Service. Recollections of enlistment and training with as private with No 19 Primary Training Centre, General Service Corps at Carlisle, GB, 10/1942-11/1942: enlistment in British Army, 10/1942; journey to and arrival in Carlisle; homesickness; reception on arrival; rivalry among different recruit huts; opinion of comrades; description of camp; passing out parade; inoculations; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; replacement of lost kit; issue of uniform; heating and cleaning of stove; physical training; cleaning accommodation. REEL 3 Continues: uniform and equipment issued; pay; relations with civilians; issue, cleaning and inspection of rifle; hat and cap badge worn; kit inspections; medicals; denims worn; troops visiting psychiatrist; memories of fellow recruits in hutted accommodation; memories of Sergeant Payne; contact with officers including church parades; morning procedures including clothing worn in bed; meals; daily routine; drill; rifle training and route marches; bayonet training; gas precautions; grenade training; training with Boys Anti-Tank Rifle; evening and leisure activities; military attitude to gambling; opinion of treatment received from British Army; passing out parade; posting to Royal Armoured Corps at end of training; reception on arrival and standard of turnout; details of NCO instructors; tactical training; attitude toward future possibility of action. REEL 4 Continues: description of aptitude and physical tests; sending civilian clothes home; opinion of treatment at Carlisle; news of posting to Barnard Castle. Recollection of period as trooper with 61st Training Regt, Royal Armoured Corps at Barnard Castle in GB, 11/1942- 5/1943: arrival at Barnard Castle; period of time prior to being allowed out of Streatlam Camp; cleaning of kit; details of training and discipline; presence of band in camp; Saturday parades; changes to uniform; lessons on tank engine; keenness to gain skills and increases in pay; description of accommodation; 'bumping' the floor; Saturday inspections; opinion of comrades; discipline; opinion of instructors; drill; posting at end of course; learning history of tanks; map training; potential officers in camp; gunnery training; daily routine and organisation of courses; wireless training with No 19 Wireless Set; training received on aircraft recognition; pay parades; leisure activities including details of Red Shield Club. REEL 5 Continues: memories of NCOs; contact with officers; punishment received; berets worn including methods of shrinking and wearing them; relations with other units at Barnard Castle; guard duties at Carlisle and Barnard Castle; preparations for guard duty including selection of stickman; details of guard duties; fire piquets; leave in London; parts of Barnard Castle camps still in existence; learning Morse Code at Stainton Camp; training in semaphore and sending Morse Code using light; maintenance of wireless sets; details of wireless sets in tanks; efficiency of No 19 Wireless Set; location of wireless set in tank; details of squadron commander's tank; communications between tanks. REEL 6 Continues: communications with infantry; application for sleeping out pass and changes to service; driving training; composition of Covenanter Tank crew; driving Covenanter Tank; driving around Barnard Castle area; details of haversack rations; preference for driving; description of Covenanter and Valentine Tanks; maintenance of tanks; tank hatches; rotation of turret; gunnery training including expectation of posting in desert and loading of gun; details of driver's duties; details of British tanks including armour and weapons; composition of a squadron; organisation of unit at Stainton Camp; need for driving licence. REEL 7 Continues: degree of knowledge of German tanks; morale; duties and fatigues; contact with chief instructor; passing put and waiting for posting. Aspects of period as trooper with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 27th Armoured Bde, 79th Armoured Div in GB, 5/1943-6/1944: posting to unit at Skipton; reception on arrival; reaction to arrival; wartime history of unit; background of fellow troopers; reaction to and details of discipline in unit; memories of Provost Sergeant Gilhooley and Regiment Sergeant-Major 'Duffy' Hind; inspections prior to leaving camp; avoiding physical training; standard of turnout; troopers' cleaning kit for money; cavalry orders; presence of horses in unit; composition of regiment; structure of reconnaissance troop; regimental fitters; reliability and maintenance of M4 Sherman Tank. REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of period as trooper with 61st Training Regt, Royal Armoured Corps at Barnard Castle in GB, 11/1942-5/1943: uniform and weapons training including rifle