Russell, Jack (Oral history)

British NCO served with 11th Bn, Gloucestershire Regt in GB, 1940-1942; served with 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB and India, 1942-1944; served with 2nd Bn, Royal Norfolk Regt in India and Burma, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in West Norwood, London, 1918-1939: father's work as lorry driver; mother's consignment to mental asylum, ca 1925; living with various relatives, 1925-1928; period in Bath, 1928-1930; education; sporting activities; return to West Norwood to lodge with friends of father; football injury; permanent arrangement to stay with aunt; story of joining Salvation Army; activities with Boys Brigade based at London City Mission; work rising from errand boy to assistant manager in grocery shop; sporting activities; summer camps with Boys Brigade at Pirbright; religious beliefs; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; question of pacifism; gas and air raid precautions; call up procedure and failure to qualify for RAF. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle, daily routine and training with Gloucestershire Regt at Horfield Barracks and Eastville Park, Bristol, 1/1940-3/1940: friend from home. REEL 2 Continues: reception; barracks; basic drill; PT; weapons training including rifle and Bren gun; relationship with ORs including attitude to bullying, swearing and religious beliefs; relationship with NCOs; story of missing vaccinations; tactical training; range firing tests on rifle, Bren gun, grenades and rifle grenade including story illustrating attitudes to killing. REEL 3 Period with D Coy, 11th Bn, GR at Leominster, ca 4/1940-7/1940: cancellation of inclusion in draft for France due to absence of vaccinations; selection as lance corporal PT instructor; training programme. Period on Bren gun anti-aircraft defences at Lymme airfield, 7/1940-11/1940: story of firing at German aircraft during raid; amusing story of accidental rifle discharge; gun pits. Period in reserve and coastal defence roles at Gravesend, Hornsea, Filey and Rudston, 11/1940-1/1942: outbreak of diaorhea at Christmas, 25/12/1940; patrols; Christmas swim, 25/12/1941; snow clearance; illustrations of optical illusions on night sentry duty; question of pride in regiment; promotion to corporal and move to A Coy; reactions to conversion of unit to 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery. REEL 4 Continues: story of musician friend. Training in 40mm Bofors gun at Chester Barracks, 1942: role as No 1 lance sergeant; use of gate and clock sights or Mark III Predictor; firing practice at Grange over Sands. Aspects of various moves, 1942: period at Yelverton airfield; absence of German air attacks; period at Green Island, Poole; mobile role and exercises; period at Chew Magna and informal news of overseas posting to India; story of meeting grandfather's friend. Voyage aboard Empress of Canada to Durban, South Africa, 1943: hammocks; conditions; reception from 'Lady in White' hospitality of South African civilians during period ashore at Stella Camp. Story of panic due to practice shot during voyage aboard Cape Nord to Bombay, India, 1943. Initial moves in India, 1943-1944: first impressions; acclimatisation at Bangalore; rail journey to positions guarding rail junction at Lumding; attack of dysentery and hospital treatment at Shillong; story of wounded soldiers' ruse to avoid being sent back to active service. REEL 5 Continues: rejoining unit at Lumding; US railway unit; story of killing cow; stories of hunting trips; salvaging beer from crashed train; move to Dimapur, ca 4/1944; reactions to disbandment of unit and selection of posting Royal Norfolk Regiment; use of Bofors against Japanese bunkers in Kohima sector, ca 4/1944-6/1944. Story of being wounded by trip wire mine during jungle training with inexperienced officer as platoon sergeant with RNR, ca 11/1944. Visit by Vera Lynn during period in hospital, 1944. Rejoining unit in Kabaw Valley, 12/1944. Recollections of period during advance to Mandalay, 12/1944-4/1945: pride in status as trained infantryman; company officers; unit morale; advance to Shwebo; air evacuation for medical treatment; death of friend; crossing Irrawaddy and casualties during advance through elephant grass during attack on Thabyetha, 28/2/1945; patrol to establish contact with 20th Indian Div, 29/2/1945. REEL 6 Continues: patrol to establish contact with 20th Indian Div, 29/2/1945; story of patrol in failed attempt to salvage abandoned Bren carrier; opinion of various officers and NCOs; crossing Myitnge river; jungle terrain and snake story; food rations and water supply; use of Wasps in advance; reports of ambush of Japanese convoy; mobile patrols in area south of Mandalay; ambush on mobile patrol by Japanese and role in evacuation of fatally wounded Company Sergeant Major Partridge, 1/4/1945; airlift to India, 4/1945. Aspects of period in India, 4/1945-3/1946: leave; reactions to use of atomic bomb, 8/1945; celebrations in Bombay on VJ Day, 8/1945; role as acting Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant and acting Regimental Sergeant Major; reinforcement drafts; party prior demobilisation. Journey back to GB, ca 4/1946. Demobilisation, 1946. Post-war career: return to work as assistant manager in grocery trade; initial personality problems; story of disputes at work.