Cochrane, Peter (Oral history)

British officer served with 2nd Bn Cameron Highlanders in North Africa and Eritrea, GB and Italy, 1940-1944; served as staff officer with Infantry Branch, Allied Land Forces, South East Asia, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in GB, China and Java, 1919-1931: father's career as engineer and military service, 1914-1919; impressions and treatment as child during period in Shanghai, Chine, ca 1920-1924; period in Glasgow on return to GB, ca 1924-1927; impressions of period in Java, ca 1927-1930; period in preparatory school on return to GB, 1930. Recollections of conditions, lifestyle and daily routine during period attending Loretto School, Edinburgh, 1931-1938: separation from parents; uniform; dormitory; food; morning routine; organisation of forms by age and ability; subjects taught. REEL 2 Continues: review of subjects taught and teaching methods; question of relative importance of games; question of bullying; disciplinary punishment based on corporal punishment; ignorance of homosexuality; OTC activities including drill, rifle training, tactical exercises and illustration of competitive approach during Edinburgh public schools summer camp. REEL 3 Continues: OTC activities including question of realism of exercises during Edinburgh public schools summer camp, firing course at rifle range, question of signal training, instructors, award of Certificate A and question of relevance of OTC training; opinion of headmaster; influence of Latin teacher; role as prefect; prep; relationship with local people; importance of good manners; School and Higher Certificate exams. Recollections of period studying law at Wadham College, Oxford University, Oxford, 10/1938-19/1939: room accommodation; relationship with students; tutorials; lectures. REEL 4 Continues: lectures; reading lists and purchasing textbooks; nature of interest in law; passing exams; rowing activities and participation in rowing eights with Wadham College crew on River Isis; activities with Dramatic and Debating Societies; awareness of situation of Jews in Germany through Jewish family friends; awareness of approach of war, attempt to secure debate on introduction of conscription at Oxford Union and question of joining territorials; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; return to Oxford prior to enlistment; recruitment as private with London Regt, ca 9/1939. Recollections of period at Officer Cadet Training Unit, Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 10/1939-3/11940: status as wartime cadets; origins of cadets. REEL 5 Continues: conditions of service; drill and stories illustrating attitude of drill instructors; weapons training including Bren gun, hand grenades, mortars, rifle, bayonet and Boyes anti-tank rifle; question of mines; trench digging including slit trenches and siting; training in use and cutting of barbed wire; training in vehicle maintenance and driving; signals training including importance of clarity in phrasing messages; tactical training including moving troops, use of sand tables, nature of tactical exercises and principles. REEL 6 Continues: night exercises; military disciplinary system; role of officers; relationship with in officers' mess and question of mess bills; archaic visiting cards; guard duty; assessment reports; application for commission in Cameron Highlanders and prior interview with Colonel of Regiment; initial commission in Highland Light Infantry and assistance from Major Bernard Fergusson in securing change to CH; kitting out as officer. Period at CH Depot, Cameron Barracks, Inverness, 3/1940-5/1940: reception; overcrowding; billets; acting as squad instructor; organisation of regiment. REEL 7 Recollections of journey out to Port Said, Egypt, 5/1940-7/1940: kitting out; role in charge of HLI draft; abortive journey to Marseilles, France and reception on return to GB caused by declaration of war with Italy, 5/1940; period in Liverpool; conditions aboard Aquitania during voyage via Freetown, South Africa to Bombay, India; varying conditions for officers and ORs during voyage aboard steamer to Port Said; disciplinary problems with HLI draft; story of making complaint as orderly officer to senior officer over quality of ORs food. