Dyer, John (Oral history)

British private served with 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt in GB, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan, 1949-1950; served with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 1/1951-9/1951

REEL 1 Recollections of childhood in Newtown and Ruscombe, GB, 1939-1945: stick of German bombs which hit Newtown, 1943; food supplies; bombing of Reading; victory celebrations at Ruscombe, 5/1945; Italian POWs who worked in agriculture; Italian POWs gratitude to his parents for their kindness. Period of National Service with Wessex Brigade in GB and Germany, 1949-1950: conscription, 1949; basic training at Bulford Camp; joining 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt in Dusseldorf, Germany, 1950; transfer to 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt at Colchester, 1950; detachment to Norfolk firing ranges. Period with 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt in Hong Kong and Japan, 1950: Australian Christmas at Hiro Camp, Japan, 25/12/1950. Recollections of operations with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 1/1951-9/1951: how he was sent as reinforcement to 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 7/1/1951; threat from MiG jets to Dakota landing at Kimpo airfield, 7/1/1951; sight of swarms of refugees heading south, 1/1951; cold weather conditions and lack of winter clothing supplied to unit, 1/1951. REEL 2 Continues: diet of British troops including US rations and lack of fresh bread; supply of Gallagher's cigarettes; supply of beer to troops; joining unit near Seoul; story of Korean civilian who gave birth in unit campsite, 1/1951; reaction to suffering of Korean civilians; question of media reporting of war; method of troop movement; taking up positions on River Imjin, early 1951; 'every man for himself' order to 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 4/1951; human wave Chinese method of clearing minefields in River Imjin area; view of Chinese human wave; his escape from Chinese encirclement on back of tank; parents receiving telegraph reporting him missing; use of non-smokers for night patrols. REEL 3 Continues: personal morale during the Battle of the Imjin River, 4/1951; hand to hand fighting with Chinese, 4/1951; food and drugs Chinese soldiers carried; comradeship of British troops; return to Gloster Hill after 4/1951; minor skirmishes he was involved in after Imjin battle until 9/1951; relative lack of contact with troops outside his section; rest and recreation, Kure, Japan; vermin problem in winter; appreciation of natural beauty of country; difference in character between North Koreans and South Koreans; how British units adopted Korean orphans; contracting malaria; grenade splinters which hit him during Imjin battle; reaction to having served in Korean War. Aspects of National Service, 1949-1951: reaction to extension of national Service to two years; question of what National Service did for him. Aspects of service with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea, 1951: degree to which Ulstermen and Southern Irish accepted Englishmen into unit. REEL 4 Continues: story of northern and southern Irish firing on each other's flags, St Patrick's Day, 1951; concert party.