Harvey, William Herbert (Oral history)

British private served with 1st Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in GB, 1937-1938; NCO served with 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in GB, France and Belgium, 1939-1940; served with 2nd Bn Reconnaissance Corps and Pioneer Corps in GB, 1941-1943; civilian in Hull, GB, 1943-1945. NCO served with 299 Sqdn, 131 Airborne Regt, Royal Engineers in GB, Aden and Cyprus, 1947-1966

REEL 1 Background in Great Yarmouth area, 1920-1939: family circumstances; education; reasons for joining Territorial Army, 1937. Period with 1st Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in GB, 1937-1938: background to enlistment on supplementary reserve; character of basic training re-enlisting in Royal Norfolk Regt. Period with 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in GB and France, 1939-1940: short period with unit in Gibraltar; training soldiers on Bren gun at Bordon, 8/1939; voyage from Southampton to Cherbourg, France 9/1939; marching in full service order through Cherbourg; problem of rationing in Rumagies area; problems with lice. REEL 2 Continues: building fortifications on Gort Line; character of training, 1939-1940; change from service dress to battledress; leave in GB, 12/1939; unit casualties patrolling in front of Maginot Line. Recollections of operations with C Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt in Belgium and France, 5/1940: start of German offensive, 10/5/1940; advance of 2nd Div into Belgium under German Air Force attack; narrow escape from German Air Force bombing; digging in on Albert Canal; orders to withdraw from Albert Canal; transfer to Headquarters Coy; equipment carried. REEL 3 Continues: problems with wet puttees; physical condition of unit; rumour of massacre at Le Paradis; wounding at Dunkirk; evacuation to Dover. Period of hospitalisation for wounds in GB, 1940: treatment for wounds in Edinburgh; convalescence at Dunblane; question of effect of experiences on his nerves; return to 2nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt at Hessle. Period with 2nd Bn Reconnaissance Corps at Driffield, 1941: use of armoured vehicles Armadillos and Beverettes; patrolling in Yorkshire; reaction to being transferred to Pioneer Corps; story of narrow escape from German bombing of Hull in which girlfriend was injured. REEL 4 Continues: reluctance to use street shelters. Period with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1942-1943: work at Stratford-upon-Avon; move to Perry Barr; reasons why he was medically discharged from army, 1943. Period as civilian living in Hull, 1943-1945: failed attempt to join Royal Marines; German bombing of Reckitt's premises, c1943- 1944; job fire watching; Reckitt's fire service. Recollections of period with 299 Squadron, 131 Airborne Regt, Royal Engineers in GB, Aden and Cyprus, 1947-1966: reasons for re-joining Territorial Army, 1947; parachute training at Upper Heyford; flights in glider; character of parachute training. Recollections of operations with 299 Squadron, 131 Airborne Regt, Royal Engineers in Aden, 1960s: question of need to be on alert at all time; unit work on Dhala Road; mortaring of unit at Dhala Road camp; casualties insurgents inflicted on Royal Scots; anticipation of attack when his lorry broke down; relations with Adenese. Recollections of periods with 299 Squadron, 131 Airborne Regt, Royal Engineers in Cyprus, 1950s: role of unit; incident of assaults on Paratroopers by Greek Cypriots; relations between Turkish Cypriots and British troops; opinion of Turkish Cypriots; attitude towards Turkish take-over of north Cyprus c1972; fraternisation with Greek Cypriot interpreter.