Description
Object description
British tank gunner/wireless operator served with A Sqdn, 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945; served with 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in Germany, 1946; served with Royal Scots Greys in Germany, 1946-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Ealing, 1924-1942: family circumstances; education; work as office boy with map retailers; reactions to air raid siren on outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; desire to join RAF; effects of war on map retailing; work as lathe turner, 1939-1942; activities with Air Cadets; effects of German air raids and use of air raid shelters; effects of food rationing; reactions to call up, 18/12/1942. Recollections of conditions of work, lifestyle and daily routine during basic training at Invicta Barracks, Maidstone, 12/1942-2/1943: reception; kitting out; hair cut; background of recruits; barrack accommodation; preparing for kit inspection with help from NCO; food rations; PT; route marches; cross country runs.
REEL 2 Continues: drill; weapons training including rifle, bayonet, Bren gun and hand grenades; digging slit trenches; fieldcraft; trade tests; gas mask training; preparing kit; visits to Maidstone; relationship with recruits, NCOs and officers; continuous assessment of recruits; posting to Royal Armoured Corp. Recollections of training with 60th Training Regt, RAC at Catterick Camp, 2/1943-6/1943: train journey and reception; hut accommodation and heating; training on .22 RYPA indoor turret range.
REEL 3 Continues: training on .22 RYPA indoor turret range; drill on turret 2pdr gun; vehicle mechanic training; wireless and signal training; learning to drive lorries; exercise with wireless operators; learning to drive Valentine tanks including replacing tank tracks and story of accident during night drive; passing out parade. Period with Training at Barnard Castle, ca 6/1943-9/1943: crew training; characteristics of Sherman tank turret including crew, operation of 75mm gun and Browning machine gun; method of replacing worn Browning barrel, question of turret space and viewfinder; role of driver and co-driver.
REEL 4 Continues: characteristics of Sherman and Grant tanks; types of Sherman engines and speed; crew training; driving Sherman; tank exercises; pistol training; opinion of Sten and Thompson guns; relationship with ORs; question of adequacy of training. Recollections of period with 3 Troop, A Sqdn, 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry at Rudston and Bridlington, 10/1943-3/1944: reception; opinion of various officers and NCOs including Lieutenant Hall; trade tests and posting as gunner mechanic; opinion of tank commander San Bush; exercises and repairing damage don by tanks; story illustrating comradeship.
REEL 5 Continues: exercises; firing practice at Kirkudbrighshire range; trajectory of 75mm gun; practise with .5 spigot mounted Browning gun; move into Bridlington; guard duties on tank park; relationship with civilians and RAF recruits. Period at Warbury Barracks, Aldershot, 3/1944-6/1944: barrack accommodation; visits to Aldershot; method of waterproofing Shermans; fitting of extra armour and equipment boxes; testing Sherman waterproofing in pond; absence of briefing on D Day and personal morale; view of air activity, 6/6/1944; equipment with Sherwood Firefly and firing tests at Beachy Head. Period at Gosport, 6/1944: number system; embarkation on Landing Craft Tank.
REEL 6 Recollections of crossing English Channel aboard LCT and landing at Courcelles, Normandy, France, 9/6/1944: US food rations; scene on approach to beach; landing; antis aircraft fire at German aircraft; removal of waterproofing; move inland. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle during period at Cully, 10/6/1944-26/6/1944: gradual concentration of unit; camouflage; nearby airfield; bivouacs and question of sleeping under tanks; composition food rations and cooking arrangements; cigarette and rum rations; latrines; rubbish disposal; question of concealment from air and use of mock up tanks; air activity; view of crew parachuting from Flying Fortress; reactions to view of knocked out Sherman; relationship with French civilians. Recollections of Operation Epsom, 26/6/1944-1/7/1944: briefing; personal morale.
REEL 7 Continues: role as wireless operator with 19 Wireless Set and intercom; start line; move forward towards Cheux, 26/6/1944; view as wireless operator; role loading 17pdr including stacking shells in turret; use of HE shells to expose concealed targets; breech action and shell ejection; reloading turret Browning machine gun; view of damaged tanks; role of Sherman Firefly against selected targets; nature of fighting; nebelwerfer fire; lulls in fighting; overnight laager including layout, refueling and ammunition, casualties, guard duties, wireless watch letter and parcel contracts with GB. REEL 8 Continues: nature of fighting, 27/6/1944; crossing River Odon and approach to Point 112, 28/6/1944; German self propelled guns; digging in hull down with bulldozer Sherman on Point 112; view of Carpequet airfield; effects of German mortar fire; German cutting of supply line; hearing German overnight activity; role as gunner and story of success in hitting German Mark IV; opinion of Mk IV; situation and question of infantry support; retreat across Odon, 30/6/1944; portable battery generators carried on Sherman; use of tow rope to rescue Sherman. Recollections of Operation Good wood, 17/7/1944-18/7/1944: importance of camouflaging orchard positions; posting as wireless operator to another Sherman crew; problems with dust during move; breaking down and discovery of anti-freeze in oil tank; towing Sherman to workshop and collection of replacement Sherman from beach.
