Description
Object description
British trooper served with 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Bebington, Wirral, GB, 1924-1942: family circumstances; education; family dairy business; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; work assisting with milk round and illustration of zones established; recruitment and training with 21st Bn, <Home Guard> Cheshire Regt, ca 1940-1942, including Smith gun, story of tactical exercises with regulars, duties guarding territorial depot and subsequent conversion to anti-aircraft unit; dropping of German landmine; German air attack on Liverpool, 1941; background to volunteering and interview at Recruitment Office at Renshaw Street, Liverpool, 20/10/1942. Recollections of training with Rifle Brigade at Fulford Barracks, York, 12/1942-1/1943: reception; barrack room.
REEL 2 Continues: use of bugle calls; food rations; light infantry drill; rifle range; VIP inspection; bayonet training; opinion of Sten gun; PT; story of being sick after drinking in York; relationship with civilian women; ; 'dubbing' boots; relationship with recruits and NCOs; story of stealing beer crate from NCOs; attitude to discipline. Recollections of period with 70th Bn, Rifle Brigade at Ranby Camp, Retford, 1/1943: discipline; run marches; story of fight between riflemen; training as Bren carrier driver; stories of training in mortar and Boyes anti-tank rifle; soldier suffering from nightmares.
REEL 3 Continues: exercises; story of vandalising indoor rifle range; background to reclassification of medical grade from B1 to A1 and request from brother (Stan Hayes) to claim him for 2nd Fife & Forfar Yeomanry. Recollections of period with 55th Training Regt, Royal Armoured Corps at Farnborough Camp, 7/1943-11/1943: secrecy over view of testing of Whittle jet aircraft prototype at RAF Farnborough; learning to drive Covenantor tank including problems in operation of gears; fail safe gear device and training in Long Valley; training on RYPA 6pdr turret mock up; training on 15cwt lorries; basic mechanical course; discipline; story of successful objection to inclusion on overseas draft. Recollection of period as driver mechanic with 2nd Fife & Forfar Yeomanry at Bridlington, 11/1943-3/1944: initial posting to B Echelon MT; story of cancellation of posting to Workshops, 29th Armoured Bde on failing required trade test; pay problems; story of repairing engine of Sherman tank; posting as fitter to A Sqdn.
REEL 4 Continues: story of one eyes fitter; opinion of Sergeant Nobby Clarke and his method of synchronising Sherman Chrysler engines; presence of brother; roles of tank crew and fitters; question of relationship with Scottish personnel; recreations in Bridlington; guard and fire watching duties; exercises; peeling potatoes; various amusing stories illustrating lifestyle. Recollections of period at Warburg Barracks, Aldershot and Gosport, 3/1944-6/1944: hut accommodation; special church service; problem with water-proofing and lorries batteries; story of brother being trapped in tank during water proofing test; opinion of Sherman tank; method of starting Sherman radial engines.
REEL 5 Continues: size of fitters' section; songs sung; story of swimming lessons; visit to garrison theatre; move into sealed camp, 6/1944; story of 'Chad' joke; modelling vehicle mascots from water-proofing compound; gambling on cards; secrecy; visits to London; story of losing convoy during drive to Gosport; salute from First World War veteran. Recollections of Channel crossing to Courcelles, Normandy, France, ca 16/6/1944: problem with loose tanks in rough weather; towing 'Rhino' containers; petrol storage; lifebelt; situation on disembarkation on beach. Recollections of period at Cully, 6/1944: view of Auster aircraft landing; role of A and B Echelons; role as second driver on ammunition lorry with Driver Joe Nickell; sleeping arrangements; story of Medical Officer injured in diving into latrines; food rations and problems in heating tins. Recollections of Operation Epsom, 26/6/1944-1/7/1944: top hat symbol; opinion of Padre Walsh; move into field outside Cheux; conversation with Lieutenant Steel-Brownlie and warning of German shellfire.
REEL 6 Continues: camouflage nets; taking cover from nebelwerfer fire in slit trenches; period of unconsciousness from blast; period with isolated soldiers from 53rd Div; move into orchard near Hill 112; story of padre from another unit; withdrawal across River Odon, 29/6/1944. Recollections of Operation Goodwood, 18/7/1944-19/7/1944: method of changing Sherman bogie wheels; casualties; story of soldier accidentally evacuated as wounded; question of tank recovery; question of Sherman flammability; checking new Shermans. Period at Ardenne Abbey, 7/1944: detachment as wireless operator to armoured recovery vehicle Sherman; dispute over removal of wireless component from Captain Voller's Sherman; team organising replacement of vehicles with dummies on divisional move. Recollections of advance from Normandy, 7/1944-9/1944: re-organisation visit to medical officer and dispute with padre over provision of wooden crosses; opinion of padre.