tests; Christmas 25/12/1942; other tests undertaken; visits to Grandmother's house at Barnard Castle; relations with civilians in Barnard Castle; handover of Covenanter tanks to 2nd Bn Irish Guards. Recollections of period as trooper with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 27th Armoured Bde, 79th Armoured Div in GB, 5/1943-6/1944: description of M4 Sherman Tank interior including location of crew members; difficulties with fatigue including methods of keeping awake; storage of ammunition; starting and details of tank's engine; noise inside tank; weapons range; dispersal of shell cases in action and in GB; latrines and washing facilities; spare parts carried in tank; camouflage of tank; description of hull-down situation; sleeping arrangements; movement of squadron; markings on tank. REEL 9 Continues: details of different shells and machine gun ammunition; opinion and details of M4 Sherman Tank armour; repair of tracks; Light Aid Detachment and regiment fitters; personnel transferred to 246th Forward Delivery Squadron and their work abroad; medical staff including health problems in North West Europe; replenishment of tank stores; use of compo rations; currency issued for North West Europe; drinks and sweets in tank; brewing tea; water ration; speed of M4 Sherman Tank; badges and flashes worn by 13th/18th Hussars (Queen Mary's Own); length of time at Skipton, accommodation; posting to Wickham Market; accommodation; reinforcements; gunnery training; waterproofing of vehicles; squadron, troop and tank postings; numbering and recognition tags on tank; organisation of troop; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Moulton Barrett. REEL 10 Continues: memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Harrop; exercises with infantry; importance of working with infantry; details of unit role and schemes including relationship with infantry; details of soft skinned vehicles; arrival of M4 Sherman Tanks; story of demonstration for senior officers; reasons unit would use M4 Sherman Duplex Drive Tanks on D-Day; invasion training after posting in Gosport; relations with French Canadian and American personnel; leisure activities; accommodation and sleeping arrangements at Wickham Market; guard and piquet duties; visiting Wickham Market; relations with civilians; visits from senior officers; inspection from King George VI; impressions of General Bernard Montgomery in GB and later in North West Europe. REEL 11 Continues: opinion of training received; testing of waterproofing; background of troops; spread of regiment; leave; move to Fort George; training with Valentine Duplex Drive Tank including story of accident; description and use of Duplex Drive tanks; initial reaction to Duplex Drive tanks; success of Duplex Drive tanks; move to Petworth; accommodation; move to Gosport and splitting of regiment; accommodation; marriage of two troopers; activities during period in sealed camp; mail; expectation of casualties; casualties suffered on D-Day; medals won D-Day; further details of invasion training; discipline; morale and humour amongst troops; knowledge of task and successes on D-Day; opinion of organisation; role of regiment. REEL 12 Continues: Aspects of voyage across English Channel from Southampton, GB to Sword Beach, Normandy, France, 5/6/1944-6/6/1944: move to Southampton Docks; loading of Landing Craft Tanks (LCTs); send-off from civilians and honorary colonel; story of trooper left behind; morale and how it changed after first casualty lists arrived; expectations for survival; seasickness during invasion delay; disembarkation; thoughts upon leaving GB for active service; uniform worn and weapon carried in tank; rations and seasickness; contact with officers during voyage; details of troop and it's role; memories of Lieutenant Edwards and Lieutenant McMichael; troop commanders; composition of tank crew; memories of the Earl of Faversham; reflections on unit officers; length of voyage to France; sound of naval bombardment; launch of M4 Sherman Duplex Drive Tanks and their swimming ashore. Aspects of operations as trooper with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 27th Armoured Bde, 79th Armoured Div on Sword Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: landing on Sword Beach; story of tank that had to be abandoned. REEL 13 Continues: dropping of tank's skirts; initial scenes on beach; arrival of No 4 Commando; beach obstacles; tanks lost; movement up and off beach including opposition faced; activity within tank; reaction to sight of burning tanks; story of Sergeant Tommy Buck's lost tanks; communications; activity in Hermanville-sur-Mer; details of later service in Falaise Gap; sentry duty, night, 6/6/1944 including reaction to sight of casualty list and first taste