Interview with John Gourlay Noble

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1969832035
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
295331067
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All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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Order this sound recording under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Description

Object description

British driver served with 1st Special Air Service in North Africa, 1942-1943; NCO served with 1 Troop, Special Raiding Squadron in Italy, 7/1943-10/1943; served with A Sqdn, 1st Special Air Service Regt, Special Air Service Bde in GB, North West Europe and Norway, 12/1943-5/1945

Content description

REEL 1 Aspects of period as driver with British Army in GB and Palestine, 1938-1942: joining British Army, 1938; service with Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) in Palestine; joining No 11 (Scottish) Commando, including problems arising from asthma; service with Royal Army Service Corps horse transport; commando training with No 11 (Scottish) Commando and Middle East Commando; nature of simultaneous commando raids in North Africa; hospitalisation with malaria. Recollections of operations as driver with 1st Special Air Service in North Africa, 1942-1943: joining unit at Kabrit, Egypt; pattern of training including learning to drive motor vehicles; duties and maintenance; adaptations made to vehicles; covering tracks; contact with Rhodesian members of Long Range Desert Group; story of nearly being Returned To Unit (RTU); duties; details of straight line drives including process of walking vehicles up dunes and terrain in desert; use of keffiyeh headgear; visits to Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt; ski training; conversion of 1st Special Air Service into Special Raiding Squadron, 4/1943; awareness of Major David Stirling's capture, 1/1943. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1 Troop, Special Raiding Squadron in Italy, 7/1943-10/1943: changes to unit; training for amphibious landings; landing at Syracuse, Sicily, 7/1943; terrain at Augusta, Sicily, 7/1943; landing at Augusta, Sicily, 7/1943 including naval support; withdrawal to beach and boarding of Royal Navy destroyers; German Air Force raid; problems during at Bagnara Calabra, 9/1943. REEL 2 Continues: NCOs in unit; nature of action following landings at Bagnara Calabra; being relieved by infantry troops; nature of action at Termoli; casualties from German 88mm Gun; nature of German multi-barrelled mortar fire; opinion of 1st Bn London Irish Rifles troops; reason for committing Special Raiding Squadron forward; casualties; slight wounds received from shrapnel; unit officers including memories of Robert 'Paddy' Mayne; songs sung by Special Raiding Squadron and 2nd Special Air Service ; opinion of Deutsches Afrika Korps; contact with No 1 Demolition Sqdn, Popski's Private Army; return to GB. Recollections of operations as NCO with A Sqdn, 1st Special Air Service Regt, Special Air Service Bde in GB and Normandy, France, 12/1943-8/1944: leave in GB; pattern of training; reinforcements; period in Normandy, France prior to operating behind German lines; rank and squadron posting; composition of troop; role in Normandy, France including briefings received; weapons carried; opinion of automatic pistol, revolver and sawn-off shotgun; contact with Corps of Military Police; opinions of Beretta Model 38 and Thompson Machine Gun and Sten Gun; opinion of German 88mm Gun and British artillery; training prior to operating in France; first crossing of German lines; 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 Royal Air Force Handley Page Halifax aircraft; events after landing; equipment, weapons and rations carried; story of taking benzedrine; prior recollection of lack of sleep in Sicily, Italy; supply drops; memories of Chaplain Fraser McCluskey. REEL 3 Continues: composition of unit and use of armoured jeeps; ambush with and further memories of Chaplain Fraser McCluskey; first ambush set in France and subsequent German reprisals against French civilians; reaction to situation for French civilians; story of nearly chasing after Field Marshal Erwin Rommel; incident of running over of rabbit; reconnaissance and destruction of railway line; relations with French civilians; story of Maquis leader, known as 'Socrates'; nature of booby-trap; details of German Army convoy that was to pass through area; action taken against German Army vehicle; aftermath of situation including fight with German Army NCO; return to camp; prisoner of war taken from German Army vehicle; method of dealing with injured parties; recuperation from wounds, 7/1944; fresh meat supplied by Maquis; medical treatment received; character of armoured car built by Maquis; story of reprimand received from officer; visit from female British agent. REEL 4 Continues: later problems with shoulder; vehicles commandeered; withdrawal through United States Army lines, 8/1944; sale of car at Orléans, France; presence of Ordnance QF 6 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun in unit; unit clash with Gerrman convoy; memories of Chaplain Fraser McCluskey; creation of airstrip; unit casualties; emergency escape plan; attacks on camp; prior recollections of voyages between North Africa and Sicily, Italy. Recollections of operations as NCO with A Sqdn, 1st Special Air Service Regt, Special Air Service Bde in North West Europe and Norway, 1944-1945: leave periods in GB; training for operations in Germany; reaction of civilians to wearing of red beret following Operation Market Garden; preparations for return to Europe including clothing worn; relations with troops of other units; role and activities in Germany; opinion of United States Army troops; story of jeep crash; opinion of Special Air Service; arrival and activities at Lübeck, Germany; sights witnessed around Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, Germany; nature of advance through Germany; knowledge of concentration camps; reactional activities; degree of fire faced in North West Europe; posting in Antwerp, Belgium and VE Day, 8/5/1945; return to GB and posting to Norway, 5/1945; arrival in Stavanger, Norway; move to Vadheim, Norway; role and duties in Norway. REEL 5 Continues: concern over possibility of posting to Far East; items hidden in uniform during North West Europe Campaign; Jewish troops met during service; awareness of dangers if captured; details of crystal radio and accommodation. Aspects of period as NCO with British Army in GB, 1945-1946: training as physical training instructor; course taken at Colchester Garrison; posting to Army School of Physical Training at Aldershot Garrison; disbandment of Special Air Service; attending gymnastics course; posting to Airborne Forces Regimental Depot, Aldershot Garrison; reception on arrival; pay; demobilisation and civilian employment.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1945-1989 (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: TVS (Production company)
Stevens, Gordon (Recorder)
Noble, John Gourlay (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1987-03-07
Dimensions: whole: Duration 150, Number Of Items 5
Catalogue number: 18175

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Interview with John Gourlay Noble

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