Todd, Frederick Thomas (Oral history)

British schoolchild in Walton-on-Thames, GB, 1939-1945; private served with 2 Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1952-1953

REEL 1 Recollections of childhood in Walton-on-Thames, GB, 1939-1945: family circumstances; loss of domestic railings for war effort; bombs which fell on area; V1 strike which fell on bungalow and casualties caused; effect of conflict on schooling; government issue of cod liver oil, orange juice and malt to school children; relations with US and Canadian troops; childhood hobbies; VE Day celebrations, 1945. Aspects of period of National Service training in GB, 1952: reaction to call up, summer 1952; basic training in Stoughton Barracks, Guildford; question of how basic training was useful for some recruits; treatment of 'best boots'; further advanced training at Wemyss Barracks, Canterbury; preparations for going to Korea at Canterbury, 1952. Voyage from GB to Hong Kong, 1952. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers in Hong Kong, 1952: training as Bren gunner on Long Wu Ranges; training attachment with 1st Bn Dorset Regt, late 1952. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers in Japan, 1952: issue of winter clothing; use of hand-warmers; voyage from Japan to Korea. Recollections of operations as private with 2nd Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1952-1953: state of Korean civilians including US soldier's treatment of Korean boy; sight of poverty on train journey to Seoul; joining unit in Camp Casey; leadership of unit; dangers of using phosphorus grenades; move from Camp Casey to Area B; relieving US troops in front-line; conditions in trenches; rations and diet; supplements bought; cigarette issue; terrain in first position in front-line; stand-to; organisation of fighting and standing patrols; contrast in attitude of British and US troops to patrolling. REEL 3 Continues: schoolfriend who was killed in 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers; incident when ex-Middlesex Regt comrade was killed in action; suffering ear damage in explosion; Chinese mortaring of positions; support from British tanks; contact with Australian troops; lessons learnt in front-line; move to Hill 210; troops dislike of corned beef hash; home-made napalm booby-traps; terrain and bunkers on Hill 210; effectiveness of Chinese mortars; conditions in front-line; question of fatigue and personal hygiene; soldiers' medical complaints and case of malingering; leave period in Inchon; third period in front-line at Little Gibraltar; question of when to open fire; frustration on listening patrols; noisiness of Chinese patrols moving in no-man's land; Chinese use of Bing Crosby record 'Home Cooking' as psychological weapon. REEL 4 Continues: stationing of unit behind The Hook and sight of Chinese bombardment, 1953; digging out of Duke of Wellington's Regt personnel buried alive in Chinese bombardment; state of British positions on The Hook after Chinese assault; period on Hill 121, 'The Sausage'; period on Yong Dong when cease-fire announced, 1953; reaction to surviving service in Korea especially on The Hook; leaving Korea and return to GB via Egypt, 1953; opinion of Chinese troops; experiences of comrade captured by Chinese; Korean porters; attitude to having served in Korea and Korea being a 'forgotten war'. Attitude to having done National Service. Recent visits to Korea and reception by Koreans.