Description
Object description
British NCO served with 11th Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 221st Independent Infantry Bde (Home) in GB, 4/1940-12/1942; served with 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery, Western Command in GB, 1/1942-4/1943; served 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery with 3rd and 9th Indian Anti-Aircraft Bdes, 251st Line of Communication Sub-Area and 14th West Africa Anti-Aircraft Bde, Fourteenth Army in India and Burma, 4/1943-2/1944; served with 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div in India and Burma, 7/1944-3/1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in West Norwood and Bath, GB, 1918-1939: father's employment; mother's consignment to asylum, 1925; living with various relatives, 1925-1928; living in Bath, 1928-1930; education; sporting activities; return to West Norwood to lodge with friends of father; footballing injury; permanent arrangement to stay with aunt; story of joining Salvation Army; activities with Boys' Brigade; employment rising from errand boy to assistant manager in grocery shop; sporting activities; summer camps with Boys' Brigade at Pirbright; religious beliefs; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; question of pacifism; gas and air raid precautions. Recollections of enlistment and training with Gloucestershire Regiment at Horfield Barracks and Eastville Park, Bristol, GB, 1/1940-3/1940: call-up procedure and failure to qualify for Royal Air Force; presence of friend from West Norwood.
REEL 2 Continues: reception; barracks; basic drill; physical training; weapons training including rifle and Bren Gun; relations with Other Ranks including attitude to bullying, swearing and religious beliefs; relations with NCOs; story of missing vaccinations; tactical training; range firing tests on rifle, Bren Gun, grenades and rifle grenade; story illustrating attitudes towards killing.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as NCO with 11th Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 221st Independent Infantry Bde (Home) in GB, 4/1940-12/1941: move to Leominster, 4/1940-7/1940; cancellation of inclusion in draft for France due to absence of vaccinations; selection as lance corporal physical training instructor; training programme; story of firing at German Air Force aircraft whilst providing Bren Gun anti-aircraft defences at RAF Lympne, 7/1940-11/1940; amusing story of accidental rifle discharge; use of gun pits; coastal defence roles at Gravesend, Hornsea, Filey and Rudston, 11/1940-1/1942 including patrols; Christmas swim, 25/12/1941; snow clearance; question of optical illusions on night sentry duty; question of pride in regiment; promotion to corporal and move to A Coy. Aspects of period as NCO with 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery, Western Command in GB, 1/1942-4/1943: reaction to conversion of unit to 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery.
REEL 4 Continues: story of musician friend; training on Ordnance QF 40mm Bofors Gun at Chester; role as lance sergeant; use of gate and clock sights or Mark III Predictor; firing practice at Grange-over-Sands; period at Yelverton; absence of German Air Force attacks; move to Green Island; mobile role and exercises; period at Chew Magna and news of overseas posting to India; story of meeting grandfather's friend. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empress of Canada from GB to Durban, South Africa, 2/1943-3/1943: hammocks; conditions on board; reception from Perla Siedle Gibson the 'Lady in White' at Durban, South Africa; hospitality of South African civilians during period ashore, South Africa, 2/1943-3/1943; story of panic due to practice shot during voyage from Durban, South Africa to Bombay, India, 11/4/1943. Aspects of period as NCO with 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery, 3rd and 9th Indian Anti-Aircraft Bdes and 251st Line of Communication Sub-Area in India, 4/1943-2/1944: movements in India, 4/1943-2/1944; initial impressions of India; 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; presence of United States Army railway unit at Lumding; story of killing cow; stories of hunting trips; salvaging beer from crashed train. Aspects of period as NCO with 118th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery, 14th West Africa Anti-Aircraft Bde, Fourteenth Army in India, 3/1944-6/1944: move to Dimapur, 4/1944; reaction to disbandment of regiment and selection for posting 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt; use of Ordnance QF 40mm Bofors Gun against Imperial Japanese Army bunkers at Kohima, 4/1944-6/1944. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div in Burma, 12/1944-4/1945: story of wounding by trip wire mine during jungle training with inexperienced officer in India; visit by singer Vera Lynn during period in hospital, 1944; rejoining unit in Kabaw Valley, 12/1944; pride in status as trained infantryman; company officers; unit morale; advance to Shwebo; air evacuation for medical treatment; death of friend; crossing River Irrawaddy and casualties during advance through elephant grass during attack on Thabyetha, 28/2/1945; patrol to establish contact with 20th Indian infantry Div, 29/2/1945.
REEL 6 Continues: story of patrol's failed attempt to salvage abandoned Universal Carrier; opinion of various officers and NCOs; crossing River Myitnge; jungle terrain including story of snake; rations and water supply; use of Wasp Flame-Throwing Carriers during advance to Mandalay; reports of ambush of Imperial Japanese Army convoy; mobile patrols in area south of Mandalay; ambush of mobile patrol by Imperial Japanese Army troops and role in evacuation of fatally wounded Company Sergeant-Major Ambrose Partridge, 1/4/1945; airlift to India, 4/1945. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Royal Norfolk Regt, 4th Infantry Bde, 2nd Infantry Div in India, 4/1945-3/1946: leave; reaction to dropping of atomic bomb on Japan, 8/1945; VJ Day celebrations in Bombay, 5/8/1945; role as acting regimental quartermaster sergeant and acting regimental sergeant-major; reinforcement drafts; party prior to demobilisation; journey from India to GB, 4/1946; demobilisation in GB, 1946. Post-war career: return to work as assistant manager in grocery trade; initial personality problems; story of disputes at work.