Description
Object description
British trooper served with 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB and North West Europe, 1939-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, 1920-1939: family circumstances; education and qualification for civil service; rowing and Boys Scouts activiites; reaction to Nazi sympathies of German pen pal. Recollections of recruitment and training with Headquarters Coy, 2nd Fife & Forfar Yeomanry at Bowbridge Jute Works, Dundee, ca 3/1939-9/1939: intention of avoiding conscription; procedure; uniform; drill; rifle training; question of vehicles and learning to drive in civilian car; weekend camps at Annsmuir, Ladybank; relationship with ORs including Trooper Bill Scott and John Crighton; relationship with NCOs and officers; story of being awarded 'stick' on guard duty and nature of training during summer camp at Catterick Camp, 7/1939; civilian work as newspaper proof reader and in jute company office whilst awaiting civil service employment; Recollections of periods at Dundee, Kirkaldy and Leslie, 9/1939-1/1940: initial period billeted at home on mobilisation, 1/9/1939; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; move to Kirkaldy, 9/1939; duties as quartermaster's clerk dealing with unit G10/98 stores; role and opinion of Quartermaster Carlos, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Teddy Head and Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Nelson Taylor; question of German air raid on Firth of Forth area, 16/10/1939.
REEL 2 Continues: offices and billet on move to Leslie, 10/1939; office equipment; comradeship; story of abortive trip to collect ammunition from Stirling on false alarm of German Parachutist landing. Recollections of periods at Beaumont Barracks, Aldershot and Farnham, 1/1940-6/1940: advance party role; story of loss of Mark VIB tank collected by scrap merchant; opinion of Mark VIB tank and question of German tank superiority; cold conditions; recreations; move to Farnham, 2/1940; relationship with civilians and local canteen provided; opinion of Bren carrier. Recollections of period at Dungannon and Bessbrook, Northern Ireland, 6/1940-7/1941: billets; relationship with Irish civilians; question of role in event of German invasion of Eire; move to Bessbrook, 12/1940; concert party activities; story illustrating religious bigotry amongst Irish civilians in Bessbrook. Recollections of various postings in GB, 7/1941-6/1944: impact of conversion to armoured regiment on arrival at Whitby, 7/1941; opinion of Crusader, Valentine and Matilda tanks; background to posting to Armoured Car Reconnaissance Troop, Headquarters Sqdn; opinion of Daimler Scout car.
REEL 3 Continues: reconnaissance role of Daimler Armoured cars; story of hospitalisation after accidental shooting in leg by stray shot from range at Stanmore Camp, Brighton; rejoining unit at Fornham All Saints Camp; posting to Armoured Car Reconnaissance Troop, Headquarters Sqdn; opinion of Standard and Daimler Armoured Cars; armoured car crew; move to Chippenham Camp, 10/1942; reaction to cancellation of posting to North Africa; inter-squadron concert party competition; reactions to English drafts; opinion of Sherman tank; posting as tank commander of Crusader anti-aircraft tank with Anti Aircraft Troop, HQ Sqdn; role of crew; firing practice with Oerlicken AA gun; aircraft recognition training; waterproofing role defending A and B Echelons in exercises; waterproofing AA tanks and test in river at Ripon; move to Aldershot, 3/1944; story of breakdown whilst driving training AA tanks to Polish unit in Scotland. Recollections of operations in France, 6/1944-8/1944: Channel crossing and role with advance party to Cully, Normandy.
REEL 4 Continues: Crusader AA tanks; layout of unit in field near Cully; compo rations; latrines; taking up firing AA positions and absence of German aircraft activity; role in defending B Echelon from German air attack; reaction first to casualties, 26/6/1944; role accompanying A and B Echelons as cover from German air attack; role ferrying baled out tank crews from battlefield, 18/7/1944; question of German air raid on positions at Ranville glider field; disbandment of AA Troop. Recollections of period with C Sqdn, ca 26/8/1944-28/8/1944: opinion of Major Spencer Nairn; role on posting as wireless operator to Sergeant Bill Scott's tank; lack of prior training with Sherman; composition of crew; taking over as tank commander on Scott's departure on health ground; eye problems from dust during move to Seine. Recollections of being wounded following crossing of Seine, ca 29/8/1944: acting as lead tank; effects of direct hit by shell from German 88mm gun on turret; baling out; question of Sherman reputation for fallibility; comradeship of tank crew; nature of environment in tank; taking cover from German small arms fire in turnip field and story of being wounded in foot; capture by group of German soldiers; medical treatment prior to being left in barn; rescue by French civilians; arrival of British troops and evacuation to GB.
REEL 5 Evacuation to GB, 9/1944.Story of close escape from British shellfire whilst POW at railway station and subsequent explanation from escaped driver who had reported it occupied by German troops. Hospitalisation and convalescence and various postings in GB, 1944-1945: state of wounds; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945. Aspects of period as rations sergeant at Deolali and Kalyan Camps, India, ca 6/1945-3/1946: initial lack of proper posting; duties; flying back to GB. Demobilisation, 3/1946. Post-war career: reaction to loss of civil service reserved appointment; role of Major Alastair Grant in arranging work as office manager; securing permanent employment with Post Office; opinion of Grant; importance of comradeship and membership of F&FY Regimental Association.
