Watkins, Derek Warren (Oral history)

British private served with 1st Bn York And Lancaster Regt in Germany, 1947-1948; served with 1st Bn Green Howards in Malaya, 1949-1951

REEL 1 Family and education. Period as schoolboy in Rossington, 1939-1945: effect of Second World War on his schooling; digging school field up as part of 'Dig for Victory' campaign; German aircraft which dropped bombs on school playground; servicemen in area; public mood after Dunkirk. Reasons for joining army, 1946. Question of lack of discipline in coal mines and attitude of Bevin boys. Period of basic training with West Yorkshire Regt, 1946 including digging snow in winter 1946-1947 Period with 1st Bn York and Lancaster Regt in Germany, 1947-1948: posting to Berlin 1947; attempts of Russian troops to provoke British troops in Berlin; devastated state of Berlin; attempt of Russian troops to steal NAAFI supplies; shooting of Russian deserter in British Zone of Berlin; special guard duties. REEL 2 Continues: organisational deficiencies of British Army; blood donations by troops after tram accident in Wuppertal, 1948; character of barracks in Buxtehude, 1948. Reasons for volunteering for Malaya. Story relating to army inefficiency. Voyage from GB to Malaya aboard Dunera, 1949. Recollections of operations with 1st Bn Green Howards in Malaya, 1949-1951: train journey to Kuala Lumpur; autumn 1949; arrival at unit, Bentong, Pahang; use of tommy cooker in jungle; involvement in vehicle accident; joining A Coy at Raub; patrol in which his patrol was accidentally ambushed by Gurkhas, 12/1949; lost in jungle. REEL 3 Continues: misleading fire-flies in jungle; move of A Coy to Srimanti, 1/1950; sight of torches in jungle; contact with insurgents which led to camp of their camp; move to Singapore for Maria Hertogh riots including imposition of curfew and attack on unit members near Changi by civilians, 12/1950; posting to 3 inch mortar platoon; accident with mortar firing; patrol in which insurgents disturbed and documents captured in Tampin area; use of flares to illuminate insurgents running away from attack on kampong; mortar fire demonstration in rainstorm. REEL 4 Continues: combined artillery, mortar and RAF attack near Tampin; incident when unit members had lucky escape from one mortar shoot; insurgent atrocities against civilians; degree of apprehension on operations; insurgent attack on vehicle carrying Worcestershire Regt troops; reaction to leaving Malaya, 1951. Attitude of miners in Rossington to his service in Malaya, 1950s. Description of 'wait a minute bush' in Malayan jungle