Description
Object description
British driver served with 1st Special Air Service Regt in North Africa, 1942-1943; NCO served with Special Raiding Sqdn in Italy, 1943; served with 1st Special Air Service Regt in GB, North West Europe and Norway, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background to joining Special Air Service in North Africa, 1942: joining of army, 1938, aged sixteen; period with Royal Scots Greys including service in Palestine; joining of Commandos including problems arising from asthma; period with Royal Army Service Corps horse transport; training with and details of Commandos; details of simultaneous raids in North Africa including hospitalisation with malaria; posting to Special Air Service at Kabrit. Aspects of operations as driver with 1st Special Air Service Regt in North Africa, 1942-1943: pattern of training including learning to drive; duties and maintenance; details of adaptations made to vehicles; covering tracks; story of contact with Rhodesian Long Range Desert Group; story of nearly being returned to unit; duties; details of straight line drives including process of walking vehicles up dunes and terrain in desert; details of keffiyeh; visits to Cairo and Alexandria; ski training; conversion to Special Raiding Squadron; knowledge of David Stirling's capture; superiors within Special Air Service. Aspects of operations as NCO with Special Raiding Sqdn in Italy, 1943: changes to unit; invasion training; landing at Syracuse; activities onshore; terrain at Augusta; details of landing at Augusta including naval support; withdrawal to beach and boarding of destroyers; air raid; problems during at Bagnara.
REEL 2 Continues: NCOs in unit; details of action following Bagnara landing including rotation of rounds; relief from infantry; details of actions at Termoli; casualties from 88 gun; details of nebelwerfer fire; arrival and opinion of London Irish troops; reason for committing Special Raiding Squadron forward; casualties; slight wounds received from shrapnel; activities of officers including memories of "Paddy" Mayne; songs sung by Special Raiding Squadron and 2nd Special Air Service Regiment; opinion of Afrikakorps; contact with Popski's Private Army; return to GB. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Special Air Service Regt in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945: leave; pattern of training; reinforcements; period in France before going behind German lines; rank and squadron posting; make-up of troop; role in France including briefings; weapons carried; opinion of automatic pistol, revolver and sawn-off shotgun; contact with Military Police; opinions of Beretta and Thompson sub-machine guns and Sten gun; opinion of German 88 gun and British artillery; training before posting to France; first crossing of German lines including casualties; story of Special Air Service troops who disappeared; role and activities behind German lines; description of light carried; story of pigeon and parachute drop from Handley Page Halifax; events after landing; equipment and weapons carried including rations; story of taking Benzedrine; lack of sleep in Sicily; supply drops; memories of Padre Fraser McCluskey.
REEL 3 Continues: make-up of unit; armoured jeeps dropped; story of ambush with and further memories of Padre Fraser McCluskey; story of first ambush in France and subsequent reprisals; reactions to situation for civilians; story of nearly chasing after Erwin Rommel; story of rabbit run over; reconnaissance and destruction of railway line; relationship with civilians; story of maquis leader known as Socrates; description of booby trap and trick played on their manufacturer; details of convoy that was to pass through Ouroux area including vehicle seen en route and make-up of convoy; action taken against German vehicle including reasons for accidental shooting; aftermath of situation including fight with German NCO; return to camp and cleaning up of scene; story of POW taken from German vehicle; method of dealing with injured parties; recuperation from wounds; fresh meat received from maquis; medical treatment received; relationship with women; details of armoured car built by maquis; story of reprimand from officer including language among troops; story of visit from female British spy.
REEL 4 Continues: later problems with shoulder; vehicles commandeered; withdrawal through American lines including initial concerns; sale of car at Orleans airfield; story of 6lb gun in unit; story of run-in of some troops with German convoy; activities and memories of Padre Fraser McCluskey; creation of airstrip; memories of casualties including "Ginger" Adams; emergency escape plan; attacks on camp; description of voyages between North Africa and Sicily including rations; leaves; training for Germany; reactions of civilians to red beret following Arnhem; preparations for return to Europe including clothing worn; relationship with troops of other units; role and activities in Germany including story of German sniper executed; opinion of American troops; story of jeep crash; opinion of Special Air Service; arrival and activities at Lübeck; scenes around Bergen-Belsen concentration camp; movement of advance through Germany; knowledge of concentration camps; leisure activities; fire faced in Europe; posting in Antwerp and VE Day; return to GB and posting to Norway. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Special Service Regt in Norway, 1945: arrival in Stavanger; posting to Vadheim; activities in Norway.
REEL 5 Continues: concern over possibility of posting to Far East; note carried in desert. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Special Air Service Regt in North West Europe, 1944-1945: items hidden in uniform during war in Europe; Jewish troops met during service; knowledge of dangers if captured; details of crystal radio and accommodation. Aspects of period as NCO from 1945: training as physical training instructor; course taken at Colchester; posting to Army Physical Training School in Aldershot; disbandment of Special Air Service; details of gymnastics course attended; posting to Airborne Base Depot; reception on arrival; details of pay; demobilisation and civilian work.