REEL 7 Continues: return to role as second driver on petrol lorry with Driver Tony Pope; story of lorry breaking down; move towards Falaise; reactions to view of German corpses collected in US vehicles; volunteering to assist in digging graves and wooden crosses erected; role in refuelling Shermans; reaction to reception from French civilians at Vernon; advance to Amiens and story of being offered pipe band instruments from 1st F&FY buried at Vimy, 1940; amusing story of French courting couple. Recollections of operations in Belgium and Netherlands, 9/1940-12/1944: situation during capture of Arnham; casualties caused by German bombing of Rex cinema, Antwerp; pig-sty billet; German jet artillery observation aircraft; Bren gun post guarding billets and accidental exchange of fire with fitters; billets and relationship with Dutch civilians at Helmond; French volunteer attached to A Sqdn.
REEL 8 Continues: opinion of French volunteer. Period at Ypres, 12/1944: relationship with Belgian civilians; billets; posting to fitters' section; stripping Bedford lorries and problems with replacement engines; story of getting drunk at dance; emergency moves to get Bedfords ready for move to Ardennes. Recollections of operations in Ardennes, 12/1944-1/1945: re-equipment with Shermans at Brussels; breakdowns; method of replacing and tightening Sherman tracks; stories illustrating reception from French civilians and Christmas gifts at Dinant; story of raiding supply depot for jeep spares; story of refusing meal in French chateau; story of clash with US troops in billet; opinion of US troops; Sidcot tank suits; lack of contact with Colonel Alex Scott; winter road conditions; situation; post-war visit; return to Ypres.
REEL 9 Recollections of period at Ypres, 1/1945-3/1945: relationship with Belgian civilians; tank firing range at Gravelines; charactersitics of Comet tank; story of parking Comet in warehouse and warning against revving up engine from Rolls Royce representatives; initial gear box problems; question of maintaining Rolls Royce Merlin engines; eerie atmosphere on night guard duty; cat; Sunday ceremony; Menin gate ceremony; front line role on transfer to A1 Echelon, Headquarters Sqdn; issue of escape packs; role driving ammunition lorry. Recollections of advance into Germany, 3/1944-5/1944: driving across pontoon bridge over Rhine; role of advanced troops; persona morale action at Teutoberger Weld, 1/4/1945; opinion of US MRV Sherman adaptation; German air attack on bridge over Dortmund-Ems Canal; mission to take HE ammunition up to Comets in quarry position.
REEL 10 Continues: mission to take HE ammunition up to Comets in quarry position; reaction of infantry officer to casualties; delay on return to unit and close escape from German sniper; formation of Toddforce and role at Belsen Concentration Camp; role of Jewish German interpreters; use of US 'pop' tents; story of mission to take HE ammunition and rum ration to tank unit in action; story of steering fault after collision and repair by brother's fitting team; near accident with souvenir Italian revolver; use of B Echelon vehicles to take German civilians to Belsen Concentration Camp and view of evacuation of German troops under truce arrangements; story of getting mixed up with German troops on march. Period at Bredstedt, 5/1945-10/1945: billets; question of transfer to 1st F&FY for Far East service.
REEL 11 Continues: reactions to VE Day, 8/5/1945; story of fatal accident of lorry carrying Polish civilians; VJ Day, 8/1945; offer of post-war work from friend; reaction to armoured car unit sent into Denmark; story of German troops singing as they left Denmark; relationship with German civilians and non-fraternisation ban; blackmarket activities; making estate biller from tank; transport duties; opinion of Captain Steel Brownlie and Major Hutchkisson. Period as tank driver with B Sqdn, 5th Royal Tank Regt at Willster and Hann, 10/1945-8/1947: reception; story of being late on parade and subsequent complaint to officer on being confined to barracks; refusal of offer of transfer; story of driving Comet; story of disputes with officer; second hand report of firing squad; selection for Corps guard duty; attending driver mechanics instructional course.
REEL 12 Continues: story of accidental presence whilst NCO was being disciplined by officer; story of theft of racing skiff; move to Hann; stories of former veterinary soldier; arrest of soldier for murder; re-equipment with Centurion tank and accident at railway bridge; opinion of Centurion. Demobilisation, 8/1947. Post-war career: return to dairy business; service with 610 Sqdn, Auxiliary Air Force, RAF, 1950-1953, including call-up on conversion from Spitfires to Meteors and role as motor mechanic; background to medical treatment and claiming pension for onset of Mesnieres disease and hearing problems.
