Interview with Derek Warren Watkins

British private served with 1st Bn York And Lancaster Regt, 4th Infantry Bde in Germany, 1947-1948; served with 1st Bn Green Howards (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regt), Malaya Command in Federation of Malaya, 1949-1951

REEL 1 Background in Maltby and Rossington, GB, 1928-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Rossington, GB, 1939-1945: effect of Second World War on his education; digging school field up as part of 'Dig for Victory' campaign; German Air Force aircraft which dropped bombs on school playground; presence of servicemen in area; public mood after Dunkirk Evacuation. Aspects of enlistment and training with West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) in GB, 1946-1947: reasons for joining British Army, 1946; question of lack of discipline in coal mines and attitude of Bevin boys; basic training including duties digging snow, winter 1946-1947. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn York and Lancaster Regt, 4th Infantry Bde in Germany, 1947-1948: posting to Berlin 1947; attempts of Soviet Army troops to provoke British military personnel in Berlin; devastated state of Berlin; attempt of Soviet Army troops to steal Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) supplies; shooting of Soviet Army 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 Spey Barracks in Buxtehude, 1948; reasons for volunteering for service in Federation of Malaya; story relating to British Army inefficiency. Recollections of operations as private with 1st Bn Green Howards (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regt), Malaya Command in Federation of Malaya, 1949-1951: voyage aboard HMT Dunera from GB to Federation on Malaya, 1949; train journey to Kuala Lumpur; autumn 1949; arrival at battalion at Bentong; use of 'Tommy Cooker' in jungle; involvement in vehicle accident; joining A Coy at Raub; participation in patrol accidentally ambushed by Gurkha troops, 12/1949; being lost in jungle. REEL 3 Continues: misleading fire-flies in jungle; joining A Coy, 1/1950; sight of torches in jungle; contact with Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents which led to discovery of their camp; move to Singapore for Maria Hertogh riots including imposition of curfew and attack on unit members by civilians near Changi, Singapore, 12/1950; posting to 3 Inch Mortar Platoon; accident with mortar firing; patrol in which Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents disturbed and documents captured in Tampin area; use of flares to illuminate Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents running away from attack on kampong; mortar fire demonstration in rainstorm. REEL 4 Continues: combined artillery, mortar and Royal Air Force attack near Tampin; incident when unit members had lucky escape from one mortar shoot; Malayan National Liberation Army atrocities against civilians; degree of apprehension on operations; Malayan National Liberation Army attack on vehicle carrying 1st Bn Worcestershire Regt troops; reaction to leaving Federation of Malaya, 1951; attitude of miners in to his service in Federation of Malaya in in Rossington, GB during 1950s; description of 'wait a minute bush' in Malayan jungle.