Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, Iraq, North Africa, Italy and North West Europe, 1940-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Co Durham, GB, 1924-1940: family; community; leisure activities; religion; education; work in pit at Buraton; reasons for joining army; enlistment at Byker; air raids; attitude to the army; reaction of parents to joining up. Recollections of period with Durham Light Infantry in GB, 8/1940-11/1940: reason for joining Durham Light Infantry; arrival at Brancepeth Castle; uniform and equipment; boxing at Brancepeth; accommodation; cleaning; inspections; sleeping arrangements; storage of equipment.
REEL 2 Continues: cleaning the stove; latrines; washing facilities; morning procedures; breakfast; parades; teaching of drills; NCO instructors; Light Infantry pace; sports; army language; guard inspections; guard duties; medical upon joining army; morning break; pay details; barrack room damages; dinner; evenings; relationship with civilians; relationship with other troops; gambling; bayonet training; story of hitting Captain Black in Special training; gas training; route marches.
REEL 3 Continues: firing course at Whitburn; stripping and cleaning of weapons; rifles used; opinions of British and German firearms used; make-up of Bren carriers; transport of Bren ammunition; reasons for picking up German weapons; use of mortars; opinion of anti-tank weapons; grenade training; volunteered for Special Service. Aspects of period training with Special Service in GB, 11/1941-2/1942: background of Special Service; trained at Agnagarry; accommodation; take over by Royal Marines to form Commandos; morning procedures; runs; MTB training; unarmed combat training; firearms training; method of dealing with killing people; ways this training toughened men up; background of instructors; billeting allowance; explosives used; reason for not passing course; return to Brancepeth; drafted to Middle East via Glasgow.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of journey from Glasgow, GB, to Iraq in 1942: route ship took to Egypt; convoy; reactions to going abroad; sleeping arrangements; food; duties; story of catching shark; boat drill; other troops on ship; leisure activities; canteen; discipline; earlier story of a bombing raid in Glasgow; knowledge of position; stop-off at Freetown; trip up river; bum boats; climate; reception in Durban; treatment of black people; relationship with civilians; rickshaw travel; length of stay; journey to Red Sea; first impressions of Egypt; crossing the line ceremony; stay in Ismailia transit camp; journey to Iraq; man killed on journey; standing to attention on lorry; reason for being in Iraq; swim at Lake Habbinyah; route of journey; story of fight between civilians. Recollections of period as private with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Iraq, 1942-1943: joining Battalion and D Coy; camp; weather conditions; sleeping arrangements; duties; defences built; boredom of time there; food.
REEL 5 Continues: visits to Mosul; relationship with civilian workers; opinion that officers had it easier; memories of the Padre; Sunday services; memories of Lieutenant Colonel Percy and Major Robinson; S Coy; blurring of Coy lines in Iraq; discipline; relationship with comrades; return journey from Iraq; problems with thieves; shooting a thief in Alexandria; journey across desert. Recollections of operations as private and NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1942-1943: positions held in Gazala box; role of S Coy; details of battle patrols.
REEL 6 Continues: description of desert; raid on Tmimi airfield; rescue of wounded men; attempt to gain clean uniform and DCM recommendation; water rations; food; sleeping arrangements; spreading out of S Coy; hiding of carriers; latrines; organisation of food rations; slit trenches; description of the Axis attack that created gap; dealing with heat; problems with flies; animals in desert; health and acclimatisation; Dear John letter received; effect of bad news in mail; NAAFI and Salvation Army presence; cleanliness; use of petrol supplies.
REEL 7 Continues: Axis advance; cries of wounded; reaction to attack; move out of box; German Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; attempt at search for water; action in wadi at Mersa Matruh; story of being taken prisoner; memories of Adam Wakenshaw VC; opinions of official story of Wakenshaw action; treatment as prisoner; escort away; freed by Humber Scout; walked towards fires; time with New Zealand soldiers; German attack; loss of memory until behind Alamein Line; taken to Alexandria after interrogation; time in Alexandria; move to Qattara; Welch Regiment draft; terrain; positions; story of 44 Div attack; memories of Greek troops.
REEL 8 Continues: memories of French troops; moved north for Operation Supercharge; role on operation; Captain Robinson taking charge of vehicle; carrier hit by shell; attack on slit trench; time during barrage; opinion that Captain Robinson was drunk; more on barrage; Psychiatry Board following battle; reason for attack at Mareth; information given to them there; dealing with Anti Personnel Mines; description of his role in attack; sent to take over from Grenadier Guards; carriers destroyed in minefield; moved back to prepare for Sicily. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Sicily, 1942-1943: landing at Sicily; forced march to Primosole; scene at bridge; description of action across river; fire from harbour guns; time with Sergeant Jimmy Brown; burial of dead.
REEL 9 Continues: discovery of own cross in cemetery; opinion of reason for missing first action at Primosole; arrival at Catania; terrain at Astriale; story of civilian shot; attack on German Spandau position; houses booby trapped; opinion of Italian civilians; speech from Montgomery; refusal to break ranks; opinions of Montgomery. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1943-1944: time at Saffron Walden; reaction to news of D-Day role; refusal of promotions; leave; reason for losing Company Orderly Sergeant stripes; problems arising from leave; inspection from King; aftermath of inspection; relationship with American troops; camps on south coast; briefings; Battalion reaction to D- Day; Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North West Europe, 1944-1945: embarkation.
REEL 10 Continues: journey across channel; terrain; scene on beaches; action at church; reasons for poor memory; French civilians; reason for joining another regiment; memory jump to Yugoslavia; journey home from Yugoslavia; story of hitting Corporal; demobilisation; jobs worked after war; opinion of officers; continuing health problems.