Description
Object description
NCO served with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, 6th Infantry Bde in Münster, Germany 1/1951-9/1952; served with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Malaya Command in Federation of Malaya, 10/1952-11/1954; served with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, 18th Infantry Bde in Cyprus, 11/1956-1/1958
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as schoolchild in Bridgwater, GB, 1939-1945: attitude towards Second World War; nature of rationing; use of allotments; membership of Army Cadet Force; confidence that GB would win war; contact with German and Italian prisoners of war; attitude towards Second World War; victory celebrations in Bridgwater, 1945; impact of dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 1945. Aspects of enlistment and training with as private with Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Victoria Barracks, Bodmin in GB, 1950: enlistment as regular, 8/1950; basic training. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, 6th Infantry Bde in Germany, 1/1951-9/1952: posting to unit in Münster.
REEL 2 Continues: nature of training including mine laying; training for service in Federation of Malaya; reasons for delay in posting to Federation of Malaya. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Malaya Command in Federation of Malaya, 10/1952-11/1954: voyage aboard HMT Dilwara from GB to Singapore, 10/1952-11/1952; smoking in British Army and reasons why he stopped; reception in Singapore, 11/1952; training at Jungle Warfare School, Kota Tinggi, 11/1952-12/1952; crashing of aircraft during demonstration of bombing of jungle, 12/1952; use of air and naval power against insurgents; question of availability of food and drink in jungle; food denial campaign against Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents; pressure put on civilians by Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents.
REEL 3 Continues: question of adverse press publicity regarding treatment of insurgent bodies; results of information gained from Surrendered Enemy Personnel (SEP) including loss of Sergeant Raymond Beaumont, 27/1/1953; dangers of Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents ambushing funeral parties; surrender of Lieuw See-Fuk and his co-operation with rounding up of Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents in North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest; knowledge gained of Malayan National Liberation Army military tactics; move to Ampang in Kuala Lumpur area, 3/1953; narrow escape of deaf and dumb civilian who ignored challenge at road block; tracking Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents near tin mines; techniques used by Iban trackers; superiority of Sakai trackers in their own locations.
REEL 4 Continues: loyalties of Sakai; campaign to win 'hearts and minds'; civilians who stored Japanese occupation money in case Japanese returned; Ibans' motivation and culture; relations between British Army troops and Ibans; use of sign language in jungle; contrast in appearance of troops serving in jungle and those at base; ensuring newcomers trained properly for jungle patrolling; impact of climate on ammunition; guarding banana convoys between Kuala Lumpur and highlands; story of discovery of snake; methods of training newcomers.
REEL 5 Continues: processing of troops returning from jungle patrols; spotting of jungle using Taylorcraft Auster aircraft; return to GB, 9/1954. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, 18th Infantry Bde in Cyprus, 11/1956-1/1957: move to Malta for abortive participation in Operation Musketeer, 8/1956-11/1956; pattern of service in GB after return from Cyprus, 1957-1959; attitude of civilians towards house searches; contrast in relations with civilians in Cyprus and Federation of Malaya; effectiveness of road blocks. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Malaya Command in Federation of Malaya, 8/1952-9/1954: contrast between British tactics employed in Cyprus/Federation of Malaya and American tactics in South Vietnam; attitude of Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents towards own wounded; reasons why rifle slings taken off weapons for jungle patrols; Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents methods of defending and abandoning jungle camps; use of Kuala Lumpur by Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents and British Army troops; difficulty of keeping alert on patrol.
REEL 6 Continues: soldier who collapsed on patrol; discomforts of patrolling in jungle and swamps; camping in jungle at night; jungle patrol techniques; navigation in jungle and swampland; attitude towards Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents; relations with civilians; unit discipline.