Interview with William Rhodes James

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Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

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Description

Object description

British officer served with 1/6th Bn Gurkha Rifles in India, 1939-1943; served with 1/6th Bn Gurkha Rifles, 64th Indian Infantry Bde, 19th Indian Infantry Div in Burma, 1944-1945; served with 1/6th Bn Gurkha Rifles, 48th Gurkha Bde in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1958

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Maymyo, Burma and GB, 1919-1939: family circumstances; education. Recollections of operations with 1/6th Bn Gurkha Rifles on North West Frontier of India, 1939-1941: joining battalion, 3/1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; nature of operations against Fakir of Ipi; character of Gurkha troops. Aspects of period with 1/6th Bn Gurkha Rifles, 64th Indian Infantry Bde, 19th Indian Infantry Div in India, 1942-1943: divisional move to Madras, 4/1942; Combined Operations training at Nasik; jungle training at Nilambur. Recollections of operations commanding B Coy, 1/6th Bn Gurkha Rifles 64th Indian Infantry Bde, 19th Indian Infantry Div in Burma, 1944-1945: crossing River Chindwin, organisation of unit; use of mules; advance to Banmauk and Shwebo; first contact with Imperial Japanese Army; reaction to battalion casualties; behaviour of Imperial Japanese Army troops after loss of officer. REEL 2 Continues: ambushing Imperial Japanese Army troops on route to Shwebo; loss of Douglas Dakota aircraft to Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft; crossing River Irrawaddy; capture of Minbantong Hill and Imperial Japanese Army counter-attack; plight of mules under fire; opinion of bravery of Imperial Japanese Army officers; Imperial Japanese Army attacks on River Irrawaddy bridgehead; Imperial Japanese Army tactics against light tanks at Singu; concentrated Imperial Japanese Army artillery bombardment of battalion; co-operation with tanks at Khanpa; wounding at Shwepe; question of tendency of Imperial Japanese Army machine gunners to shoot high; attack on Mandalay; flight in United States Army Air Force aircraft at Thazi; role of battalion in attack on Kulor. REEL 3 Continues: move to Pyu; role of unit in stopping Japanese forces penetrating Pegu Yomas; acquiring medals from body of Imperial Japanese Army officer; taking command of unit in Shwegyin area; rounding up of Japanese prisoners of war in Shwegyin area after VJ Day, 15/8/1945; failure to enlist Imperial Japanese Army officer to collect his men into captivity; attitude to having served in Burma Campaign; attitude towards Japanese; question of influence of Nepal Congress Party amongst Gurkha soldiers. Aspects of operations as officer with 1/6th Bn Gurkha Rifles, 48th Gurkha Bde in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1958: areas operated in; character of operations against insurgents. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of General Walter Walker; attitude to being interviewed.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), 1945-1989 (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
James, William Rhodes (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1999-10-13
Dimensions: whole: Duration 105, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 19816

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Interview with William Rhodes James

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