Interview with Frederick Thomas Todd

British fusilier served with 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt), 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 12/1952-8/1953

REEL 1 Aspects of period as schoolchild in Walton-on-Thames, GB, 1939-1945: family circumstances; loss of domestic railings for war effort; German Air Force bombs which fell on area; German V1 Flying Bomb strike which fell on bungalow and casualties caused; effect of conflict on education; British Government's issue of cod liver oil, orange juice and malt to schoolchildren; relations with United States Army and Canadian Army troops; childhood hobbies; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945. Aspects of enlistment and training in GB, 1952: reaction to call-up for National Service, summer 1952; basic training in Stoughton Barracks, Guildford; question of how basic training was useful for some recruits; treatment of 'best boots'; advanced training at Wemyss Barracks, Canterbury; preparations for service in South Korea at Canterbury, 1952. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt) in Hong Kong, 1952: voyage from GB to Hong Kong; training as Bren gunner on Lo Wu Ranges; training attachment with 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt, late 1952. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt) in Japan, 1952: issue of winter clothing; use of hand-warmers; voyage from Japan to South Korea. Recollections of operations as fusilier with 2nd Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt), 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 12/1952-8/1953: state of Korean civilians, including witnessing American 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 United States Army 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 United States Army troops to patrolling. REEL 3 Continues: schoolfriend who was killed serving 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt); incident when ex-1st Bn Middlesex Regt (Duke of Cambridge's Own) comrade was killed in action; suffering ear damage in explosion; Chinese People's Volunteer Army mortaring of positions; support from British Army tanks; contact with Australian Army troops; lessons learnt in front line; move to Hill 210; troops dislike of corned beef hash; homemade napalm booby-traps; terrain and bunkers on Hill 210; effectiveness of Chinese People's Volunteer Army mortars; conditions in front line; question of fatigue and personal hygiene; troops' 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 People's Volunteer Army patrols moving in no-man's land; Chinese People's Volunteer Army use of Bing Crosby recording 'Home Cooking' as psychological weapon. REEL 4 Continues: stationing of unit behind The Hook and sight of Chinese People's Volunteer Army artillery bombardment, 1953; digging out of 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding Regt) personnel buried alive in Chinese People's Volunteer Army artillery bombardment; state of British positions on The Hook after Chinese People's Volunteer Army's assault; period on The Sausage position on Hill 121; period on Yong Dong Po when ceasefire announced, 27/7/1953; reaction to surviving service in Korean War especially on The Hook; leaving South Korea and return to GB via Egypt, 1953; opinion of Chinese People's Volunteer Army; experiences of comrade captured by Chinese People's Volunteer Army; use of Korean porters; attitude to having served in Korean War and it being a 'forgotten war'; attitude to having done National Service; post-war visits to South Korea and reception by Koreans.