Horsfield, Ralph (Oral history)

British civilian in Doncaster, GB, 1939-1945; private served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in GB, Palestine, Egypt , Hong Kong and Korea 1947-1951; NCO served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Borneo, 1965

REEL 1 Background in Doncaster, GB, 1927-1939: family circumstances; German air attacks on Doncaster area. Period of army training in GB, 1947: reasons for joining army; basic training at Elgin; selection for demonstration platoon; move to Highland Brigade holding company. Voyage from GB to Palestine aboard Sythia, 1947. Recollections of period as private with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Palestine, 1948: drafting to unit at Lydda; work escorting civilian buses and guarding fuel dumps; internal security duties in Jaffa; defence of Lydda airport; question of unit's reputation; Indian contractors servicing 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 in the Canal Zone, Egypt, 1948: move to El Tahag Camp; attempt of German POWs to sell home-made aluminium items to British troops; opportunities for relaxation; living conditions and character of latrines at El Tahag Camp; return to Colchester GB, 1948-1949. Voyage aboard HMT Empire Trooper from GB to Hong Kong 6/1949-7/1949: incident of one company of Argylls refusal to re-board 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 in Hong Kong, 1949-1950: 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. REEL 3 Continues: move to Norwegian Farm Camp; building fortifications in hills in case of Chinese invasion; observing military movements in China by binoculars; facilities for relaxation; news of Korean War. Voyage aboard HMS Ceylon from Hong Kong to 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 Korea, 8/1950-4/1951: how 'John Wayne' type US troops on Pusan quayside failed to impress him, 8/1950; entraining for River Naktong area, 8/1950; contents of US 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 US troops on having iced water; training with 3.5 inch anti-tank rocket launchers; move to Pusan perimeter; leadership of A Coy; digging in on front-line, 8/1950; view of mass of US equipment left behind on hill occupied by Argylls, 8/1950. REEL 4 Continues: first North Korean attack; c9/1950; 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; US airforce's mistaken attack on Hill 282 causing B and C Coy's hundred and fifty casualties; reaction to sight of unit's napalm casualties; push into North Korea, late 1950; crossing iced over river; attack by North Koreans on hill occupied by unit; withdrawal in face of advancing Chinese, late 1950; use of flares. REEL 5 Continues: contrast in discipline between British and US troops over use of night fires, winter 1950-1951; organisation of rest and recuperation in Japan and how Horsfield missed it; contents of US ration packs; items obtainable from US PX; access to beer; feasting on pig; decisive role of US airforce in keeping United Nations' casualties down; view of damage inflicted on Communist forces by US air force and Fleet Air Arm; nature of US issue of 'purple hearts' for wounds in war theatre; singing songs; items bought in NAAFI 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 Argylls on US supplies; question of superiority of British boots over US boots. REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of operations as NCO with D Coy, 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Borneo during Indonesian Confrontation , 2/1965-5/1965: climate and conditions; construction of bashas; slinging hammock in jungle; method of keeping weapons and possessions dry; diet on patrol; patrols along Indonesian border; 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 Bali Ringgan; weight loss; sight of Special Air Service pairs returning from jungle patrols.