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during period with 15 Platoon, C Coy, 2nd Bn, CH in Bagush Box, 8/1940-12/1940: handing over HLI draft and train journey to Gerawald Station; anticipation as to nature of reception from regulars; reception; dispersal of unit; opinion of Major Donald Bannerman, Lieutenant David Douglas and Major Anderson. REEL 8 Continues: opinion of Major Anderson; question of effects of elderly subalterns and majors; status of platoon sergeant majors; organisation of 15 Platoon; relationship with Platoon Sergeant Horburg; importance of learning ORs names and backgrounds; long service of NCOs and ORs; situation and terrain; building sangar posts and question of relative importance of speed and neatness illustrated by opinions of Brigadier Reginald Savory and Colonel I C Cameron; composition of platoon headquarters; cooking arrangements; food rations; fly problem; desert sores; question dysentery; latrines; question of washing and shaving. REEL 9 Continues: khamsin dust storms and nature of dust problem; water supply and water bottle discipline; method of brewing tea; sea bathing; daily weapons inspection; desert faunae; drink; night visit t posts; barbed wire; desert patrols; battalion desert exercises and use of sun compass; opinion of PSMs Bain and Galloway; recreations; letter contact with GB and initial lack censorship role as officer; news of progress of war; question of Italian air raids and RAF response; recreation during Cairo leave. REEL 10 Continues: recreations during Cairo leave; account of raid on Italian Maktila Camp, 10/1940, including prior briefing, Italian machine gun fire, warning over danger of revolvers, attack and destruction of group of Italian lorries and failed attempt to remove one, value of battle experience and reaction to subsequent inaccurate newspaper report; opinion of Colonel Anderson; relationship with ORs and question of regular disciplinary offenders; award of MC. Account of attack on Nibeira and Sidi Barani Camps, 12/1940: prior secrecy and cover story of divisional exercise; move up; briefing and plan of attack; account of attack on Nibeira Camp, 8/12/1940, including Italian collapse in morale after death of local commander, piper, success of bayonet charge on Italian machine gun post and casualties; Italian POWs. REEL 11 Continues: burial party; account of attack by A and C Coys on Sidi Barani Camp, including minimal briefing, loss of contact with A Coy, over-running Italian machine gun post, close escape whilst clearing Italian dugouts, Italian POWs, confused situation and difficulties in establishing contact with unit; story illustrating effects of fatigue; attack by Italian aircraft during lorry convoy journey back to Bagush Box; increased water supply on return; effects of cold nights. Period at Amariyah Camp, Alexandra, 12/1940: leave in Cairo; establishment of sergeants' and officers' mess; behaviour of troops on local leave; relationship with Egyptian civilians; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1940. REEL 12 Continues: successful assimilation of reinforcement draft from English regiments; company defaulters parade; missing New Years Eve celebrations, 31/12/1940. Voyage to Port Sudan, Sudan, 1/1941: dancing Scottish reels; role of baggage officer. Period at Haiya Camp, 1/1941. Recollections of advance to Keren, Eritria, 1/1941-2/1941: situation and question of quality of Italian troops; plans; attack on Italian defensive position on ridge above Keru; reports of Italian cavalry charge; effects of heat and importance of water discipline on rapid route march to Keren; role of mechanised units of Sudan Defence Force; Italian defensive positions at Agarat; problems of mountain warfare. REEL 13 Continues: posting of Major Jack Crispe-Clarke to command C Coy and accelerated promotion system; nominal role as second in command of C Coy; attack round foothills of Mount Cochen including Italian plunging fire, casualties, support from I tanks and withdrawal of Italian forces when outflanked; personal morale and responsibility in action as officer; reactions to death of Sergeant Horbury; capture of Italian mule supply train; appointment of Second Lieutenant Alan G Cameron to command C Coy; replacement platoon sergeant; advance along Keren road; view of blown bridge and clearance of mines by Indian sappers. Recollections of attack on Cameron Ridge, Keren, 2/1941-3/1941: railway line and terrain; blocked road; Italian defensive positions; initial climb to railway line; steepness of climb; location of Italian machine gun posts. REEL 14 Continues: successful use of hand grenades against Italian machine gun post; charge on second machine gun post and refusal to accept surrender of Italian machine gunners; attempt to secure railway tunnel through ridge; use of heliograph to report; situation facing Mount Sanchil and Brigs Peak; firing Bren gun into tunnel; Italian success in blocking tunnel; Italian mountain guns; success in sniping Italian soldier at long range. