Okai, Benjamin (Oral history)

Gold Coast private served as driver with Divisional Signals, 82nd West African Div in West Africa, India and Burma 1943-1945. Various postings with Gold Coast Regt and Ghanaian Army, 1947-1974

REEL 1 Background in Accra, Gold Coast, 1927-1943: family; opinion of GB. Recruitment and period of training in West Africa: reasons for enlistment; parents reaction to enlistment underage; basic signals training in Accra; decision to train as driver; unit move to Nigeria and formation of 82nd Division; jungle training; embarkation from Lagos, Nigeria. Recollection of period with Divisional Signals 82nd Div in India and Burma, 1944-1946: role of division; impressions of voyage; reaction to journey; arrival in Bombay; movement to North East India for further training; move to Burma via Chittagong; relieving soldiers of 81st Div; recollection of capture of Buthidaung, Arakan, 1944; Okai's role during action; story of drinking tea with General Bruce; signal duties; opinion of Japanese; divisional signal role; Burmese jungle; allocation to supply role driving between India and Burma; move through Burma at end of war; view of Japanese prisoners of war; opinion of other Commonwealth troops; question of treatment of African troops by British officers; question of contrast in payment between British and African soldiers; impressions of Rangoon after capture; sports in Rangoon, 1945-1946. Return to Gold Coast, 1946: question of whether convoy was attacked on outbound voyage in 1944; reception in Accra, 1946. REEL 2 Continues: demobilisation and re-enlistment, 26/2/1947; Recollections of post war career in British and Ghanaian armies, 1947 1974: reasons for re-enlistment in in Royal Engineers as driver; promotions; transport course and instructional role, 1957-1958; question of treatment of ex-servicemen; political unrest in Gold Coast 1948; story of ex-servicemen shot by Superintendent Emery while marching to petition Governor in Accra 1948; question of sympathy for ex-servicemen and political leaders; educational courses and background to commissioning, 1959-61; question of wars effect on African troops views of equality; contrast between British officers and NCOs; transport role, 1962- 1966; reaction to coup 1966; question of moral in armed forces after independence; career, 1966-1972; advanced transport courses in United States, 1972; Mayor of Accra, 1972-1976; retirement from army and security roles, 1977-1979. REEL 3 Continues: question of motivation for enlistment in 1943;opinion of Commonwealth; story of meeting Queen on VJ day, London, 1995; question of younger Ghanaians support for Commonwealth.