Interview with Donald Ferguson Evans

British officer served with Royal Engineers in GB, 1942-1943; served with King George V's Bengal Sappers and Miners Group in India, 1943; served with 506th Field Coy, Royal Engineers, 2nd Infantry Div in Burma, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Manchester and Gorleston-on-Sea, GB, 1921-1939: family; education. Recollection of period as civilian in Great Yarmouth, GB, 1939-1942: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; German Air Force raids; sight of German Air Force Dornier Do 17 bomber attacking ships on River Yare; role with rescue squad; civilian reaction to German Air Force bombing; types of civilian air raid shelters employed; incident when brick air raid shelter collapsed; lack of travel in wartime; training as civil engineer. Aspects of period as sapper, officer cadet and officer with Royal Engineers in GB, 1942-1943: enlistment in Royal Engineers, 1942; living conditions in Kitchener Barracks, Chatham, 1942; treatment at pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit, Wrotham; move to Officer Cadet Training Unit, Newark-on-Trent; period at Battle School, Llanberis, winter 1942- 1943; Class 9 flexible bridging work; technique for laying mines; training in disciplinary matters. REEL 2 Continues: method of handling sappers; contrast between wet and dry bridging; meaning of term 'pontoon'; Ingles Bridge; attitude to different types of engineering work he was learning. Aspects of period as officer with King George V's Bengal Sappers and Miners Group in India, 1943: voyage aboard HMS Mooltan from GB to India; arrival at Bombay and initial impressions of India; explanation of term 'Doolali Tap'; move to Roorkee to join unit; mess life at Roorkee; contrast between British Indian Army and British Army troops; question of submerging of communal differences in British Indian Army; reaction to posting to 2nd Infantry Div at Comilla; action in aid of civil power at Haridwar. REEL 3 Continues: tactics employed to disperse mob. Recollections of operations as officer with 506th Field Coy, Royal Engineers, 2nd Infantry Div in Burma, 1944-1945: composition of unit; role as reconnaissance officer; Imperial Japanese Army mining techniques; initial sapper work in Pyingaing-Shwebo area, 1944; use of armoured car and preference for using Willys Jeep; problems encountered crossing River Irrawaddy near Ava; 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry capture of train carrying Imperial Japanese Army engineer stores at Kyaukse; withdrawal of 2nd Infantry Div into India, 1945; return to Burma; communications work in Prome area; engineering work in Pegu Yomas to allow 82nd (West African) Infantry Div to cross into Irrawaddy Valley, summer 1945; problems with equipment in Pegu Yomas; memories train journey from Calcutta to Bombay, India, 1945. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of service with Royal Engineers in Burma and Singapore, Malaya, 1945-1946: landing of 6th Infantry Bde in Singapore, Malaya, 31/12/1945; reaction to Japanese surrender, 8/1945; story of damage done to telegraph poles on Prome road, Burma, 8/1945; handling Japanese prisoners of war in Singapore, Malaya, 1946; attitude towards Imperial Japanese Army troops during Second World War and afterwards; attitude to having served with Royal Engineers; question of accounting for equipment in Royal Engineers.