of Calvados. Recollections of operations as trooper with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 27th Armoured Bde, 79th Armoured Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-7/1944: description of night-time laagers; exhaustion and sleep; maintenance of tanks; issue of orders; story of a fearless officer; problems faced in attempts to take Caen; naval gunfire support; learning to recognise noise from shells; blankets; weather; work holding gap in line; opposition faced. REEL 14 Continues: evacuation of wounded and prisoners of war; codenames for villages; attack on Hillman Strongpoint; interview with commanding officer; impressions of Normandy; contact with civilians; activities of troop; deployment of regiment; turnover of tanks; location of spare crews; action against German tanks; opinion of German troops and tanks; terrain; infantry regiments worked with. Recollections of operations as trooper with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 8th Armoured Bde in Normandy, France, 7/1944-8/1944: change of brigade to 8th Armoured Bde; change of badge; relations with Canadian Army troops; currency issued; activities during rest periods and in reserve at Lion-sur-Mer; premonition of a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer sergeant; looking out for danger; religion among British and German troops; thoughts when in action; story of near miss from German 88mm Gun shell. REEL 15 Continues: problems faced in Bocage country and effect on morale; booby traps; French civilians; later welcome from civilians in Belgium; fortifications seen in France; relations with infantry personnel; description of artillery fire and shelter taken; instances of unit personnel narrowly escaping death; reaction to casualty lists; belief that would not survive and reaction when did; story of driver who had psychological break down; sleep and physical state; use of baths and concert party at Aunay-sur-Odon; burial of causalities; work with forward delivery squadron on replacement tanks including removal of bodies from tanks; story of shell exploding in a tank; M4 Sherman Tank escape hatches; German nickname for M4 Sherman Tank; unit humour; rum ration. REEL 16 Continues: standard of turnout and methods of washing self and uniform; water supply; story of Free From Infection inspection; haircut received on voyage from Southampton, GB to Normandy; face infection and hospitalisation; break up of 27th Armoured Bde and composition of 8th Armoured Bde; German opposition faced; attitude to service and towards Germans; German treatment of prisoners of war; formation in action; details of fighting; description of action at Mont Pinçon including use of smoke and terrain; opinion of infantry units worked with; further details of serving with B Sqdn at Mont Pinçon; battle honours received; problem with German snipers; work of tank commander and drivers; attack on Le Plessis-Grimoult; contact with Durham Light Infantry including story of Tommy Buck at Bréville-les-Monts; bombardment of Falaise Gap. REEL 17 Continues: sight of damage from bombardment; looting and story of corned beef; driving over dead bodies; presence of French children in Falaise Gap; British Army attitude to looting; advance to and crossing of River Seine at Vernon. Recollections of operations as trooper with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own), 8th Armoured Bde in North West Europe, 9/1944-3/1945: casualties during advance northwards; speed of advance; reception from civilians; contact with French Resistance; treatment of women who had fraternised with Germans; journey through First World War battlefields; relations with civilians in Amiens, France; reception on arrival in Brussels, Belgium; accommodation in Louvain, Belgium; reliability of tanks; rest period including story of surrounding German infantry position; mail; cigarette ration; attack by Waffen-SS on Albert Canal, Belgium; crossing of canal; details and opinion of Operation Market Garden. REEL 18 Continues: advance toward Arnhem, Netherlands including contact with American paratroopers; air activity; opposition faced during advance to Arnhem, Netherlands; opinion of Dutch civilians; reaction to situation; conditions for and relations with civilians; hospitalisation with face infection; accommodation; story of air raid in Nijmegen, Netherlands; rapid move to Ardennes, Belgium, 12/1944; role during Ardennes Offensive; accommodation; move into action at Geilenkirchen, Germany. REEL 19 Continues: air support; methods of attacking well defended positions including example of attack on Hillman Strongpoint in Normandy; problems with German 88mm Guns; friendly fire incidents from Allied aircraft; Allied bombing of settlements; artillery support; opinion of Royal Air Force