REEL 9 Continues: replacement of engine and discovery of anti-freeze leak; move to form up at glider landing field at Ranville; story of meeting work friend; view of Allied air raid; crossing railway embankment and advance across open ground towards wooded area, 18/7/1944; view of Sherman being hit by shell; German anti-tank guns and tanks; conditions inside Sherman; personal morale; running short of ammunition and replenishing from knocked out Sherman; view of burning tanks; taking wounded back to railway embankment; rejoining troop; cordite fumes; limited perspective as wireless operator; fatigue; German shrapnel and small arms fire; situation; retirement to laager at Ranville; reaction to casualties and personal morale.
REEL 10 Continues: re-ammunition and supplies in laager; laager guard; fatigue; arrival of replacement tanks and crews; German nebelwerfer fire and of death of Major Joe Powell, 19/7/1944. Recollections of operations in Normandy, 7/1944-9/1944: period at Ardenne Abbey; posting to officer's Sherman; action in Vire road sector; story of fatally wounded German; nature of fighting; relationship with officers; bocage terrain; German tunnels and dugouts; story of act of defiance from German paratrooper; story of use of Browning to break up German infantry attack; story of Sherman hit by concealed Tiger tank; importance of air support; opinion of Tiger; question of Sherman's flammable reputation; method of bailing out.
REEL 11 Continues: preparations prior to failed German infantry attack; laagers; composition food rations; method of making tea; relationship with infantry and communications socket on rear of Sherman; passing through village; story of meeting brother in law; story of dealing with German 88mm gun for infantry; question of anti-tank mines and booby traps; story of being strafed by Allied aircraft despite recognition signals; abandoned German stores and vehicles in Falaise sector; German POWs; use of Sten gun carried on rear of Sherman and capture of German soldier; dead German horse transport; awareness of German panzer divisions; story of night advance and opening fire on German rear echelon. REEL 12 Continues: fast advance and crossing Seine, 28/8/1944; reception and intelligence from French civilians. Advance into Belgium, 9/1944: story of being hit be apple whilst driving Sherman; situation on entry into Antwerp; story of bailing out after Sherman caught fire; medical treatment for hand and facial burns in German hospital; liberation of hospital; evacuation by air to GB, 9/1944. Medical treatment during periods in RAF burns hospital, Swindon and Royal Infirmary, Leicester, 9/1944-11/1944. Marriage during period with Holding unit, RAC at Newmarket, 11/1944-12/1944. Period at Brussels, Belgium, 12/1944-1/1945: journey out; duties repairing Shermans; rejoining unit at Ypres. Period at Ypres, 1/1945-3/1945: reception; billets; relationship with Belgian civilians; Christmas celebrations.
REEL 13 Continues: characteristics of Comet tank and removal of inadequate turret ammunition holder; story of accidental firing of 77mm shell whilst practising loading; Comet speed engine governors; firing 77mm gun at Gravelines on German occupied Dunkirk; posting as gunner to crew of Sergeant Ray Vallance with Wireless Operator Pinnington, Co-driver Len Hawkins and Driver King of 4 Troop, A Sqdn; opinion of Vallance; opinion of 77mm gun and Beezer machine gun; question of cause of Sherman fire, 9/1944; view of shells in flight; story of providing guard of honour during visit by Montgomery; opinion of Montgomery and Colonel Scott. Recollections of advance into Germany, 3/1945-5/1945: move on tank transporters to Rhine area; crossing Rhine on pontoon bridge; view of glider landing field; nature of operations and tactical importance of bridges; story of German mortar fire on road junction; air activities; story of occupying barn outpost.
REEL 14 Continues: story of sighting German officer whilst occupying barn outpost; story of being strafed by German aircraft; role of air support against German tanks; story of bazooka attacks whilst patrolling Dortmund-Ems canal; reaction to passing nearby Belsen concentration camp; capture of German officer cadet training camp; relationship with German civilians; advance to Lubeck; surrender of German units; liberated British POWs; looted warehouses; death of Corporal Eric Bush; casualty from accidental firing of 77mm gun in laager; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; story of Len Hutchings looting shop during action. Period at Bredsted, ca 5/1945-6/1945: billets; attitude of German POWs; curfew patrols; question of non- fraternisation; handing in Comets and exchange of personnel between 1st and 2nd F&FY. Period with 1st F&FY in Hanover, ca 6/1945-9/1945: method of firing Churchill tank flame-thrower; characteristics of Churchill; question of Far East posting.
REEL 15 Continues: cancellation of planned Far East posting, 8/1945; reactions to disbandment of unit. Period with Headquarters Sqdn, Royal Scots Greys at Cavalry Barracks, Luneberg, ca 9/1945-3/1947: reception; duties as motorcycle despatch rider; attachment to Viscount Althorp; question of black market activities; criteria for demobilisation; opinion of various officers; horse gymkanas. Demobilisation, ca 3/1947. Post-war career: work as fitter; question of effects of war service; membership of South of the Border Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Regimental Association; importance of comradeship.