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine on Cameron Ridge, 2/1941-3/1941: problem in consolidation in face of Italian counter-attacks; role of carrying parties; question of siting of sangars on forward and reverse slopes; barbed wire; corpses; latrines; dysentery; fly problem; makeshift cigarettes; food rations; infection of minor cuts; water supply; casualties and story of refusing to shoot badly wounded soldier. REEL 15 Continues: story of refusing to shoot badly wounded soldier and his subsequent recovery; conversations with ORs during tours of sangar posts; state of unit morale; problem with British shells dropping short and role of forward observation officers; rest periods including washing, drink supply, and drill sessions; Italian snipers; story illustrating fear of being badly wounded during Italian mortar shell fire and question of personal morale. Account of attack on Brigs Peak, 20/3/1941: prior 'O' Group briefing and plan; personal morale; artillery support arrangements; importance of rapid advance across valley; steepness of slope; over-running Italian machine gun posts; end of artillery support; effective Italian use of hand grenades; casualties and death of Sergeant Ramage; attempt to move round peak; receiving arm and leg wounds from hand grenade; isolated situation; capture by Italian troops and move to reverse slope; resumption of British shellfire on failure of attack. REEL 16 Continues: resumption of British shellfire on failure of attack; evacuation with Private Webster by mule and stretcher; shelter in railway tunnel; treatment by Italian soldiers; state of wounds; British shellfire; evacuation by ambulance via field hospital to Asmara. Period in Asmara hospital, ca 3/1941-6/1941: fellow POW patients; lack of anasthetics and painful treatment for gangrene in leg wounds; refusing option of double leg amputation; nature of prior interrogation; loss of watch; liberation on arrival of 5th Indian Div; successful operations and medical treatment from British medical personnel; military situation and Italian retreat. Period in Asmara rest camp. Ca 6/1941-8/1941: story of presentation of DSO by General Wavell after using dysentery brandy remedy. Voyage to Durban, South Africa, 11/1941-12/1941. REEL 17 Period in convalescent hospital at Pietermaritzburg, 9/1941-10/1941: relationship with South African civilians; reactions to apratheid. Voyage via Nova Scotia to GB, 10/1941-11/1941. Initial period in GB, 11/1941-12/1941: medical classification as Grade C; leave. Recollections of period in command of C Coy, 2nd Bn, CH at Voe, Shetland Islands, 12/1942-10/1943: background to renaming of unit from 4th Bn, CH; opinion of Colonel Clark; prior service at Fort George and officers Cadet Training Unit in Wales, ca 12/1941-8/; GB, Scotland & Lerwick, Shetland Isles1942; prior period as delegate to International Student Assembly at Washington and subsequent tour of USA, 8/1942-11/1942; importance of good NCOs; PT, cross country runs and sporting activities; encouraging soldiers in developing their individual skills; visits to Lerwick; relationship with ORs; drill; relationship with officers; views of future of post-war GB; marriage. REEL 18 Preparations for embarkation at Bridge of Allan, 11/1943-12/1943: late reinforcement drafts; question of choice of soldiers to be left behind; case of self inflicted wound; German Jewish soldier; embarkation leave. Voyage out to Alexandria, 12/1943. Period in Egypt, 12/1943: loss of MT; question of destination; personal morale/ Initial period in Italy, 12/1943-1/1944: good behaviour of troops in Taranto; state of unit morale; move by train and lorry in Monte Cassino area, 1/1944. Recollections of operations in Cassino area, 1/1944-3/1944: