Martin, George (Oral history)

British officer served with 2nd Lothian and Border Horse in North Africa, Italy and Austria, 1943-1945; served with Army Education Corps in Italy, 1945-1947

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Garston and Allerton, Liverpool, 1916-1942: family circumstances; education; interest in woodwork and attending technical school, 1929-1931; interests in photography, bicycling and cricket; work as apprentice joiner, 1931-1932; work for electrical contractor; work in DIY shop whist qualifying in carpentry at technical college; work as improver in joiner's shop; study programme with ambition of becoming woodwork teacher; work as chief setter out in joiners shop for building firm; awareness of approach of war; manufacture of plotting tables and blackout screens; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939. REEL 2 Continues: decision to get married, 2/1940; building moulds for pillbox concrete; story of anti-aircraft guns firing at Hampdens. Recollections of recruitment and training with Local Defence Volunteers/Home Guard, 6/1940-3/1942: initial lack of uniform and equipment; nature of training; issue of Ross rifles; guard duty; role during German air raids and story of German bomber shot down by Spitfires; promotion to lance corporal and role as weapons instructor; Molotov cocktails; investigation into shot fired by guard; medical and question of reserve occupation status; question of choice of unit; call up to join Royal Armoured Corps. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during period with 53rd Training Regt, RAC at Menin Barracks, Catterick Camp, 3/1942-10/1942: reception; kitting out; story of accidentally saluting Regimental Sergeant Major; accommodation; relationship with recruits and NCOs; breakfast; PT; drill. REEL 3 Continues: drill and story of taking drill parade; infantry tactical and weapons training; vaccinations; route marches; pistol training; story of rich recruit arriving in Rolls Royce; food rations; canteen; walks; learning to drive lorries; signal training on 19 Wireless Set including tuning, Morse code and wireless procedure; gunnery training on Valentine tank 2pdr gun; sand table training in gunnery direction; German tank recognition; Beza machine gun training. REEL 4 Continues: inadequate training in driving Valentine; mechanical training; question of commission and interview with colonel; test from War Office Selection Board; pre-OCTU training; special friend. Recollections of training with RAC OCTU at Sandhurst Military College, 10/1942-5/1943: reception; drill and relationship with instructors; nature of tactical training; shell types; story of gear lever failure in Covenantor tank; TEWTS; use of 'turret down' and 'hull down' tank positions; tank exercises; classification of crew; signal training; inadequate motorcycle training. REEL 5 Continues: training with Churchill tank on ranges and near accident with 6pdr gun mechanism; lectures on principles of man management and importance of setting example as officer; common room; infantry battle course under live ammunition fire at Capel Curig; question of adequacy of training; commission and passing out parade, 5/1943. Initial postings in GB, 10/1942-7/1943: tactical training on moors with Covenantors during period with Holding Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers; period with Holding Bn, Border Regt at Farnley Park, Leeds. Voyage with draft aboard Corinthia from Liverpool to Algiers, Algeria, ca 7/1943: story of meeting friend in Liverpool; duties; storm; escorts. Initial period in Algeria & Tunisia, ca 7/1943-8/1943: first impressions; coastal voyage to Phillipeville; period in transit camp; requesting posting to unit with fast tanks. Recollections of period with 1 Troop, B Sqdn, Lothian & Border Horse at Robertville, 8/1943-2/1944: prior interview with Captain Goodrich; reception and interview with Colonel Nicholson; opinion of Major Anstruther-Grey. REEL 6 Continues: opinion of various officers; relationship with NCOs and ORs; characteristics of Sherman tank and role of driver, co-driver, gunner, wireless operator and commander; use of No 19 Wireless and intercom system; familiarisation training with Sherman; setting gun sights and range firing; policy of stopping to fire 75mm gun due to inadequate gyroscopic system; troop and squadron exercises. REEL 7 Continues: divisional exercise disrupted by rain; malaria problem and anti-mosquito precautions; story of kit inspection disrupted by sandstorm; officers' mess and guest nights; role as duty officer; role in censorship of letters; question of officers pastoral role; role of padres and religious services; sporting activities; rest camp; relationship with French civilians; lack of contact with Arab civilians and question of them thieving; story of making fire gap using Sherman during shrub fire; leave in Constantine and story of reclaiming stolen vehicle. REEL 8 Journey to Naples, Italy, 2/1944: preparations; problems with food poisoning during road convoy to Algiers; voyage aboard Sobieski including overcrowded