Interview with Kenneth Howard Gray

British private served with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 10/1951-9/1952

REEL 1 Recollections of period as schoolchild in Swindon, GB, 1939-1945: monotonous diet; German Air Force attacks on town, 1942-1943; use of Morrison Shelter in his house; attitude towards Germans; presence of service personnel and Italian prisoners of war in Swindon area; victory celebrations, 1945. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1950-1951: call-up for National Service, 7/11/1950; basic training at Blandford Camp; joining 1st Bn Devonshire Regt in Plymouth, 3/1951; move to Colchester Garrison; call for volunteers from 1st Bn Devonshire Regt to go to South Korea after the Battle of the Imjin River, 4/1951; posting, 6/1951. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Pride from GB to Japan, 7/1951-8/1951: conditions on board; stop-over in Aden, Aden Protectorate; entertainments on board; equipment taken. Aspects of period on draft in Japan, 8/1951-10/1951: arrival in Kure; impressions of Japan and United States Army's Sasebo Camp, 8/1951. REEL 2 Continues: ferry from Sasebo, Japan to Pusan, South Korea. Recollections of operations as private with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 10/1951-9/1952: journey to Headquarters, 29th British Infantry Bde; role as Willys Jeep driver for brigade headquarters; transfer to 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt as motor transport driver; role driving Captain Harold Pullen second-in-command of A Coy; unit positions and terrain; coping with climatic conditions including use of parkas and other winter kit; American rations supplied to British Army troops including cigarettes; limited contact with Korean civilians; A Coy patrol activity, 1951-1952; description of Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldier who defected; incident when he had to move wounded from no-man's land; Chinese People's Volunteer Army mortaring of A Coy positions and his lucky escape; how Korean civilians lived in 'persuader' cases in Seoul; degree of contact with United States Army and Australian Army troops; reaction to being in front line; harshness of winter 1951-1952 and effect on jeeps; bridges across River Imjin, 1952. REEL 3 Continues: summer conditions in South Korea; United States Air Force activity including friendly fire incident on unit, relief of battalion and return home via Hong Kong, 9/1952; attitude to having served in Korean War; effect of comrade being killed in trench by mortar bomb; attitude to having done National Service and bounty paid to him for having served in Korean War.