Hunter, John (Oral history)

British trooper served with 1st and 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Kirkaldy, 1922-1939: family circumstances; education; swimming activities; work as french polisher. Recollections of recruitment and training with 20th Armoured Car Coy, <Fife & Forfar Yeomanry> Royal Armoured Corps at Hunter Street Drill Hall, 4/1939-9/1939: reasons for joining; procedure; kitting out and uniform; training on Vickers machine gun; drill with Regimental Sergeant Major Jones; training at weekend camps at Annsmuir, Ladybank; learning to drive lorry; summer camp at Catterick Camp, 7/1939, including kit inspection and firing Vickers and Bren gun on firing range; approach of war; reactions to mobilisation, 1/9/1939; brother's military service. Aspects of period in Kirkaldy and Leslie, 9/1939-1/1940: posting as driver to C Sqdn, 2nd F&FY; initial home billets in Kirkaldy; march to Leslie, 10/1939; kit inspection; routine duties driving Fordson lorry; send off on move to Aldershot, 1/1940. Aspects of period at Aldershot and Runfold, 1/1940-6/1940: accommodation at Beaumont Barracks; food rations; move to billets at Runfold, 2/1940; learning to drive Bren carriers. REEL 2 Continues: Mark VI B tanks; relationship with ORs and NCOs; opinion of various officers including Major Alastair Spencer Nairn; drafts to replace underage soldiers and question of English troopers. Aspects of period at Dungannon and Bessbrook, Northern Ireland, 6/1940-7/1941: journey out and problem with train; C Sqdn billets in castle; posting to Bren carrier troop including exercises, role of crew, Boyes anti-tank rifle; story of being caught by Colonel Sandy McIntosh eating at civilian house during exercise; relationship with Irish civilians; story of getting lost on route march; question of Christmas parties at Dungannon, 25/12/1940; move to Bessbrook; 12/1940. Aspects of various postings in GB, 7/1941-6/1944: Whitby, 7/1941: billets at Whitby; conversion to armoured regiment; posting as lorry driver; opinion of Valentine tank; opinion of Captain Harry Melville and his role in command of A Echelons; training; period at Hove and Brighton, 5/1942-8/1942. REEL 3 Continues: reactions to cancellation of intended posting to North Africa whilst at Chippenham Camp; opinion of Sherman tank; restricted food rations on exercises; waterproofing lorry at Aldershot; practise in loading Landing Ship Tanks <LST>. Aspects of initial period at Cully, Normandy, France, 6/1944: prior Channel crossing and beach landing, ca 19/6/1944; amusing incidents during move to Cully; role driving ammunition Ford lorry; camouflage netting; compo rations; reactions to visit to knocked out tanks; question of German snipers in villages; German air attack. Aspects of Operations Epsom and Goodwood, 26/6/1944-19/7/1944: move up with A1 supply column to supply ammunition to C Sqdn Shermans; role of co-drivers; occupying slit trenches overnight at laager; hot food rations from cook's lorry; morning dispersal of laager; question of role of Melville and troop sergeant majors in arranging rendezvous with A Echelon; replenishing ammunition supply; reaction to casualties and reinforcement drafts; death of Driver Johnny Adamson during mission with ammunition truck to Point 112; fatigue. REEL 4 Continues: lack of lights when driving; fatigue; story of retreat under German shellfire after discovery through accidental firing of tank gun in Point 112 sector; casualties during German air raid on Ranville glider field, 18/7/1944; slit trench. Aspects of advance through France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, 8/1944-5/1945: use of German 88mm in anti-tank capacity and question of effects on Sherman; burns victim; routine duties supplying Sherman in laager; problem with supplies during fast advance to Amiens; period at St Nicholas; capture of Antwerp; relationship with French, Belgium and Dutch civilians; opinion of Major Alistair Grant; move to Helmund; relationship with Dutch civilians; German air raid; period in Venlo sector; move to Ypres, 12/1944; visit by Montgomery; move to Namur during German Ardennes offensive, 12/1944-1/1945; opinion of Comet tank and comparison with Sherman; story of getting stuck whilst crossing Rhine, 3/1945; policy of non-fraternisation with German civilians; hospitalisation with sore throat; role driving Quartermaster sergeants' supply lorry. REEL 5 Continues: opinion of predecessor as driver, Frank McGlaschen; advance to Lubeck; VE Day celebrations, 9/5/1944. Period at Bredstedt; 5/1945-1/1946: recreations; relationship with German civilians and ex-service personnel; local leave on Fahr Island. Period as driver with Military Government at Dusseldorf, 1/1946-4/1946: collecting armoured cars from Osnabruck due to tense situation; role; refusal to remain in army. Demobilisation, 4/1946. Post-war career: return to work as french polisher; tinitinus caused by war service and question of disability pension rights; membership of F&FY Regimental Association.