conditions and near collision; disembarkation and initial period at Afrigola Camp. Period at Piedmonte di Alife, 3/1944-5/1944: officers' mess in farmhouse; working parties on roads; Sherman camouflage nets; training with Royal West Kent Regt; radio socket for infantry communication on back of Sherman; relationship with Italian civilians; noise of fighting in Monte Cassino area; training with RWK and their attitude to working with tanks. Move to Monte Cassino area, 5/1944: personal morale; taped route; dust problem; artillery exchanges. Recollections of operations in Monte Cassino area, 5/1944-6/1944: 'O' group briefing and situation prior to following crossing River Rapido, 13/5/1944; crossing bridge under German shellfire; prior ditched Sherman; ditched Shermans on trying to cross muddy stream; success in unditching Sherman; locating possible point for scissor bridge; abandoning attempts to cross stream and advance up valley; firing at party of German officers; vulnerability on move into wooded area; emergency reverse due to nebelwerfer fire. REEL 9 Continues: emergency reverse due to nebelwerfer fire; question of German snipers; question of effect of nebelwerfer fire on Sherman; overnight laager including taking up defensive positions, arrival of B Echelon vehicles under German shellfire, replenishment of fuel and ammunition, compo and US food rations, methods of cooking and brewing tea, guard duty and absence of wireless watch; 'O' Groups including maps, objectives codes, briefing NCOs and question of questioning orders; sleeping arrangements; move on to ridge, observation on foot and close escape from German shellfire; nature of fighting; situation in Monte Grand and Monte Piccolo sector on fall of Monte Cassino; story of feeding Welsh Guards prior to failed night attack; move forward. REEL 10 Continues: stragglers from Welsh Guards; story of success in locating and destroying German command post; German shellfire; personal morale. Recollections of advance towards and round Rome, 6/1944: question of German tanks; hilly terrain and restriction of tanks to roads; absence of German aircraft; close escape from being attacked by Hurricane; question of German mines; orders to suspend fast advance towards Rome and move to east; story of passing through lines of Free French artillery unit; situation; circumstances of being hit by C Sqdn tank, question of Sherman flammability and baling out; taking over corporal's tank; subsequent meeting with C Sqdn NCO who fired shot; issued of tank cannibalised from salvaged turret and hull; checking gun accuracy; rest periods including German shellfire and recreations. REEL 11 Continues: terrain in Monte Redondo sector; concentration of fire on German troops moving out of factory buildings; replenishing ammunition under German harassing shellfire; story of advance to previously reconnoitred ridge reported as clear of German troops including action against German troops in slit trenches, taking prisoners, success in clearing concealed German troops waiting to ambush British infantry, casualties amongst Headquarters Troop caught on forward slope, opening fire on German observation post and German shellfire during retirement; nature of advance; reception from Italian civilians in Narni, 17/6/1944; continued advance; story of taking up concealed position overlooking road and stories of intercepting German traffic; story of clearing burning debris from back of Sherman after being hit by German shell; rest periods; letter contact with GB. REEL 12 Continues: letter and parcel contact with GB; forces newspapers; isolated location of overnight laagers; German shellfire on rest billets; stories of loss of nerve of inexperienced officer and shell shocked NCO; story illustrating importance of compatible behaviour amongst tank crews. Recollections of attack on Corciano bottleneck, 20/6/1944: situation; initial reserve role and failure of A Sqdn attack; move forward and inability to break through bottleneck; reconnaissance on foot; failed attempt by 2 Troop; rescue of wounded NCO from baled out crew. REEL 13 Continues: failed attempt by 3 Troop; abandonment of attack following breakthrough on another a route. Recollections of operations in Arezzo sector, 7/1944: prior reorganisation; situation and reactions to role in plan to draw fire of German mobile artillery unit; deliberate creation of dust cloud; overhearing German wireless transmissions; reconnaissance on foot; success in drawing German shellfire and close escape from shell during withdrawal; congratulations following destruction of guns; role holding line of Arezzo-Latino road; firing at Tiger tank; story of direct hit on troops sergeant's Sherman, minor arm wound and rescue attempts amongst baled out crew. REEL 14 Continues: fatal casualties amongst baled out crew; Tiger's movements and question of not opening fire during rescue attempts; comparison of Tiger and Sherman. Periods of hospitalisation and convalescence, 7/1944: state of arm wound; relationship with Italian civilians; writing to next of kin; rejoining unit. Advance on Pontesievo, 