Pluck, John (Oral history)

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Permitted use for these purposes:
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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.
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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
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Description

Object description

British NCO served with 1st Bn Middlesex Regt (Duke of Cambridge's Own), 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in North and South Korea, 1950-1951; served with 1st Bn Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt) in Federation of Malaya, 1952; served with Royal Army Pay Corps in Kenya and Cyprus, 1953-1957

Content description

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1927-1945: family circumstances; father's military service; volunteering for British Army, 1944. Recollections of operations as NCO with 8 Platoon, C Coy, 1st Bn Middlesex Regt (Duke of Cambridge's Own), 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in North and South Korea, 1950-1951: background to posting to battalion; arrival in Seoul; role of unit mopping up village, 10/1950; reaction to finding mortally wounded child in village; advance to Taegu; sight of tank battle; reaction to killing North Korean soldier, 10/1950; question of not knowing location of Communist troops' positions; character of weather during retreat southwards after Chinese intervention, 11/1950; action at Kunu-Ri Pass; attitude of United States Army drivers. REEL 2 Continues: reaction of United States Army drivers to ambush by Chinese People's Volunteer Army machine gunners, 1/1950; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1950; character of withdrawal southwards from 1/1/1951; lack of shelter or heating; method of bathing and removing body lice; method of heating factory; lack of casualties; medical problems encountered, 2/1951; problems carrying equipment; action at Hill 112; Chinese People's Volunteer Army counter-attack on Hill 112; C Coy role day after battle; narrow escape from Chinese grenade; character of Chinese resistance; casualties during action at Hill 112. REEL 3 Continues: character of leave in Tokyo, Japan; return to unit, 3/1951; daily routine and rations; role of Chinese People's Volunteer Army commando style units; move into reserve, 4/1951; return to line, 4/1951; role of battalion leading advance at Kapyong; reaction of platoon to going into action; reaction to Chinese mortaring; move into defensive positions; patrolling in front of battalion positions; contrast between British and American positions; handing over to 1st Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry; action during Battle of Billingsgate, 4/1951; importance of understanding character of firepower; duel with Chinese People's Volunteer Army sniper, 4/1951; narrow escape from United States Artillery fire. REEL 4 Continues: incidences of shell-shock amongst unit; question of treatment for shell-shock; nature of rations; problems of obtaining clothing for platoon, 1/1951; return to Hong Kong. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt) in Federation of Malaya, 1952: lack of contact with insurgents; character of jungle patrols; insurgent ambush on train; setting up of ambush in jungle. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Army Pay Corps attached to 7th (Uganda) Bn King's African Rifles in Kenya, 1953-1957: character of operations; role of King's African Rifles. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Army Pay Corps in Cyprus, 1957: sight of insurgent bombing; killing of British NCO by National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) insurgent; reaction to service in Cyprus.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content), 1945-1989 (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Pluck, John (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1997-05-16
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 17430

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