Description
Object description
Seychellian NCO served with Pioneer Corps in North Africa and Italy, 1941-1945; attached to Special Investigations Branch, Royal Military Police in Egypt, 1946-1955
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Victoria, Seychelles, 1923-1941: family; father's background as a merchant; opinion of British; question of parent's loyalty to GB; value of education received in British Army; question of class distinctions on Seychelles; reaction to German attack on Poland. Aspects of enlistment and training with Seychelles Defence Force in Seychelles, 1940-1941 reasons for volunteering for Seychelles Defence Force; role of Seychelles during Second World War; training. Recollections of operations as NCO with Pioneer Corp in North Africa, 1941-1943: attachment to 14th Indian Infantry Div and role of Seychelles contingent; role as dispatch rider during Siege of Tobruk, Libya, 1942; escape from German encirclement; retreat to El-Alamein; memories of Siege of Tobruk, Libya, 6/1942 including, bombing story of sinking of a ship carrying wounded Seychellians and question of personal morale; address by General Bernard Montgomery; opinion of General Bernard Montgomery; opinion of General Claude Auchinleck; opinion of South African Army troops; opinion of Germans and Italian forces; involvement in construction of deception vehicles; advance along coast after Battle of El Alamein, Egypt, 10/1942-11/1942; rations.
REEL 2 Continues: lice; supply duties at El Alamein, Egypt; hint of secret supply duties behind German lines; guarding German prisoners of war at end of North African Campaign and training for landings in Italy. Recollection of operations as NCO with Pioneer Corps in Italy, 1943-1945: landings at Salerno, 9/1943; pioneer casualties; reaction to disembarking under fire at Salerno; relations with Italian civilians; question of fraternisation; story of daughter born to Italian woman; question of personal morale; Battle of Cassino including, Allied attempts to capture Monte Cassino, sight of Allied air attack, supply role during battle and question of volcanic material from Mount Vesuvius reaching Monte Cassino; story of soldier receiving a 'Dear John' letter; reaction to casualties; linguistic ability; end of service in Italy. Aspects of period as NCO with Pioneer Corps in Egypt and GB, 1945-1946: return to Egypt; role guarding German prisoners of war in Egypt, 1945; attending victory parade in London, 1945 including, sight of Royal Family and Winston Churchill and impressions of VJ Day, 15/8/1945. Recollections of period as NCO with Special Investigations Branch, Royal Military Police in Canal Zone, Egypt, 1946-1955: story of meeting Pierre Etienne Marot whilst on guard duties; attachment to Special Investigations Branch; interrogation duties; opinion of Arabs.
REEL 3 Continues: story of being attacked by an Arab mob; question of small arms issue to Special Investigations Branch; return to Seychelles and demobilisation, 1955; background to return to civilian life; opinion of Commonwealth.
REEL 4 Continues: question of treatment of ex-servicemen.