Interview with Peter Roylance Noakes

British officer served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt, 32nd Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India, Ceylon and Burma, 4/1942-4/1945

REEL 1 Background in West Norwood, GB, 1921-19409: family; education; evacuation of Alleyne's School from Dulwich to Boxley. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with 8th (Home Defence) Bn Royal Sussex Regt in GB, 5/1940-12/1941: background to enlistment in Royal Sussex Regiment at Croydon, 5/1940; German Air Force attack on HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station, Ford, 15/8/1940; question of possibility of German invasion; visit to family home at Upper Norwood during German Air Force bombing campaign; joining Royal Artillery anti-aircraft unit at Blandford Camp, 12/1940; weather conditions at firing camp, Aberporth, 12/1940-1/1941. Aspects of period as officer cadet in GB, 1/1941-4/1941: initial selection interview at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station, Ford, 8/1940; experience as officer cadet at Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, 1/1941-4/1941; posting to 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in India, 4/1941; assembling of officer draft at Aldershot Garrison, 6/1941. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Strathallen Castle from GB to India via South Africa, 6/1941-8/1941: conditions for officers on board ship. REEL 2 Continues: civilian reception in Cape Town, South Africa, 7/1941; arrival in Bombay, India, 8/1941. Recollections of period with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt, 32nd Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India and Ceylon, 1942-1943: move to Dimapur; conditions at hill station at Ranikhet; gas course at Pachmarhi; Universal Carrier course at Saugor; move of unit to Calcutta, 1942; abortive voyage towards Burma, 3/1942; period at Gough Barracks, Trimulgherry near Secunderabad; formation of 20th Indian Infantry Div in Bangalore, 4/1942; divisional more to Ceylon; effect of humidity on equipment; impressions of Australian Army troops at Horana, Ceylon; formation of guerrilla platoon. REEL 3 Continues: issue of bicycles to guerrilla platoon; character of exercises; return to Ranchi, India; problems transporting Universal Carriers by railway; arrival in Dimapur, 12/1943; present of smoked venison from Gurkhas at Dimapur, Christmas 1943. Recollections of operations with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in Burma, 2/1944-4/1945: move into Kabaw Valley; role during attack on Kyaukchaw; patrols along River Chindwin; diseases prevalent in Kabaw Valley; interview with brigadier about his patrol in Kabaw Valley. REEL 4 Continues: formation of brigade box; Japanese armoured assault on brigade box; patrol to check for Japanese infiltration; landing of Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane flight on dried paddy field, 2/1944; acting as rearguard during withdrawal to Wangjing, near Imphal; parade in front of senior officers at Wangjing; character of Mombi Track across Naga Hills; relations with Naga hill people; foot care; Battle at Monywa, 1/1945; advance to River Irrawaddy; crossing of River Irrawaddy, 1/1945; Imperial Japanese Army use of 'whizz bangs'; occupying North Chaung. REEL 5 Continues: Imperial Japanese Army counter-attack on North Chaung; his acquisition of sword belonging to Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant Yamamoto; capture of intelligence from dead Imperial Japanese Army NCO; advance to Kyaukse; hearing news of his repatriation; return to India, 4/1945; recapitulation of Imperial Japanese Army attack on brigade box in Kabaw Valley, 2/1944; attitude to having served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in Burma; attitude towards Imperial Japanese Army troops; contact with Naga and Burmese civilians; question of lack of hostility from civilians in India, 1941-1943; story of contracting malaria on return to GB, 1945.