Interview with Francis John Goldby

British officer served with 11th (Sphinx) Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Artillery, 29th British Infantry Bde Group in South Korea, 5/1951-7/1951; served with 11th (Sphinx) Bty, Royal Artillery, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 7/1951-11/1951

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1929-1947: family circumstances; education; German Air Force attacks on Eastleigh; sight of Allied forces' preparations for D-Day, ca 5/1944-6/1944; contact with German prisoners of war, 6/1944. Recollections of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1947-1948: call-up for military service, 1947; influence of military upbringing on his reaction to basic training; rapid promotion to sergeant; effect and opinion of Brigade of Guards training on him; officer cadet training. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Artillery in Kure, Japan, 1/1951: character of holding unit; training at Haramura Battle School. Aspects of period as officer with 45th Field Regt, Royal Artillery, 29th British Infantry Bde in South Korea, 4/1951: reception in Pusan; sniper fire directed at train on route to Ujongbu, 4/1951; arrival with regiment; move with advanced party to Kimpo Airfield. Aspects of operations as officer with 11th (Sphinx) Light Anti-Aircraft Bty, Royal Artillery, 29th British Infantry Bde Group in South Korea, 5/1951-7/1951: joining battery at Seoul; physical effects of being in battle. Recollections of operations as officer with 11th (Sphinx) Bty, Royal Artillery, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 7/1951-11/1951: conversion of regiment to Ordnance ML 4.2 Mortar battery, 7/1951. REEL 2 Continues: different units supported; establishment of fall-back line; defensive fire; role in Operation Minden, 8/9/1951-12/9/1951; United Nations' control of skies; rounds fired during capture of Samichon Valley, 3/10/1951; problems of firing mortars for long periods; all-round defence at night and occasion when he was cut off by infiltrating Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; humour extracted from use of Very Important Person (VIP) names; effect of American use of napalm; effects of shelling by USS Missouri; individually addressed Chinese propaganda; foreknowledge of Chinese People's Volunteer Army attacks from Korean porters; artistes who performed for troops especially Jack Warner, Marilyn Monroe and Carole Carr; American reaction to presence of Maori gunners in Royal New Zealand Artillery; incidents of United States Navy seamen carrying ammunition; preference for sidearm; amusing story of failure of password system; problems of firing mortars; question of reasons for higher American casualties. REEL 3 Continues: rumours relating to Turkish Army troops in action; prior recollection of narrow escape during action, 23/4/1951; reaction to participation on infantry night patrols; danger from Chinese People's Volunteer Army snipers; National Service conscript officer who became time expired in middle of battle; false expectations of what to expect in Korean War; incident of being mistaken for United States Army general, 6/1951; history behind unit title; organisation of mortar battery; opinion of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; uniform worn; sight of Korean civilian who ploughed minefield; quality of roads; attitude to political aspect of war; contact with Japanese civilians in Kure, Japan. Aspects of relief work as officer with 34th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery during floods in East Anglia, 1953: coastal defence work at Stiffkey; sights after flooding in Norfolk; relations with civilians; move to Shoeburyness-Canvey Island area.