Cridge, David John (Oral history)

British schoolchild in Bridgwater, GB, 1939-1945; NCO served with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry in Germany and Malaya 1951-1955

REEL 1 Background in Weare and Bridgwater, GB, 1934-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Bridgwater, GB, 1939-1945: presence of US troops; stray German bombs which fell on town. Aspects of enlistment and training with Somerset Light Infantry in GB, 1951: background to volunteering; basic training Borden Camp. Aspect of period as private with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Munster, Germany, 1951-1952: posting to British Army of the Rhine, 9/1951; relations with German civilians; story of officer's unorthodox way of dealing with unexploded grenades. Recollection of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry in Malaya, 1952-1955: reaction to posting, spring 1952; initial training with 1st Bn Suffolk Regt; dealing with hornets; building shelter in jungle; opinion of 1st Bn Suffolk Regt; acclimatising to conditions; move to Kuala Lumpar area; difference between English and Chinese run plantations; first patrol with 4 Platoon, B Coy which resulted in becoming lost in swamp. REEL 2 Continues: developing jungle craft skills; six month's secondment to Malayan Police including differences in approach to jungle ambushes between Malays and British and patrolling in Batu Arang area; return to unit and promotion to sergeant with 5 Platoon; information of gang of ten insurgents living off dead elephant in 'dirty rubber' area; successful pursuit of gang and loss of soldier with appendicitis; incident in which two insurgents were killed in ambush; use of policemen's head-gear by insurgents; loss of comrade Corporal George Shaw in action; insurgent's use of couriers; shooting of headman who arranged rice supplies for insurgents; discovery of insurgent food supply dumps; physical condition of insurgents; story of 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry patrol caught bathing in river by insurgents; attitude towards insurgents. REEL 3 Continues: measures which authorites used to undermine insurgents; British fire-power; minor role of air power; areas of jungle clashes 1952-1955; encounter with tiger in jungle; amount of intelligence unit had about insurgents; loss of officer in accident; attitude to service in Malaya and decision not to stay on after 1955. Attitude of reservists to being recalled for Suez crisis, 1956. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry, Malaya, 1952-1955: performance of conscripts; story of King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry NCO winning Military Medal in action and his transfer to Somerset Light Infantry.