Interview with Roy Vincent

British civilian messenger with National Fire Service, Grimsby, GB, 1941-1945; private served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 27th Infantry Bde in Hong Kong, 1949-1950; served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) , 27th Commonwealth Bde in North and South Korea, 8/1950-4/1951

REEL 1 Background in Edinburgh and Grimsby, GB, 1925-1941: family; education. Recollection of period as messenger for National Fire Service, Grimsby, 1941-1945: role and duties; German Air Force Butterfly (SD 2) Bomb attack, 14/6/1943; nature of bomb damage in Grimsby; Air Raid Precautions; failure to be accepted for British Army service due to medical problems caused by service in National Fire Service, 1945. Aspects of period with Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) in GB, 1947-1948: basic training at Elgin, reasons for joining regiment; membership of demonstration platoon at Edinburgh; opinion of being made batman at Warminster, 1948; joining A Coy, 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) at Sonbraon Barracks, Colchester Garrison, 1948. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Trooper from GB to Hong Kong, 6/1949: embarkation; minor mutiny of battalion on quayside at Southampton; story of how battalion members dealt with objectionable Egyptian in bum boat at Port Said, Egypt, 6/1949; relations with rickshaw drivers in Colombo, Ceylon; techniques of getting free fruit in Colombo, Ceylon. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), 27th Infantry Bde in Hong Kong, 7/1949-8/1950: role of battalion searching for pirates on Lan Tow Island. REEL 2 Continues: relations with Buddhist monks on Lantau Island; friction between sampan dwellers; joining mortar platoon in the New Territories; contrast in reception by Chinese businessmen and British community, 1949. Aspects of voyage aboard HMS Ceylon from Hong Kong to South Korea, 8/1950: tradition of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) and Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) always being together at start of campaigns; enjoyment of rations. Recollection of operations as private with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's Own), 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in South and North Korea, 8/1950-4/1951: inoculations on quayside at Pusan, South Korea; reception by United States Army troops in Pusan, South Korea; move inland to relieve 21st Cavalry Div, United States Army on River Naktong, South Korea; reaction to seeing United States Army soldier jettisoning his machine gun; digging in during torrential rain; attempt of North Koreans to infiltrate behind unit lines; inadequacy of American twenty-four hour ration packs and supplementing rations with local chestnuts; problems of keeping dry; sight of Allied aircraft attacking hill. REEL 3 Continues: advance across river towards Hill 282; accidental bombing of battalion by United States Air Force aircraft; returning mortar fire; attitude of unit to Koreans and Japanese; incident of Korean boy receiving medical treatment from battalion; rapid advance northwards after landings at Inchon; lagering at Seoul Airfield, 1950; foraging for rations with Australian troops; attempt to rescue American General William Dean; story of Australian soldier attitude to keeping warm; advance to Sariwon, North Korea; American troops reaction to T-34 tanks; opinion of American tankmen; battalion NCO's reply to American sergeant's question 'What would we have to do to be like you?' at Sariwon, North Korea, 1950; reaction to publicity seeking General Walton Walker; unit's role as rearguard for retreat southwards, 12/1950; problems of lack of water for carrier, winter, 1950-1951; Korean domestic heating arrangements. REEL 4 Continues: dependence of battalion on supplies from United States Army; rations and supply of turkey from United States of America for Thanksgiving celebrations, 23/11/1950; story of encouraging regimental sergeant-major to give password by cocking Bren Gun; Christmas dinner with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt; 25/12/1950; building shanty town for shelter at Ujongbu, South Korea, winter 1950-1951; how British Government overruled United States of American attempt to give Syngman Rhee medal to unit; attempt of Greek contingent to defect from American command to British; Turkish Army troops' attitude towards American forces; loss of Universal Carrier on retreat south; use of hunting horn by officer commanding A Coy; sight of bridge blowing up at Seoul, South Korea, 1/1951; inadequate clothing issued to battalion; co-operation with Royal New Zealand Artillery; story of Chinese People's Volunteer Army of United States Army force caught sleeping in village, early 1951; enjoyment of Japanese 'blue' film and Australian ribbing of Canadians watching it, 1951. REEL 5 Continues: amusing latrine story; request to give mortar support to Australian Army troops, 1/1951; evacuation of unit in USS Montrose to Hong Kong; use of divisional and brigade signs; role of 27th Commonwealth Bde in Korean War.