Description
Object description
British trooper served with B Sqdn, 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1944. Suffered serious facial wounds and post-war disfigurement
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Swanley, 1924-1942: family circumstances; education; work in flower nursery. 1938-1939; outbreak of war and reaction to air raid warning, 3/9/1939; redundancy; work as garage fitter at laundry, 1939-1942; desire to enlist; activities with Dartford Home Guard, 1940-1942, including uniform and equipment, patrols, training exercises, question of First World War veterans and father's shrapnel wounds and story illustrating lack of weapons; fire watching at garage; German air raids and family decision not to use air raid shelter; procedure on call up, 10/1942. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during basic training with King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Depot at Beverley, 10/1942-11/1942: wearing Home Guard uniform; assessment tests; kitting out; hut accommodation; PT including boxing, cross country runs and route marches.
REEL 2 Continues: weapons training; drill; night exercises; relationship with NCOs and officers; preparing for kit inspections; relationship with recruits; visits to Beverley; question of status on church parade as Roman Catholic. Recollections of training with 53rd Training Regt, Royal Armoured Corps at Barnard Castle, 11/1942-2/1943: passing lorry driving test; driving Covenator and Crusader tanks including problem with reverse steering; characteristics of Covenantor and Crusader tanks; workshop training; problems with signal training. Recollections of period with 2 Troop, B Sqdn, 2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry at Chippenham Camp, 4/1943-6/1943: reception from Scots; opinion of Lieutenant William Black.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of Lieutenant William Black, Corporal Neville Chamberlain and Sergeant Andy Beatty; story of New Years Eve celebrations at Bridlington, 31/12/1943; story of getting drunk drinking whisky chasers with Scottish troopers; acting as co-driver with crew commander Lieutenant William Black, Gunner Frank Crighton, Wireless operator Eddie Parker and Driver Dave Sutherland; characteristics of driving Sherman tank including method of driving, wireless system, role as co-driver, use of hull Browning machine gun, role of turret crew. Periods at Rudston and Bridlington, 6/1943-3/1944: state of Rudston Camp on arrival, 6/1943; opinion of Major John Gilmour, Captain Trehearne, squadron sergeant major and Colonel Alex Scott; tactical exercises; move into billets in Bridlington.
REEL 4 Continues: divisional exercises and story of being designated as wounded; firing 75mm gun at Kirckudbrigshire tank range; story of knocking down wall driving Sherman on return from Scarborough firing range and subsequent punishment by Colonel Alec Scott; Sherman clip on headlights; attending local dances; visit by George VI. Period in Warburg Barracks, Aldershot, 3/1944-6/1944: background to riot amongst Herefordshire Regt; B Sqdn photograph; waterproofing Sherman; approach of D-Day and personal morale; view of gliders, 6/6/1944. Recollections of Channel crossing, 16/6/1944: boarding Landing Ship Tanks; landing at Courcelles; move inland. Recollections of period at Cully, 15/6/1944-26/6/1944: camouflaged positions in orchard; question of bivouac tarpaulins and digging trenches under Sherman; food rations and cooking arrangements; cigarette smoking; washing; latrines; story of French womens' attempt to set up tent brothel.
REEL 5 Continues: story of reactions to Driver Dave Sutherland's baby. Recollections of Operation Epsom, 26/6/1944-1/7/1944: attack on Cheux, 26/6/1944; nebelwerfer fire on positions in Hill 112 sector, 28/6/1944-30/6/1944; story of incident with Lieutenant Joe Grimond during withdrawal; overnight laager. Recollections of Operation Goodwood, 18/7/1944: briefing; position on left flank of advance; Allied bombing raid support; advance behind artillery barrage and effects of shells dropping short; state of morale; attempt to camouflage turret with tree branches; meeting army film cameraman; use of Sten gun; waiting to link up with Guards Armoured Div; opening fire on Panthers and bailing out on Sherman brewing up after being hit; running back through cornfields and lift from Rifle Brigade; German air burst shellfire; German POW's attempts to get help for wounded German.
REEL 6 Continues; situation at Ranville glider field; sleeping in glider; tank suit; effects of German night air raid; movements prior to rejoining unit. Recollections of operations during advance to Belgium, 8/1944-9/1944: role as driver with new crew consisting of Wireless Operator Geoff Marshall, Lieutenant Gillespie and Gunner Frank Garrison; drunken co-driver; crossing Seine at Vernon; opinion of Major Gilmour; view of retreating German horse transport; story of sighting panzerfaust, direct hit from Sherman turret Browning machine gun and surrender of German soldiers; reception from French civilians; fast pace of advance; running out of petrol; accidental attack by RAF aircraft; question of entry into Brussels; fatigue during night advance to Amiens, 31/8/1944; reception from Belgian civilians on entry into Antwerp, 3/9/1944; Belgian partisans and question of treatment of collaborators; story of firing shot at tugboat. Account of being wounded during operations in Belgium, 9/1944: taking over from Guards Armoured Div.
REEL 7 Continues: situation; story of accompanying infantry patrol towards windmill; loss of contact with infantry; muddy conditions and returning by road; opening fire on German windmill positions ; running into German infantry on road; effects of panzerfaust hit on rear of Sherman and difficulty in bailing out as Sherman brewed up; leg wound received by Frank Garrison; capture by German infantry; personal morale whilst bailing out; first aid for garrison; situation; German fire on half-track ambulance; prior direct hit on German anti-tank gun; story of Garrison's attempt to use revolver and success in disarming him; question of being shot by Germans and consequent to escape carrying Garrison; facial wound and taking cover in ditch; rescue by party of British infantry and Major Gilmour; carrying Garrison back by stretcher; state of facial wounds; Garrison's wounds; evacuation via field dressing station, hospital in Brussels and air to GB, 9/1944. Recollections of period in Hereford General Hospital, 9/1944: initial insomnia despite fatigue; initial operations on nose.
REEL 8 Recollections of treatment at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, 9/1944-3/1946: series of plastic surgery operation; reactions to facial disfigurement; reactions to medical discharge, 2/1945; disability pension and subsequent medical board assessment. Post-war career: return to work as driver at laundry; question of reactions to facial disfigurement; taking work as coach driver to meet people; nightmares; mental effects of war service; membership of South of the Border Group, Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Regimental Association.
