Interview with Ernest John Taylor

British civilian in Liverpool, GB, 1939-1943; seaman served with Royal Navy in GB, 1943-1944; private served with 2nd Parachute Regt in GB, 1944-1945; served with 13th Bn Parachute Regt, 5th Parachute Bde in Java, Dutch East Indies, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Background in Toxteth, Liverpool, GB, 1925-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as civilian in Liverpool, GB, 1939-1943: evacuation with school to Penmaenmawr, 9/1939; employment in Liverpool from 1939; heavy German Air Force bombing of Seaforth; use of Morrison Shelter; effects of bomb blast, 5/1941; helping empty furniture shop during German Air Force bombing in Waterloo area; public morale; training in Liverpool to become Merchant Navy radio operator. Aspects of period as seaman with Royal Navy in GB, 9/1943-8/1944: call-up to Royal Navy, 21/9/1943; offer to attend Commission Warrant course at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness, 10/1943. REEL 2 Continues: reasons for declining to attend Commission Warrant course; training at HMS Scotia, Ayr. Aspects of training with British Army in GB and Northern Ireland, 8/1944-10/1944: forcible transfer to British Army, 8/1944; move in transit to Huyton Camp; training at Limavady near Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 9/1944. Aspects of training with Parachute Regiment in GB, 10/1944-1/1945: reasons for volunteering for Parachute Regiment, 10/1944; unharmed combat training at Airborne Forces Regimental Depot, Hardwick Hall; training on 'Kilkenny Circus' at No 1 Parachute Training School, RAF at RAF Ringway; parachute training, winter 1944-1945. Aspects of period as private with Sniper Platoon, C Coy, 2nd Bn Parachute Regt in GB, 1945: joining unit at Stoke Rochford, 1/1945. REEL 3 Continues: sniper training at Oakham; sniper platoon exercises, 1945; preparations for operations in Germany and Denmark, 5/5/1945; aborting of this operation, 6/5/1945; march from Oakham to Bury St Edmunds, GB, 7/5/1945; hearing news of VE Day, 8/5/1945. Aspect of period as private with 13th Bn Parachute Regt, 5th Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in India and Malaya, 1945: transfer to unit, move to Kalian, India in preparation for Operation Zipper; billeting of unit in Raffles College in Singapore, Malaya, 8/1945. Aspects of operations as private with 13th Bn Parachute Regt, 5th Parachute Bde in Java, Dutch East Indies, 1945-1946: raids on kampongs; move of unit to Semarang; use of Japanese prisoners of war for peacekeeping duties; degree of danger to unit; later period with 1st Bn South Lancashire Regt in Palestine, 1947.