and Royal Navy; terrain in Ardennes, Belgium; overcrowding in Nijmegen, Netherlands; role on border of Netherlands/Germany; conditions in Ardennes, Belgium including problems with replacement tanks; sleeping arrangements; Christmas 25/12/1944; activities in Brunssum, Netherlands; mail; details of different accommodations with civilians; washing facilities; positions on border of Netherlands/Germany; guard duties; leave in Brussels, Belgium. REEL 20 Continues: changes among Belgian civilians; Christmas period 12/1944; camouflage used in Ardennes, Belgium; clothing worn; action in Ardennes, Belgium; morale; story of losing temper; Christmas Day meal, 25/12/1944; story of American deserters; problems getting sleep; rations; relations with officers; German Air Force raid on New Year's Day 1/1/1945; story of being placed on charge for urinating in quartermaster's stores; punishment; trailers attached to tanks; ration and ammunition supplies; opinion of Royal Army Service Corps; story of West Indian reinforcement; concert in Nijmegen, Netherlands; journey to and wait on start line for advance into Germany; description of artillery barrage; terrain in Reichwald Forest, Germany, 2/1945; problems with mines; opposition faced; conditions underfoot; reactions to situation; booby traps; casualties. REEL 21 Continues: further details of mines and booby traps; opinion of German opposition; story of near miss from tank shell; artillery shelling and reaction to it; opinion of infantry; German opposition faced and prisoners of war taken; nature of advance including state of towns and flooding; period in Goch, Germany; German artillery shelling of accommodation and escape. Aspects of hospitalisation in Belgium and GB, 3/1945-4/1945: treatment for burns at Regimental Aid Post; evacuation to Bruges, Belguim via stops in Nijmegen and 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands; hospitalisation in No 110 British General Hospital in Bruges; discipline in hospital; opinion of treatment; uniform worn; visits out of hospital; visits from chaplain; return home on leave; exercises during convalescence; story of journey home for casualty leave. REEL 22 Continues: reaction to return journey to unit; period in transit Netherlands prior to return to unit. Recollections of period as trooper with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) in Germany, 4/1945-4/1947: posting in Bremen; events during absence; activities in Bremen; relations with civilians; move to Hanover; painting of tanks; visit to pub; relations with civilians and accommodation; guard duties; German girlfriend and black market; sports; state of Hanover; troops' relations with German children; weather; exchange of tanks for armoured cars. REEL 23 Continues: ceasefire and reactions to end of Second World War; story of white crosses; request for volunteers to work at former Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp; description of camp and smell; visits of civilians to camp; details of work in camp and inmates including protection against disease; reaction to experience; conditions in Hanover; treatment of suspected Nazis; contact with German prisoners of war; guard duties; problems with Displaced Persons; opening of opera house; sports; civilians working for military; armoured car patrols; driving duties including contact with General Brian Horrocks and Kay Kendall. REEL 24 Continues: leisure activities; loss of duties to local police; deployment of regiment and posting to Harz Mountains; accommodation in Winnenberg; patrol duties on border with Soviet Zone of Occupation; Christmas 25/12/1945; leave; accommodation in Immendorf; visits from Winnenberg girlfriend; posting to Berlin and duties; leisure activities; state of Berlin; accommodation; girlfriend in Berlin; duties; story of vehicle breaking down in Soviet Zone of Occupation; dangers of being caught in Soviet Zone of Occupation; visit to Joseph Goebbels former bungalow; civilian workers in barracks; involvement with black market; activities with shooting team. REEL 25 Continues: leisure activities; visit from senior officer; story of attempt to avoid leave; memories of Tommy Dobson; service with firing squad; story of later visit to Durham Prison; posting in Wolfenbüttel Barracks; activities; demobilisation number; final interview; regret at refusal of service extension; process of demobilisation including civilian clothing issued. Aspects of return to civilian life and employment in GB, 1947: initial employment; problems settling into civilian life; nightmares; training given by regiment for return to work; contact with old comrades; memories of Sergeant Tommy Buck; memories of officers; prior recollection of evacuating tank during artillery fire; opinion of worst period during war; rum ration.