Interview with John Murdoch

British private served with 6th Bn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 156th Infantry Bde, 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Glasgow and Largs, GB, 1922-1942: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939; presence of commandos in Largs area. Aspects of enlistment and training with 6th Bn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 156th Infantry Bde, 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Div in GB, 1942-1944: call-up for military service, 1/1942; training with battalion at Comrie; movement of battalion in GB; move to transit camp at Fareham, 1944. Recollections of operations as private with 6th Bn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 156th Infantry Bde, 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 1944-1945: landing at Ostend, Belgium, 10/1944; relations with Dutch civilians, 10/1944-11/1944; crossing River Rhine at Xanten, Germany, 3/1945; advance through Germany; battalion casualties; capture of Bremen, Germany; degree of German resistance, 4/1945; plight of inmates on liberation of Stalag X-B, Sandbostel, Germany. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of service with British Army, 1946-1962: role at No 7 Internment Camp at Iserlohn, Germany; garrison police work at Headquarters, British Army of the Rhine at Bad Oeynhausen, 1949-1953; period with 1st Bn Royal Scots (The Royal Regt) in Berlin; contrasting traditions between Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and Royal Scots (The Highland Regiment); short period with 1st Bn Royal Scots (The Highland Regt) in South Korea, 1953-1954; patrol work in Canal Zone, Egypt, 1954; reasons for signing on with British Army for twenty two years, 1947; return to 1st Bn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 1954; pattern of service in Bahrain, Aden, Aden Protectorate, Kenya and Jordan.