Interview with John Michael Jago

British civilian in Braintree, GB, 1939-1945; officer served with 1st Royal Horse Artillery in Aden, Federation of South Arabia, 1965-1967; served with 1st Royal Horse Artillery in Northern Ireland in 1969 and 1972; served with 1st Royal Horse Artillery in Cyprus, 1974

REEL 1 Background in Braintree, GB, 1935-1939: family; education. Recollections of period as schoolchild in Braintree, GB, 1939-1945: sheltering in farmyard near Greenstead Green during Battle of Britain, summer, 1940; hearing church bells ringing after victory during Battle of El Alamein, 11/1942; presence of searchlight and anti-aircraft units; sight of glider armada on route to Operation Market Garden, 9/1944; sight of crash landing of United States Army Air Force bomber aircraft; collecting bits from crashed German Air Force aircraft; use of Morrison Shelter during German V1 Flying Bomb attacks; sight and sound of German V1 Flying Bomb; Home Guard exercises in area; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; lack of privations during Second World War. Aspects of training as private with British Army in GB, 1953-1954: basic training at Essex Regiment Regimental Depot, Warley, 1953; prior experience with Essex Home Guard at Halstead during Korean War, 1950-1953; experiences with Viking Platoon, Wessex Bde at Bury St Edmunds, 1953-1954; character of basic training including rations and cleaning equipment; description of immediate action on small arms. Aspects of period as officer cadet with character of training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1954-1955: nature of training; opinion of course; Royal Artillery training at Larkhill, 8/1955. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Artillery in GB, Kenya and West Germany, 1955-1965: training with Royal Artillery at Larkhill Camp, GB, 8/1955; joining 18th Medium Regt at Larkhill Camp, GB; joining 3rd Royal Horse Artillery, 1959; move to Kenya. REEL 2 Continues: nature of posting to Kenya; attitude to troops being entertained at weekend; reasons for return to GB, 4/1960; pattern of postings in GB and West Germany, 1960-1965. Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Royal Horse Artillery in Aden, Federation of South Arabia, 1965-1967: disposition of unit batteries; contrast in duties in rural areas and urban areas; insurgent attacks on helicopters; climatic conditions; character of Tarshine Club; grenade threat from insurgents; military funeral arrangements; unit casualties; daily routine at Beihan; use of helicopters; incident of grenade being thrown amongst cinema audience, 1966. REEL 3 Continues: attitude of pi-dogs and how they were massacred; grenade thrown into soldiers' canteen at Wadi Ein, 1966; story of ascent of Sheba's Tit; relations with Adenis; vehicle and body checks on civilians in Aden City; memories of Admiral Michael Le Fanu; checkpoints in Aden City; character of Federal National Guard and Federal Regular Army forces; visits to Federal National Guard forts; reaction to having to leave Aden, 1967; return visit to Aden, Yemen, 11/1997; leaving Aden on advance party, 1967; second hand account of June Mutiny, 6/1967. REEL 4 Continues: visit to military cemetery at Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery Silent Valley, 11/1997. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Royal Horse Artillery in Northern Ireland, 1969 and 1972: peaceful nature of 1969 tour in West Belfast; guard duties at Long Kesh Prison, 1972. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Royal Horse Artillery in Cyprus, 1974: move of British civilians in British Sovereign Base Areas at time of coup; refugees from Famagusta at time of Turkish landings; relations with Turkish and Greek liaison officers at Dhekelia; dealing with threat of massacre at Pyla.