Interview with Leslie James Alexander Stark

British schoolchild and civilian in West Dean, Wadhurst, Mayfield and Madehurst, GB, 9/1939-8/1945; NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Greece, 3/1946-2/1948

REEL 1 Background in Cupar and West Dean, GB, 1927-1939: family; education; story of crash of Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane during searchlight exercise at West Dean, 6/1939. Recollections of period as civilian in West Dean and Wadhurst, 1939-1945: lack of problems over issue of identity cards, 1939; move of family to Wadhurst, 12/1940; presence of Canadian Field Ambulance unit in Wadhurst, 2/1940; anti-glider precautions, 1940; sight of German Air Force formations, 7/1940-9/1940; aircraft which came down in Wadhurst area during Battle Of Britain; German Air Force use of lake as navigation point, 1940; move of family to woodland near Mayfield, 8/1940; near miss from isolated bombing attack; William Joyce 'Lord Haw Haw's' inaccurate account of air raid near Wadhurst; Supermarine Spitfire brought down between Mayfield and Burwash, 9/1940; rescue of injured pilot from RAF Manston; contact with members of Canadian armoured car regiment, autumn 1940; incident of family's narrow escape from scattering of bombs. REEL 2 Continues: second narrow escape from stray bomb; bomb which destroyed well near Mayfield; air raid precautions at Mayfield School, winter 1940-1941; time keeping of trains in Royal Tunbridge Wells; Canadian Army presence in Madehurst area, 1941; story of German Air Force bombing of house in Wadhurst Park and how George Medal was awarded to wrong person, 12/1941; presence of unexploded bombs in marshes; joining 6th (Arundel) Bn Sussex Home Guard, 10/1942; German Air Force strafing attack on Charlton Sawmill, Charlton and failure of Royal Observer Corps to track aircraft, 11/1943; effect of navy rum on Canadians after Operation Jubilee, 8/1942; opinion of French Canadian troops in Madehurst area, 1944; attitude to Londoners to German V2 Rocket strikes on London, 1944; attitude of American troops to civilians; narrow escape from German V1 Flying Bomb, Madehurst, 1944. REEL 3 Continues: sight of D-Day armada from South Downs, 6/6/1944; sight of armoured vehicles going to Normandy, France, 6/1944; death of local boy on D-Day, 6/6/1944; friendship with Canadian Army officer. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 8/1945-1/1946: enlistment, 8/1945; desire to join Parachute Regiment; reception in Colchester Garrison; training at No 1 Infantry Training Centre, Parkhurst, Isle of Wight; acceptance into Parachute Regiment; injury during assault course and transfer to Durham Light Infantry at West Hartlepool. Aspects of journey on draft from GB to Greece via Italy, 2/1946-3/1946: move to France and train journey to Milan, Italy. REEL 4 Continues: sight of devastation in Italy; voyage aboard SS Empire Rival from Naples to Piraeus, Greece, 3/1946. Recollection of period as NCO with Headquarters Coy, 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Greece, 3/1946-2/1948: arrival in Macedonia; peace keeping role of British forces, 3/1946; civilian living conditions in Xanthe area; duties with headquarters coy; low-level of casualties from Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) action; move to motor transport section; coping with winter conditions in Xanthe; wounding by Greek militiaman; apprehension of Greek troops due to Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) activity; danger of mines during motor transport convoy work, 2/1947; disposal of vehicles left behind by 17/21st Lancers in Salonika. REEL 5 Continues: motor transport work in Salonika area, 1947; lack of unit reinforcements, 1947; arranging for leave in GB, 6/1947; court of enquiry after road accident with tram; opinion of officers and NCOs he came into conflict with; ten day period in bed with stress related to depleted state of unit; rescue of brigadier in out of bounds area; promotion to sergeant, 12/1947; military and regimental customs; refusal of chance of short service commission 12/1947; abortive attempt to induce him to sign on, 1/1/1948; return to GB, 2/1948. REEL 6 Continues: story of abortive attempt to order him to escort army prisoners from Southampton to Catterick Camp, GB, 2/1948; demobilisation in Woking GB, 2/1948; question of illegal diversion of military and United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) supplies to civilians, Greece, 1946-1948; opinion of short service commissions; reasons for leaving British Army, 2/1948.