Hilder, Richard Waterhouse (Oral history)

British trooper served with Life Guards in GB, 1941; officer served with 26th Hussars in India, 1942-1943; served with 59 Headquarters Column, 14th Infantry Bde, Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition in Burma, 1944; served with 3rd Carabiniers in Burma, 1945

REEL 1 Background in York and Ingatestone, GB, 1921-1939: family; education. Aspects of running family farm at Stock, GB, 1939-1940. Aspects of period as trooper with Life Guards in GB, 1941: initial training in Windsor and London; mounting King's Guard at Knightsbridge Barracks; duties during London Blitz; conversion to infantry role. Aspects of period as officer cadet at Blackdown in GB including loss of examination papers and posting to 5th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, 1942. Voyage from GB to India aboard SS Pasteur, 1942. Recollections of period as officer with 26th Hussars in India, 1942-1943: military police duties in Bombay; work in aid of civil power, 1942. REEL 2 Continues: posting to Nira Camp, Poona area; tank training at Ahmednagar; opinion of Lee tanks; disbandment of unit, 1943. Aspects of period with 14th Infantry Bde training with Chindits in India, 1943-1944: joining unit at Jhansi; problems of training mules; role of gypsy trainer; method of river crossing; character of journey across India. Recollections of operations as officer with 59 Headquarters Column, 14th Infantry Bde, 3rd Indian Infantry Div during Second Chindit Expedition in Burma, 1944: character of flight into Aberdeen; march towards Indaw; relationship with Kachins; terrain operated in; feeding of mules and men during march. REEL 3 Continues: question of inadequacy of rations; role of his platoon; character of Chindit experience; number of casualties; clashes with Japanese troops; burial of Chindits; illnesses suffered; attitude towards Japanese troops; attachment of platoon to 2nd Black Watch for skirmish at Labu. Various aspects of formation of 14th Indian Landing Bde at Secunderabad. Recollections of operations as officer with 4 Troop, B Sqdn, 3rd Carabiniers in Burma, 1945: character of fighting during advance south; relations with Burmese; condition of unit's Lee tanks; arrival in Rangoon, 1945. REEL 4 Continues: Return to GB, 11/1945. Various aspects of role in transit camp for Poles near Oxford, 1945-1946. Recollections of period as farmer in Stock, GB, 1946-1950: return to father's farm, 7/1946; cultivating flax; crop rotation; later stock farming. Attitude to having served in Second World War. Question of long term effects of having served in Second World War.