Noakes, Peter Roylance (Oral history)

British officer served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in India, Ceylon and Burma, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in West Norwood, London, 1921-1939: family; education; evacuation of Alleyne's School from Dulwich to Boxley. Enlistment and training with 8th Bn Royal Sussex Regt in GB, 1940-1941: background to enlisting in Royal Sussex Regt at Croydon, c5/1940; German Air Force attack on RNAS Ford, 15/8/1940; question of possibility of German invasion; visit to family home at Upper Norwood during Blitz; joining anti-aircraft unit at Blandford Camp; weather conditions at firing camp, Aberporth, 12/1940-1/1941; character of commission interview at RNAS Ford, 1940; experience at Royal Military College, Sandhurst; posting to Northamptonshire Regt in India, 4/1941; assembling of officer draft at Aldershot, 6/1941. Voyage from GB to India aboard Strathallen Castle, 1941: conditions for officers on board ship. REEL 2 Continues: civilian reception in Cape Town, South Africa, summer 1941. Recollections of period with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in India and Ceylon, 1941-1943: arrival in Bombay, 8/1941; move to Dimapur; conditions at hill station at Ranichet; gas course at Pachmari; Bren carrier course at Saugor; move of unit to Calcutta, 1942; abortive voyage towards Burma, 1942; period at Trimulgherry Barracks, Secunderabad; formation of 20th Indian Div in Ceylon summer 1942; effect of humidity on equipment; impressions of Australians at Horana; formation of guerrilla platoon. REEL 3 Continues: issue of bicycles to guerrilla platoon; character of exercises; return to Ranchi in India; problems transporting Bren 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, 1944-1945: move into Kabaw Valley; role during attack on Kyaukchaw; patrols along River Chindwin; diseases prevalent in Kabaw Valley; interview with brigadier about Noakes' 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 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 Nagas; foot care; Battle at Monywa; advance to River Irrawaddy; crossing of River Irrawaddy; Japanese use of 'whizz bangs'; occupying North Chaung. REEL 5 Continues: Japanese counter-attack on North Chaung; his acquisition of Japanese sword belonging to Lieutenant Yamamoto; capture of intelligence from dead Japanese NCO; advance to Kyaukse; hearing news of his repatriation; return to India, 4/1945; re-capitulation of Japanese attack on brigade box in Kabaw Valley, 1944; attitude to having served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in Burma; attitude towards Japanese 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.