Stuckey, Kenneth Mark 'Dick' (Oral history)

British officer with South Staffordshire Regt in GB, 1939-1940; served with Nigeria Regt in Nigeria, 1940-1942; served with 43 Column, 12th Bn Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force, 3rd West African Bde, Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition in Burma, 1944; staff officer served as brigade major with 63rd Gurkha Bde in Malaya, 1953-1955

REEL 1 Background in Somerset, GB, 1920-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Royal Military College, Sandhurst in GB, 1939: commissioning into South Staffordshire Regt, 12/1939; question of whether cadets should be under military law after 3/9/1939; memories of Bernard Fergusson. Aspects of period as officer with South Staffordshire Regt in GB, 1940: condition of unit officers returning from Dunkirk at Lichfield, summer 1940; joining 10th Bn to defend Redhill airfield, summer 1940; invasion scare, eastern Scotland, 9/1940. REEL 2 Continues: civilian accident at Carnoustie golf course minefield, 9/1940; volunteering for Commandos and service in Africa; period in London during German Air Force attacks, autumn 1940. Voyage from GB to Nigeria aboard HMS Almanzora, 1940: security of destination; detour to Freetown; surf boats at Takaoradi; dangers to luggage in unloading in Gulf of Guinea; disembarkation at Lagos. Recollections of period as officer with A Coy, 8th Bn Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria, 1940-1942: joining unit at Enugu, Iboland, 11/1940; opinion of Colonial efficiency at Enugu; nature of race relations. REEL 3 Continues: recruitment methods and level of training; reasons for attractiveness of army to Africans; character of officers and NCOs; learning Hausa language; recuperative leave for officers; taking command of A Coy; area of recruitment; tribal origins of recruits; recruitment of men from French colonies and quality of their French; degree of instruction for soldiers; loyalties of troops; use of imans; level of discipline among troops. Transfer to northern Nigeria for airfield defence on supply line to Western Desert, Maiduguri, 1942. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with 12th Bn Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force, 3rd West African Bde training with Chindits in India, 1943-1944: arrival in India; reasons for unit attachment to Chindits; compoisition of 3rd Nigerian Bde; numbering of battalions as columns; Orde Wingate's theory of long range penetration; role of air arm; techniques employed in training; move across India towards front-line, 2/1944; handling mules; Mountbatten's way with troops; memories of Orde Wingate; role of US personnel. Recollections of operations as officer with 43 Column, 12th Bn Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force, 3rd West African Bde, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition in Burma 1944: landing at Aberdeen. REEL 5 Continues: wounding during Japanese Air Force Zero attack on Aberdeen; evacuation to hospital at Sauger; wish to return to unit and escape from convalescent depot; return to Aberdeen; organisation of flight to White City; Japanese attack on White City; demoralising effect of Japanese 6 inch 'coal scuttle' mortar; Japanese attempts to render White City harmless; role of White City; evacuation of White City, 5/1944; stench of mule graveyard; push towards Mogaung; aid given to 2nd Bn Black Watch; attack on Hill 60. REEL 6 Continues: attack on Hill 60 including nature of attack, Japanese counter attack, destruction of Skip Taylor's O Group by Chinese artillery undershoot, condition of column and its allocation to patrolling, Allied air attacks on Hill 60 and story of South Wales Borderers experience on Hill 60; final march towards Mogaung; death of soldier from exhaustion; physical and mental condition on reaching India; question of age of participants. REEL 7 Continues: Question of use of Nigerian 'martial races'. Recollections of period as brigade major with 63rd Gurkha Bde in Malaya, 1953-1955: role and duties; basing at Seremban and then Muad; character of battalions in brigade; effective role of Fijians in jungle; carrying out his staff work.