7/1944-9/1944: terrain and nature of advance; firing on German OP; visit to Italian farm; German booby traps; nature of fighting. Period at San Bavello, 9/1944-10/1944: role supporting Royal Engineers; muddy conditions; training with new drafts; gun breech accident. Period in Fontanelice sector, 10/1944: establishing base; situation; signs of fighting on Monte Capella; story of foot reconnaissance for possible tank advance along bed of River Santerno. REEL 15 Continues: story of foot reconnaissance for possible tank advance along bed of River Santerno and discovery of former German headquarters and return under neberlwerfer fire; question of feasibility of attack along Santerno and cancellation due to flood; story of trip across fragile Bailey bridge to salvage furniture from former German headquarters. Recollections of acting as infantry unit in Monte Perzola sector, 11/1944-3/1944: establishing base at Bagno-a-Ripoli; front line rota; move up to Casa Baffadosa; occupying ruined farmhouse; standing patrols; food rations; latrines; story of British shells falling short during bombardment prior to attack on Monte Perzola; situation; story of breaking dentures and difficulty in securing dental treatment; Christmas celebrations, 2512/1944; relationship with Italian civilians. REEL 16 Continues: story of reconnaissance patrol across river to occupy house in Tosignano sector, 1/1945, including German movements, signals breakdown, problem with smoker's nerves; noting German defences and return to British lines; conditions in positions on summit of Monte Perzola; story of using captured German Spandau against German machine gun post and subsequent confusion; winter uniform; local leave in Rome; course in German infantry weapons and opinion of Spandau and Shmeisser. REEL 17 Continues: cleaning billets before move. Recollections of period at Pesaro, 3/1945-4/1945: re-equipment with Sherman Firefly; problems with ammunition storage and adaptations required to allow continued use of co-drivers; opinion of Sherman Firefly; drive shaft failure testing 105cm howitzer Sherman; question of approach of end of war and withdrawal of units for Second Front; joint training with Rifle Brigade; flame-thrower demonstration; move forward and fitting of track extension plates. Recollections of operations in Argenta sector, 4/1945: missed opportunity to fire at German column; failure of turret training equipment and absence of replacement; locating concealed German positions on canal bank; success of air support in dealing with advancing Tigers. Recollections of operations on Bondero sector, 4/1945: situation; failed attempt by C Sqdn to take bride; demolition of bridge; taking up positions covering road to cut off approaching German column and question of siting 6pdr anti-tank gun of Rifle Brigade. REEL 18 Continues: question of siting 6pdr anti-tank gun of Rifle Brigade and request for flares; confusion caused by arrival of B Echelon transport; effects of opening fire on German column and 6pdr gun position; patrol and interrogation of Italian farmer; capture of German vehicles; state of German POWs. Advance to River Po, 4/1945-5/1945: absence of opposition; riverbank positions and German corpses in river; reactions to end of war in Italy, 2/5/1945; conversion to Staghound Armoured Cars; unit insignia. Period in Issencapel, Austria, 5/1945-8/1945: unit role; billets; report of clash with Yugoslav Partisans; anti-Nazi patrols and collecting weapons; collection of White Russian troops; reclaiming German loot; question of non-fraternisation and relationship with Austrian civilians. REEL 19 Continues: ignorance of black market; replacement by regular unit. Period in Milan area, Italy, 8/1945-3/1946: internal security role; transfer to regimental education scheme and role running pre-demobilisation training scheme; reaction to disbandment of unit. Period with Army Education Corps at Perugia University, 3/1946-5/1946: training as teacher; recreational visits; nature of course. Recollections of period as education officer at Headquarters, 61st Bde in Verona, Trieste and Pardonne, 5/1946-5/1947: promotion to captain; relationship with Brigadier Alan Gore; establishing education office and library; visits to battalions; relationship with Italian civilians and problems with thefts; story of post-war meeting with ex-German soldier who had served in Verona; move to Trieste; securing building s school and special educational pre-demobilisation courses; move to Pardonne; extension of service; refusal of offer of promotion and return to Austria. REEL 20 Continues: refusal of offer of promotion and return to Austria; story of inexperienced education officer; journey back to GB, 5/1947. Demobilisation at Aldershot, 5/1947: demob suit; retention of officers kit; story of theft of kit in Naples during trip to photograph wartime route through Italy, 2/1947. Post-war career: initial leave; decision to become teacher rather than work in building trade; story of securing accommodation and teaching position in Chesterfield; career as teacher; question of effects of war service.