Hewlett, Richard Maurice "Dick (Oral history)

British clerk with Directorate of Supply and Transport, General Headquarters in North West Europe, 1940; evacuated from Dunkirk; served as NCO with 43 and 62 Detail Issue Department, Royal Army Service Corps in Egypt, 1940-1943; served with 403 General Transport Coy in North Africa, 1943; officer served with 16th Bn, Durham Light Infantry in Middle East and Italy, 1944

REEL 1 Background in London and Kent, GB, 919-1939: father's career; frequent moves; education; work in motor trade, 1934-1935; work with accounts Department with High Duty Alloys in Stroud and firm's role making aircraft and bomb components; failed attempt to join army, 4/1939. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine as clerk during training as clerk at Royal Army Service Corps Depot at Bulford Camp, GB, 10/1939-3/1940: differing origins and relationship with recruits; hut accommodation; food rations; drill; rifle and Bren training; learning to type and question of selection as clerk; question of prospect of commission; opinion of NCOs; story of disciplinary problem; relationship with officers; recreations. Various aspects of period as clerk with Directorate of Supply and Transport, General Headquarters in France, 3/1940-6/1940: prior period in transit camp. REEL 2 Continues: initial period at Noyelle Vion; role typing reports; burning secret papers; evacuation aboard Maid of Orleans from Dunkirk. Various postings in GB, 6/1940-7/1940. Recollections of voyage out with draft aboard Strathaird to Port Said, Egypt, 8/1940-9/1940 : circumstances of prior promotion to sergeant; bribe to secure cabin; reception at Cape Town, South Africa; climate. Period as clerk with 43 Detail Issue Department, Royal Army Service Corps, Port 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; food rations issued; relationship with local Egyptian contractors; promotion to staff sergeant; background to being rejected for Royal Army Service Corps commission despite success at Officers' Cadet Training Unit at Moascar. REEL 3 Continues: background to being rejected for Royal Army Service Corps commission despite success at Officers' Cadet Training Unit at Moascar; reasons for not applying for infantry commission; problem with officer. Period with 62 Detail Issue Department, Royal Army Service Corps at Kasr el Nir Barracks, Cairo, Egypt, 1943. Period to gain experience prior to applying for commission with 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 prior volunteering for Parachute Regiment. Recollections of attending OCTU at Geneifa, Acre and Sarafand, Egypt and Palestine, 6/1943-1/1944: importance of cleaning equipment; relationship with cadets; tactical exercises; passing out; mixing with Commonwealth cadets; commission in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light infantry. Period with 12 Platoon, B Coy, 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Middle East, 3/1944-7/1944: prior interview with Colonel Johnny Preston; internal security duties in Tel Aviv. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of Captain Jimmy Coutts; drinking habits and consequent bar from local officers club at El Qassassin Camp; opinion of various officers including Lieutenant Gordon Mackenzie, Lieutenant Frank Florey and Major Ray Mitchell, Colonel Johnny Preston and Major Denis Worrall; training; acting as advance party on move to El Qassassin Camp; dispute with local officers at El Qassassin; reaction to posting to Italy; question of soldiers personal morale. Recollections of period in Bastardo, 7/1944-8/1944: street fighting exercise including use of PIAT and grenades; recreations; reactions to inspection by George VI; opinion of NCOs; story of Mitchell's painting activities and consequent contacts with Italian civilians. Recollections of operations against Gothic Line, 26/9/1944-10/10/1944: situation. REEL 5 Continues: capture of Petriano, 28/8/1944, including Brigadier Alan Block's example under German shellfire and question of Italian civilians assisting German artillery spotters; shooting German 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 close escape from German mortar shell; operations at Gemano, 10/9/1944-14/9/1944 including seeking orders from Captain Jimmy Coutts, story of shooting cow in barn, move into positions in Gemano, German shellfire and story of friendly chickens; opinion of Sergeant Hewitt; state of platoon morale; journey to collect new officers; leave in Rome. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Major Laurie 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 machine gun; question of getting troops to open fire; question of Stringer's movements; relationship with officer's servant Private Roger Appleby and his advice not to use German trenches at Gemano, 10/9/1944; severe knee wound and position abandoned in sunken road, rescue by Stringer. Hospitalisation in Italy, 10/1940: initial treatment at Regimental Aid Post; problem with dysentery; medical treatment and state of wound. REEL 7 Continues: Voyage on hospital ship back to GB, 12/1944: bed arrangements; reception at Glasgow. Hospitalisation in Birmingham and Brighton, 12/1944-5/1945: personal morale; smoking cigarettes; state of leg's recovery. Post-war career: reasons for leaving leave High Duty Alloys; disability pension; problems over employment with dog food firm; question of effects of wound and war service; membership of 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry Regimental Association.