Interview with Richard Maurice Hewlett

British clerk served with Royal Army Service Corps at Bulford Camp, GB, 10/1939-3/1940; served with Directorate of Supply and Transport, General Headquarters, British Expeditionary Force in France, 3/1940-6/1940; NCO with 43rd and 62nd Detail Issue Depots, Royal Army Service Corps in Egypt, 1940-1943; served with No 403 General Transport Coy, Royal Army Service Corps in North Africa, 1943; officer served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Italy, 7/1944-10/1944

REEL 1 Background in London and Kent, GB, 1919-1939: father's career; frequent family moves; education; employment in motor trade, 1934-1935; employment with High Duty Alloys, Slough; failed attempt to enlist in British Army, 4/1939. Recollections of period as clerk with Royal Army Service Corps Depot at Bulford Camp, GB, 10/1939-3/1940: differing origins and relations with fellow recruits; hutted accommodation; rations; drill; rifle and Bren Gun training; learning to type and question of selection as clerk; question of prospect of commission; opinion of NCOs; disciplinary problem; relations with officers; recreational activities. Aspects of period as NCO clerk with Directorate of Supply and Transport, General Headquarters, British Expeditionary Force in France, 3/1940-6/1940: prior period in transit camp. REEL 2 Continues: initial period spent at Noyelle-Vion; role typing reports; burning secret papers; evacuation aboard Maid of Orleans from Dunkirk; postings on return to GB, 6/1940-7/1940. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Strathaird from GB to Port Said, Egypt, 8/1940-9/1940: prior promotion to sergeant; bribe to secure cabin; reception at Cape Town, South Africa; climate. Aspects of period as NCO with 43rd Detail Issue Depot, Royal Army Service Corps, Suez, Egypt, 1940-1942: initial reversion to private and initial postings; promotion to sergeant; duties issuing supplies to units; unit personnel; question of stealing from depot; rations issued; relations with local Egyptian contractors; promotion to staff sergeant; background to being rejected for Royal Army Service Corps commission despite success at Officer Cadet Training Unit, Middle East, Cairo. REEL 3 Continues: reasons for not applying for infantry commission; problem with officer; posting to 62nd Detail Issue Depot, Royal Army Service Corps at Kasr-el-Nil Barracks, Cairo, Egypt, 1943. Aspects of period as NCO with No 403 General Transport Coy, Royal Army Service Corps in Libya and Egypt, 1943: initial isolation due to contact with smallpox victim; nature of duties; nature of tests with War Office Selection Board; background to application for infantry commission and volunteering for Parachute Regiment. Recollections of training as officer cadet in Egypt and Palestine, 6/1943-1/1944: 6/1943-1/1944: importance of cleaning equipment; relations with fellow officer cadets; tactical exercises; passing out; mixing with Commonwealth cadets; commissioning into Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light infantry. Aspects of period as officer with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Middle East, 3/1944-7/1944: interview with Lieutenant-Colonel John Preston; internal security duties in Tel Aviv, Palestine. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of Captain James Coutts; drinking habits and consequent bar from officers club in Qassassin Camp, Egypt; opinion of various officers including Lieutenant Gordon Mackenzie, Lieutenant Frank Florey and Major Raymond Mitchell, Lieutenant-Colonel John Preston and Major Denis Worrall; training; acting as advance party on move to Qassassin Camp, Egypt; dispute with local officers at Qassassin Camp; reaction to posting to Italy; question of soldiers personal morale. Recollections of opearations as officer with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Italy, 7/1944-10/1944: street fighting exercise, including use of Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (PIAT) and grenades at Bastardo; recreational acitivites; reaction to inspection by King George VI; opinion of NCOs; story of Major Raymond Mitchell's painting activities and consequent contacts with Italian civilians; situation on Gothic Line. REEL 5 Continues: capture of Petriano, 28/8/1944, including Brigadier Alan Block's example under German artillery fire and question of Italian civilians assisting German Army artillery spotters; shooting German Army sniper during approach to Mondaino; opinion of Lieutenant Tim Marshall; occupation of Saludecio, 2/9/1944; officer casualties and attitude to people losing nerve; lift from tanks; story of narrow escape from German mortar shell; operations at Gemmano, 10/9/1944-14/9/1944, including seeking orders from Captain James Coutts, shooting cow in barn, move into positions in Gemmano and German Army artillery fire; story of friendly chickens; state of 12 Platoon morale; journey to collect new officers; leave in Rome. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Major Laurence Stringer. Account of being wounded during attack on Balignano Ridge, Italy, 10/10/1944: prior view form observation post; captured patrol; reserve status prior to intended return to GB; move up sunken road as reserve platoon; move to right silence German Army machine gun; question of getting troops to open fire; question of Major Laurence Stringer's movements; relation with officer's servant Private Roger Appleby and his advice not to use German trenches at Gemmano, 10/9/1944; severe knee wound and position abandoned in sunken road, rescue by Major Laurence Stringer. Recollections of hospitalisation in Italy and GB, 10/1944-6/1945: initial treatment at Regimental Aid Post, 10/1944; problem with dysentery; medical treatment and state of wound. REEL 7 Continues: voyage aboard hospital ship from Italy to GB, 12/1944: bed arrangements; reception at Glasgow, GB; hospitalisation in Birmingham and Brighton, GB, 12/1944-5/1945; personal morale; smoking cigarettes; state of leg's recovery. Post-war life and employment: reasons for leaving High Duty Alloys; disability pension; problems over employment with dog food firm; question of effects of wound and war service; membership of 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry Regimental Association.