Cattle, Benjamin Thomas (Oral history)

British private served with 2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regt in India and Burma, 1943- 1945; NCO served with 2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regt during Occupation of Japan, 1946-1947

REEL 1 Background in Corfe Castle, 1924-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of membership of Corfe Castle Local Defence Volunteers, 1940-1942: lack of weapons; guard duties in area; listening to Churchill's speeches; German Air Force targets in area; amusing story relating to unit's firing of Spigot Mortar. Enlistment and training with British Army, 1942-1943: call-up, 5/11/1942; posting to 70th Bn Hampshire Regt, 1943; attachment to Queen's Regt for training in Guisborough area; injury to leg from thunderflash during training. Aspects of voyage from GB to India, 1943: effect of injections pre-embarkation; attempts of troops to avoid overseas postings. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of voyage from GB to India aboard SS Mooltan, 9/1943-10/1943: embarking at Greenock, 9/1943; route of ship through Mediterranean; sight of bum boats at Port Said; impressions of Aden; arrival in Bombay, 10/1943. Period with 2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regt in India, 1943-1944: joining unit at Galunchi, 10/1943; character of accommodation at Galunchi; amphibious training in Arabian Sea off Bombay; jungle training at Belgaum; role during civilian demonstrations at Nasik; keenness to avoid punishment; occasion of avoiding arrest by Military Police; soldiers' mis-use of gharries. Recollections of operations with 17 Platoon, D Coy, 2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regt in Kohima area, India, 4/1944-6/1944: move to Dimapur, spring 1944. REEL 3 Continues: accidental fire at supply base; defensive positions at Zubza; problems of trying to relieve 4th Bn Royal West Kents at Kohima; Japanese control of commanding heights; digging in on Picquet Hill, Kohima; sight of wounded troops; how unit replaced badly-mauled 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry; conditions of hillsides in monsoon; taking up positions on Garrison Hill; attempt to supply troops by air including water supplies in two gallon tins; loss of NCO trying to un-hook water supply tin; pressure to get on with job; probing Japanese positions. REEL 4 Continues: conditions on Garrison Hill; Japanese jittering tactics; importance of removing Japanese from Tennis Court and District Commissioner's Bungalow; attempt to bulldoze track to bring tank up; effectiveness of Japanese 75mm guns; unit assault on Tennis Court, 13/5/1944; use of bangalore torpedoes on bunkers; physical condition at end of action and return to Zubza; story of recovering his signet ring; return to Kohima-Imphal Road, 1/6/1944; wounding on Big Tree Hill, 4/6/1944; stretchering back to Kohima; state of casualties at Kohima hospital, 5/6/1944; infection to wound; convalescence at Shillong; re- joining unit at Maram; state of unit, 8/1944. REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of operations with 2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regt in Burma, 1944-1945: receiving reinforcements from anti-aircraft units; advance to River Chindwin; reasons for celebrations on 17/12/1944; crossing River Chindwin; narrow escape from Allied air strike; tactics employed by Japanese in fox-holes; Japanese counter-attack on River Irrawaddy; plans for crossing River Irrawaddy; crossing River Irrawaddy; reaction to walking through elephant grass; push towards Ava through tomato field; night advance towards Dirty Pagoda; machine-gunning of unit from Dirty Pagoda. REEL 6 Continues: use of tanks in race to Mandalay; entry into Mandalay after it had been taken by 19th Indian Div; Japanese shelling outside Mandalay; advance towards Mount Popa; ambush of Japanese supply lorries in Mount Popa area; injury to ankle during Japanese shelling; evacuation by L5 aircraft. Hospitalisation in India. Reaction to dropping of atomic bombs. Recollections of period as NCO with 2nd Div during Occupation of Japan, 1946-1947, reasons why he could not return home, 1945; choice of troops; promotion to corporal and then sergeant; landing in Kure, 4/1946; state of civilians at Hiro; Kohima Day parade at Matsu, 13/5/1946; move to Gomen; orders to stop black market; move to Ibasu then Tokyo; hunt for arms and ammunition; relations between British troops and Japanese civilians; attitude towards Japanese and Japan. Attitude to having served with 2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regt in Second World War. Aspects of operations with 2nd Bn Dorsetshire Regt in Burma, 1944-1945: Japanese attack at Zubza; reaction to loss of Douglas Dakota supply aircraft. REEL 7 Continues: Question of effects of having served in Burma.