Mann, James Arthur (Oral history)

British private served with 70th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and North Africa, 1941-1943; private and NCO served with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Italy and Egypt, 1943-1944; NCO served with The Queen's Royal Regiment in Italy, 1944; NCO served with Royal Sussex Regiment in Persia, Egypt, Germany and Yugoslavia, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Shildon, Bishop Auckland and Darlington, GB, 1923-1941: family; description of Shildon; family home in Shildon; holidays; communities grew up in; railway houses; leisure activities; religion; education; work as office boy; night school and work as bookkeeper; details of pay. REEL 2 Continues: life as teenager in 1930s; outbreak of war; father's service in First World War; application to Merchant Navy; attitude towards war; decision to join forces; reactions of parents on his volunteering; process of joining up and choices given; posted to 70th Bn Durham Light Infantry; medical; joined B Coy at School Aycliffe, Heighington. Aspects of period as private with 70th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 3/1941-7/1943: arrival at School Aycliffe; army number; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; washing facilities and treatment for scabies; make-up of barrack room; NCOs at School Aycliffe; army language; discipline; cleaning of barracks; kit inspections; areas allowed to visit; story of Claude Watson's visit to Darlington; troops in platoon. REEL 3 Continues: fights among troops; gambling; details of pay; dealing with thieves; dental treatment; inoculations; issue of uniform; equipment issued; polishing of boots; foot problems; medical inspection; visit to Catterick Military Hospital; treatment; alteration of uniform; physical training kit; storage of kit; laying out of kit for inspection; standard of turnout; ironing and creasing of uniform; issue of rifle; differences between Ross rifle and Lee Enfield; weapons training at Hurworth Range; opinion of Ross rifle; cleaning of rifle. REEL 4 Continues: make-up of make-up of B Coy; officers in battalion; Battle Order parades; story of march to Barnard Castle; foot inspections; breaks on route marches; pace; memories of Colonel McBain; unpopular officers and NCOs; background of officers; memories of Company Sergeant Major Ernie Eldrett; morning procedures; physical training; breakfast; bromide in tea; cleaning of utensils; drills; method for wearing hat; crossing of barbed wire; morning break; assembling, dismantling and firing of Bren gun; machine guns used; 2" mortar; opinion of PIAT. REEL 5 Continues: training with grenades; gas precautions; mounting of guard; selection of the stickman; changeover of the guard; guard duties; standard of turnout on guard; method of keeping awake; cells and prisoners; punishments; language; discussion of training as Young Soldiers; piquet duties; work on farm near Sedgefield; potato picking; training as Despatch Rider; aerodrome defence at Goosepool, Catterick and Scorton; story of taking a message to Major Taylor; despatch rider duties; story of flight in plane; story of only problem with motorbike; clothing worn on motorbike. REEL 6 Continues: sports and physical training; dances; women in camp; length of stay at Heighington; changes in commanding officer; posting to Barnard Castle; fitness; learning of Regiment history; lectures from Education Officer; description of Westwick Camp; accommodation; work as demonstration Bn for Battle School; accidents on exercises; duties as despatch rider for commanding officer; slit trenches; description of demonstrations; important visitors; rations; memories of Colonel Fillingham; talking to officers. REEL 7 Continues: lectures on German army; battalion weapons; specialised units; relationship with civilians and other units; duties within motor transport section; precautions taken when parking; convoy routine duties; veiling of headlights; travelling at night; motor transport course; duties of vehicle driver; repairs; dye in petrol and its issue; story of crash in Tring; mechanics course; enjoyment of motorbikes; quality of troops in Bn; memories of Colonel Jeffreys; embarkation leave and posting at Tow Law; parents reactions to going abroad; rumours of destination aboard; camp at Tow Law; guard duties for visit of general; receiving of battalion Medal of Merit; AWOL troops. REEL 8 Continues: time at Tow Law; march to station; entrained to Gourock; reactions to going abroad. Aspects of journey from Gourock, GB, to Philippville, Algeria, 1943: boarding of ship; convoy; seasickness; sleeping arrangements; conditions; hammocks; rations; length of journey; leisure activities; rota for exercise; lifeboat drill; activity of escort ships; arrival in Philippville and first impressions of Africa. Aspects of period as private with 70th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 8/1943-9/1943: transit camp; story of a manoeuvre; route march to Philippville; attitude towards sunburn; issue of khaki drill; description of camp; precautions against malaria; sterilising of water; rations; censorship of mail; relationship with civilians; lectures on boat about Africa; summary of time in North Africa; situation in Bn; journey to Italy; knowledge of destination; preparations for fighting in Italy; keenness for action. REEL 9 Continues: arrival in Salerno; contact with civilians; duties in motor transport; posting to Ox and Bucks; reaction to transfer. Aspects of operations as private and NCO with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Italy, 10/1943-3/1944: arrival in unit and bivouac; position at Nola; posting in anti-tank platoon as driver; wounding of Jack Stephenson; contents of his truck; position of anti-tank platoon within company; relationship with Ox and Bucks troops; loss of helmet; details of division and brigade; memories of commanding officer Colonel Cruddace and CSM Charlie Briggs; anti-tank platoon weapons; description of truck driven; truck maintenance; supply of petrol; terrain; attempt to cross River Volturno; response to shelling; driving through