Interview with John Robert Bolland

British private served with 1st and 2nd Bns Durham Light Infantry in GB, Egypt and Sudan, 1928-1934; NCO served with 4th and 12th Bns Nigeria Regt, West African Frontier Force in Africa and India, 1934-1944; served with 12th Bn Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force, 3rd (West African) Infantry Bde, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition in Burma, 3/1944-6/1944

REEL 1 Background in Northallerton, GB, 1910-1928: family; home; education; boy scouts; church; discipline; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1928-1929: reasons for enlistment in Middlesbrough; arrival at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne; issue of uniform; joining platoon; accommodation; cleaning barrack room; sleeping arrangements; uniform components; storage; drill training; relation with comrades; morning procedures; rations; parades; instructors; physical training; weapon drill; bayonet training; leaving barracks; presence of Northumberland Fusiliers personnel at Fenham Barracks; canteen; sport; cleaning equipment. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 1929-1930: joining battalion on draft; reaction to being drafted overseas; voyage from GB to Egypt REEL 2 Continues: illness on voyage; arrival at Port Said; reasons for battalion being in Egypt, being placed on draft to 2nd Bn at Razmak, India. Aspects of period as private with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, Sudan and GB: arrival in Bombay, India; move to Razmak Camp, India; accommodation; uniforms worn; relations with civilians; terrain and duties at Razmak, India; exercises; rent collecting duties and occasion they were attacked; health of battalion; journey to Khartoum, Sudan; heat; dvision of battalion and move to Woking, GB; volunteering for Royal West African Frontier Force. Aspects of period as NCO with 4th and 12th Bns Nigeria Regt, West African Frontier Force in West Africa and India, 1934-1944: reason for volunteering; relations with African troops; promotion to Colour Sergeant; learning Hausa language; duties; officers; treatment; rations; move to Burma in 1944; allocation to Chindits in 3rd Indian Infantry Div. Aspects of operations as NCO with 12th Bn Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force, 3rd (West African) Infantry Bde, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition, Operation Thursday in Burma, 3/1944-6/1944: arrival at Aberdeen Landing Zone; march to White City Landing Zone; position in Japanese lines; conditions; movement through jungle; air supply drops; in action against Imperial Japanese Army troops; story of wounded. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of Imperial Japanese Army troops; treatment of mules; conditions; length of time in jungle; character of Battle of White City; battalions serving with in West Africa Frontier Force; journey to Burma; mention in dispatches; treatment after being wounded; rejoining unit; morale and opinion of West African troops; background of officers and NCOs; end of Second World War, 8/1945; rejoining Durham Light Infantry on return to GB and becoming regimental sergeant-major at depot.