situation; taking over positions from US troops; view of Allied air raid on Monte Cassino Monastery; value of monastery as OP and German defences; role on carrying parties taking ammunition forward to front line; failure of attacks; removal of Colonel Clark; opinion of Colonel Gordon Munro; opinion of adequacy of unit training; nature of 'Bowl' crater feature; situation; occupying foxhole forward positions facing Point 593; defensive role and situation. REEL 19 Continues: nature of foxhole; problems with morale and story of soldier losing his nerve; casualties; German mortar fire; problems in evacuation of casualties; question of sniper problem; problems of British shells falling short; air activity; issue of extra clothing to counter cold weather conditions; problems with wet boots; food rations and cooking arrangements; water supply; latrines; platoon arrangements; chaotic situation on relief by another unit, 3/1944; loading mules in 'Bowl' and move back from front line sector. Period on rest, 3/1944-4/1944: washing and delousing; pay; beer and rum rations; re-equipment; move to Adriatic coast, 4/1944. Period at Castelfrentano, 4/1944: bivouac tents; billets; opinion of Colonel M G O Hill. REEL 20 Continues: opinion of Colonel Hill; role of private William Finn as officer's servant, runner and driver. Recollections of period at Arielli, 4/1944-5/1944: situation; organisation of night patrols including abandoning standing patrols, reconnaissance and fighting patrols; surrender of party of German POWs of Ukranian origin; German shellfire. Advance along coast to Gothic Line, 6/1944: crossing River Pescara; German mines; German retreat in stages; German booby traps and propaganda. Period at Mountain Warfare School, Campobasso, 6/1944: concentration of unit for course. REEL 21 Continues: reorganisation of company officers; nature of course. Recollections of operations in Tuscany, 7/1944-10/1944: terrain; mepacrine tablets; relationship with Italian partisans; nature of fighting; review of failed attack by C Coy on Monte Grillo Ridge; death of Colonel Hiil from German shellfire at Bibbiano; opinion of Colonel Jamie Thomson; funeral for Colonel Hill; role on appointment as second in command of unit with responsibility in charge of B Echelon for securing supplies and ammunition; problems with lines of communication; promotion of Company Sergeant Major Owen to Regimental Sergeant Major; relationship with Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant and Company Quartermaster Sergeants; administrative role; opinion of Colonel Alastair Noble. REEL 22 Period as temporary brigade major with Headquarters, 11th Indian Bde, 9/1944: organisation of plans for attack on San Marino; drafting and duplicating orders; subsequent return to C Coy, 2nd CH; effective staff team work. Recollections of operations in Il Borgo, ca 10/1944: crossing river; capture of village; effects of fatigue; personal and unit morale. Rest period, 10/1944-11/1944: leave and search of base hospitals for recovering convalescent Cameronian Highlanders; orders for move to Greece, 11/1944; background to application for staff college; reactions to leaving unit. Recollections of period at Staff College, Quetta, India, 1/1945-4/1945: snow; organising movements of units; role of staff officer; nature of tactical exercises; opinion of Indian Army. REEL 23 Continues: opinion of Indian Army; presence of Indian Army; presence of Indian officers ands instructors; absence of tuition in history of tactics. Period as staff officer with Infantry Branch, Allied Land Forces South East Asia at Calcutta, Ceylon and Singapore, 4/1945-4/1946: role of Infantry Branch; lack of Burma experience; reactions to VE Day, 8/5/1945; reactions to use of atomic bomb and VJ Day, 8/1945; question of position of Generals Oliver Leece and William Slim; opinion of Leece; problems over demobilisation; nature of duties; question of military career; return to GB, 4/1946; prior medical examination. Demobilisation, 4/1946. REEL 24 Post-war career: abandoning career in law; leave; securing work with publishing firm; work with book printing firm; method of writing 'Charlie Company', 1977; response to book of former soldiers of C Coy, 2nd Bn, CH; membership of Cameron Highlanders Regimental Assoc; question of physical and mental effects of war service.