Interview with William Albert Palmer

British private served with 1st Bn Devonshire Regt, 80th Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India and Burma, 12/1943-3/1945

REEL 1 Background in Gloucester, GB, 1924-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as civilian in Gloucester, GB, 9/1939-8/1942: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939; German Air Force attacks on Gloucester; listening to radio broadcasts; membership of 5th (Gloucester) Battalion, Gloucestershire Home Guard. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1942-1943: joining British Army, 8/1942; basic training at Colchester Garrision; coastal defence duties attached to 9th Bn Royal Berkshire Regt (Princess Charlotte of Wales's); crash of United States Army Air Force aircraft at Cromer; posting to 9th Bn Devonshire Regt. Aspects of period on draft with Devonshire Regiment in GB and India, 1943: voyage aboard HMS Maloja from GB to India, 1943; initial impressions of India; nature of journey from Deolali to Dimapur then onto Imphal. Recollections of operations as private with 21 Platoon, B Coy, 1st Bn Devonshire Regt on Imphal Plain, India, 3/1944-5/1944: joining battalion at Harvest Home Camp, Imphal; withdrawal of unit over hills; effects of lack of food and water; distribution of birthday cake on Devon Hill; action on Mombi Track; reason for destruction of food stores; re-grouping on Patiala Ridge; move to Nippon Hill; under grenade attack from own unit positions. REEL 2 Continues: laying of anti-tank mines; becoming isolated on Crete West position until it was re-occupied; reconnaissance patrol during Nippon Hill action; sight of casualties at Dead Mule Gulch; loss of Nippon Hill, 16/4/1944; defence of Scraggy; move to Imphal Plain; conditions during monsoon in Ukhrul Valley; ambush of Japanese column in Ukhrul Valley; prior recollection of capture of Imperial Japanese Army flag on Crete East position during Japanese attack, 4/1944; evacuation from Ukhrul Valley with dysentery; effect of corned beef sandwich on his dysentery. Aspects of hospitalisation in Comilla, India, 1944: removal to Cormilla; physical state he was in on arrival at hospital; reasons for delayed return to unit. Recollections of operations as private with 1st Bn Devonshire Regt, 80th Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in Burma, 12/1944-3/1945: rejoining battalion; arrival of new commanding officer and visit by Lord Louis Mountbatten; night marches to River Chindwin and Monywa, 1/1945-2/1945. REEL 3 Continues: role as officer's bodyguard; crossing River Chindwin, 12/1944; wounding by artillery fire at Kyaukse, 13/3/1945; later return to battalion in India; return home on Leave in Addition to Python (LIAP) leave; second bout of dysentery; problems of obtaining work after demobilisation. Aspects of operations with 1st Bn Devonshire Regt, 80th Indian Infantry Bde, 20th Indian Infantry Div in India and Burma, 1944-1945: lack of access to boiled water; living conditions; attitude towards Japanese; fate of pilot who fell into hands of Imperial Japanese Army troops; importance of keeping down dust; nature of action at Nippon Hill, 4/1944; close quarter fighting with Imperial Japanese Army, 3/1945; question of chance of survival in Burma; attitude to having served with 1st Bn Devonshire Regt in Burma Campaign during Second World War.