Interview with Albert Joseph Wilkins

British gunner served with 24th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 7th Indian Infantry Div in India and Burma, 1941-1945; private served with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in Germany, 1946

REEL 1 Background in Leyton and Walthamstow, GB, 1921-1939: family circumstances; education. Recollections of period as civilian in Walthamstow, GB, 1940: German Air Force bombing of family home, 9/1940; bomb damage in Walthamstow. Aspects of period as gunner with Royal Artillery, 1941: call-up for military training; basic training at Aldershot Garrison; joining 82nd Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery. Aspects of voyage from GB to India, 10/1941-12/1941: weather conditions; diverting of unit from Egypt to Bombay, India, 12/1941. Recollections of period as gunner with 24th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 7th Indian Infantry Div in India, 1942-1943: turning back of regiment at sea on voyage to Rangoon, Burma; formation of unit; duties; civil disturbance duties in Calcutta; contact with Anglo-Indian family in Calcutta. Aspects of operations as gunner with 24th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 7th Indian Infantry Div in Arakan, Burma, 1/1944-2/1944: signals work in Mayu Range, 1/1944; medical problems encountered. REEL 2 Continues: crossing Mayu Range; orders to form road block to stem Imperial Japanese Army advance, 2/1944; wounding in hip; evacuation into Admin Box; survival of Imperial Japanese Army massacre in hospital in Admin Box; nature of fighting at road block where he was wounded; medical evacuation to Admin Box in Universal Carrier; entry into Admin Box; medical treatment in Admin Box hospital; Imperial Japanese Army attack on Admin Box hospital and refuge in jungle; evacuation and convalescence at Elephant Point. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as gunner with 24th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 7th Indian Infantry Div in Burma, 1944-1945: role of unit during advance; demand of Burmese civilians for Japanese occupation money; night watch duties; opinion of Imperial Japanese Army troops; incident of comrade tortured by Imperial Japanese Army; 2nd Bn South Lancashire Regt (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers) casualties in Irrawaddy Valley. Aspects of period as private with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in Germany, 1946: guarding Schutzstaffel (SS) prisoners; visits by Albert Pierrepoint to execute Schutzstaffel (SS) personnel. Reflections on military service in Burma Campaign: attitude to having served in Burma with Royal Artillery; reaction to being interviewed by Imperial War Museum.