Interview with Ralph Horsfield

British private served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), 8th Infantry Bde in Palestine and Egypt, 3/1948-6/1948; served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), 27th Infantry Bde, Hong Kong Garrison in Hong Kong, 7/1949-8/1950; served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in North and South Korea, 8/1950-4/1951; NCO served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during Indonesian Confrontation in Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia, 2/1965-5/1965

REEL 1 Background in Doncaster, GB, 1927-1946: family circumstances; German Air Force attacks on Doncaster area. Aspects of training with British Army in GB, 1947: reasons for joining British Army; basic training at Elgin; selection for demonstration platoon; move to Highland Brigade holding company. Recollections of period as private with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), 8th Infantry Bde in Palestine, 3/1948-6/1948: voyage aboard HMT Scythia from GB to Palestine; drafting to battalion at Lydda; work escorting civilian buses and guarding fuel dumps; internal security duties in Jaffa; defence of airport at Lydda; question of unit's reputation; Indian contractors servicing British Army. REEL 2 Continues: opinion of soldiering in Palestine; security arrangements at Lydda Camp; leaving Palestine, 5/1948. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), 8th Infantry Bde in the Canal Zone, Egypt, 6/1948: move to El Tahag Camp; attempt of German prisoners of war to sell home-made aluminium items to British Army personnel; opportunities for relaxation; living conditions and character of latrines at El Tahag Camp; return to Sobraeon Barracks, Colchester, GB, 6/1948-6/1949. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Trooper from GB to Hong Kong, 6/1949-7/1949: incident of one company of battalion's refusal to reboard troopship until living conditions improved; training aboard during voyage; rations and lack of alcohol. 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: living conditions at Stanley Fort; use of kit box; practice for riot control; recreation; move of unit to tented Tam Mi Camp, New Territories; how tented camp fared in 1949 typhoon season, 1949. REEL 3 Continues: move to Norwegian Farm Camp; building fortifications in hills in case of invasion by People's Republic of China; observing military movements in People's Republic of China by binoculars; facilities for relaxation; hearing news of out break of Korean War, 6/1950. Aspects of voyage aboard HMS Ceylon from Hong Kong to South Korea, 8/1950: overcrowded conditions; opinion of rations. Recollections of operations as private with A Coy, 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in South and North Korea, 8/1950-4/1951: how 'John Wayne' type American personnel on Pusan quayside failed to impress him, 8/1950; entraining for River Naktong, 8/1950; contents of American ration packs; amusing story of troops eating dehydrated sponges believing them to be biscuits; tents used in River Naktong area, 8/1950; cooking utensils used in field; insistence of American military personnel on having iced water; training with 3.5 Inch Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher; move to Pusan Perimeter; leadership of A Coy; digging in on front line, 8/1950; sight of mass of American equipment left behind on hill occupied by battalion, 8/1950. REEL 4 Continues: first North Korean People's Army attack; 9/1950; disappearance of officer Captain Buchanan; opinion of Communist 'burp guns' and their failing to work; sentry arrangements; personnel in A Coy headquarters; daily routine and hygiene control in front line; United States Air Force's mistaken attack on Hill 282 causing large number of battalion lcasualties; reaction to sight of battalion's napalm casualties; advance into North Korea, 11/1950; crossing iced over river; attack by North Korean People's Army on hill occupied by battalion; withdrawal in face of advancing Chinese People's Volunteer Army, 11/1950-12/1950; use of flares. REEL 5 Continues: contrast in discipline between British Army and United States Army troops over use of night fires, winter 1950-1951; organisation of rest and recuperation in Japan and how he missed it; contents of American ration packs; items obtainable from American run PX Store; access to beer; feasting on pig; opinion decisive role of United States Air Force in keeping United Nations' casualties down; sight of damage inflicted on Communist forces by Untied State Air Force and Fleet Air Arm; nature of American forces issue of 'purple hearts' for wounds in war theatre; singing songs; items bought in Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAFFI) and rations; plight of Korean refugees; contrast between poverty stricken South Korea and richer North Korea; living off the land in North Korea; reaction to leaving, 4/1951; dependence of battalion on American supplies; question of superiority of British boots over American boots. REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of operations as NCO with D Coy, 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) during Indonesian Confrontation in Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia, 2/1965-6/1965: climate and conditions; construction of bashas; slinging hammock in jungle; method of keeping weapons and possessions dry; diet on patrol; patrols along border with Indonesia; use of Iban trackers; leadership of D Coy in which he was platoon sergeant; promotion to colour sergeant; unit base, near Kuching; infestation of scorpions at Balai Ringin Camp; weight loss; sight of Special Air Service pairs returning from jungle patrols.