shelling; view of attack on Volturno; help with casualties. REEL 10 Continues: treatment of wounded; acceptance of situation; state of wounded; evacuation of casualties; crossing of river; rest period in Capua; replacement of lost equipment; dealing with personal belongings of dead; needs when out of line and method of smoking in line; heating of water; rations; rum rations; weather; billets with old lady; mail; receiving of bad news; organisation of supplies in line; rations; emergency rations; cigarettes; parcels received; problems from mud; health problems. REEL 11 Continues: driving over the Volturno; area regrouped in; visit to village; terrain and weather; time in San Archangelo; Stand To; duties; weapons used in action; proximity to anti-tank guns; mines and booby traps; caution against mines; types of mines used by Germans; mine clearance; stories of incidents while leading carrying parties; problems faced by carrying parties; movement of party; items carried; background of troops in carrying party; memories of Gurkhas; stripping of dead bodies for items; army attitude to looting; reasons for doing little looting; taking of medical tools from hospital. REEL 12 Continues: diagnosed with jaundice; evacuation to Bari; treatment received; causes of jaundice; discipline in hospital; story of toe; hospital staff; exercise in grounds of hospital; relationship with staff; time in transit camp; staff in camp; entertainments and relationship with civilians; duties in medical section; unit move to Forli; red cross card; weapon carried in truck; treatment of wounded as stretcher bearer; armband; story of man shot on stretcher; carrying of stretcher; story of picking up dead troops; identity discs; marking of graves; reactions to such work; preparation of body for burial. REEL 13 Continues: personal effects; morphine injections and tourniquet application; Regimental Aid Post and ambulances; wounds seen; tea given to wounded; Blighty wounds; premonition of Henderson; Harry Hart's shellshock; parties before going into line; rum ration; German snipers and wounding of Ted Wise; memories of Major Montgomery; opinion of what made a good officer; story of an officer's search for a sniper; need to look after wounded men; posting to D Coy at Anzio; troops landed at Anzio; landing on beach; withdrawal of Germans; knowledge of destination; landing craft; drive inland; setting up of camp; shelter dug for trucks; German gun Anzio Annie; depletion of Bn from troops taken POW; promotion to Corporal. REEL 14 Continues: landing at Anzio; advance and digging-in; scenes on beaches; supporting units; air activity; wounding of Colonel Cruddace; reactions to situation; casualties; German counter attack; position held on wadi; shelling from own artillery; command in platoon; taking command in lieu of NCOs; memories of Platoon Sergeant Renwick; night patrols; activity in position; shell and mortar fire; arrival of supplies; freedom of movement; weather; slit trenches; visits of officer; American troops on flank; conditions; rest; opinion that being young enabled them to put up with conditions; envy of RAF and Navy; tank support; meeting with German tank; unit positions; reactions to being in front line; role in D Coy; firing at Germans; inexperienced troops in line; criticism for hierarchy; story of attack at Gemmano. REEL 15 Continues: religion; morale of unit and comradeship; taking cover from shellfire; effect on nerves from shellfire; threat of Spandaus; firing on German positions; relief of positions; Lucky Charlie; humour in line; state of unit upon withdrawal; time in rest area; roll calls and daily strength returns; departure from Anzio. Aspects of rest period with the 7th Bn The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Egypt, 3/1944-4/1944: arrival in Port Said; camp at Qassassin; civilians in camp; leave in Cairo. REEL 16 Continues: problems with civilians in Cairo; risks of VD; bar fights; visits to bazaars; opinion of Egyptians and theft of tent; camp at Beni Yussef; transport into Cairo; reinforcements and training; return to Italy. Aspects of operations as NCO with 7th Bn The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and 2/6th Queen's Regiment in Italy, 1944: officers in Bn; action at Rimini; casualties; action at Gemmano; transfer to 2/6th Queen's Regiment; action at River Sennio; posted to Bennivento; transfer to Persia and Iraq Force and 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment in Persia, 1944: journey to Persia; camp at Dorud; duties; leisure activities; conditions; promotion to sergeant; duties as platoon sergeant; posting in Tehran; treatment for sand fly fever; duties in Tehran. REEL 17 Continues: Aspects of operations as NCO with 7th Bn The Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire Light Infantry in Italy, 1944: landing at Anzio; German counter attack; Bren gun; shelling from own artillery; destruction of spandau nest; front line activities; pulling out from line; medals awards at Anzio; summary of time at Anzio; relationship with American troops; morale; relief from Green Howards; action at Gemmano; German tanks; discussion of Royal Artillery reinforcements; disbanding of Ox and Bucks. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment in Middle East, 1944- 1945: duties in Persia; socialising with American troops; problems with drink; end of war; activities in Persia; troops transferred to Italy; journey to Port Tewfiq; duties on Suez Canal; journey to GB. REEL 18 Continues: reception on return home; reported to Dover; rejoined Bn at Crowborough; Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment in Germany and Yugoslavia, 1946: journey to Hamburg; time in transit camp; impressions of Hamburg; contact and relationship with civilians; return to Crowborough; journey to Naples; entrained to Trieste; truck journey to Pola; duties in Pola; dealing with civil unrest; situation in Pola; movement between Pula and Trieste; embarkation of demobilisation party; story of return for forgotten paybook; courting in Pola; gaining permission for marriage; demobilisation from Aldershot; gratuity; return to civilian life.