Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, France, Belgium, Cyprus, Iraq, North Africa, Italy and North West Europe, 1929-1944; NCO served with 4th (Holding) and 6th Bns Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Gateshead, 1912-1939: family; area grew up in; memories of childhood; leisure activities as child; education; family home; visits to cinema; attendance at church; civilian work including details of pay; family background in Durham Light Infantry; joining of Territorial Army. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 5/1929-1/1940: drill nights; lie about age; pay; reason for joining band; instrument played and practice; make-up of band; band uniform; marching at Light Infantry; uses of band; attitude of employer toward involvement with Territorial Army; inspections before parades; storage and description of drum; maintenance of drum; learning of drill; role of bandsmen in war; uniform issued; raising money to buy band uniform and description of it; details and opinion of rifle; memories of drill sergeant; civilian attitude towards Territorial Army; marches in streets; description of drill hall; memories of commanding officers; memories of Bugle Major Frank Borthwick; use of bugles; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Laudrup; company posted in; regulars in company; further details of family involvement with regiment.
REEL 2 Continues: disappearance of Lewis Gun; opinion of bren gun; formation of Tyneside Scottish; memories of Colonel Simpson; outbreak of war; reaction to start of war; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; supply of meals; training; firing at Whitburn; pace of march; details and opinion of Whitburn Range; handing in of band kit; train journey to Cotswolds including send- off from civilians; posting in Kitebrook House; issue of bren guns; opinion of Boyes ant-tank rifle; relationship with civilians; training; motorised training; entertainments; sleeping arrangements; daily routine; evening activities; Christmas 1939; inspection from King George VI at Chipping Norton. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 1/1940-5/1940: story of getting stuck on sandbank off Cherbourg; first impressions of French; story about accommodation in Bourgonville; relationship with civilians; training; story of drink driving; attitude of civilians toward war; visits into Lille including ENSA concert; digging of anti-tank ditch near Sellin and promotions to corporal; opinion of ditch. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France and Belgium, 5/1940-6/1940: story of Flemish mistaken for Germans; move into and withdrawal from Belgium; opinion and memories of French troops; refugees on road and German aerial attacks; story of getting lost after withdrawal from Vimy Ridge; disappearance of C Company at Provin; reaction to facing fire; firing on German aircraft; withdrawal from Provin; memories of Major Bill Robinson; scenes on arrival at Dunkirk; march to La Panne; boarding of boat; attempt to locate graves of casualties at Wavrin.
REEL 3 Continues: physical state at Dunkirk; opinion of reason for failure; voyage to Dover. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1940-5/1941: journey to Rugely; leave; visits from brother when in action; reception on arrival home; reaction of civilians to situation; promotion to sergeant; activities at Rugeley; state of battalion; re- equipment; posting on south coast; settling in of reinforcements; duties in Headquarters Company; defence of beaches at Lyme Regis; story of invasion scare; actions of anti-aircraft platoon; training and problems with Molotov cocktails; problem with Thompson Submachine Gun; duties on beach; Stand To; story of adjutant's request in Iraq; improvements in transport; memories of Major Kelly and Colonel Percy; journey to Gourock; reactions to posting abroad. Aspects of voyage from Gourock, GB, to Port Suez, Egypt, aboard the SS Orduna, 5/1941-7/1941: details of ship; collision with another ship; collection of lime juice; sleeping arrangements; conditions onboard; crash of HMS Exeter's Supermarine Walrus; rations; duties during voyage; bren training; leisure activities; inspections; death of an officer; story of near riot at Aden; attitude toward officer's conditions; relationship with civilians during stay in Durban. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Cyprus, 7/1941-11/1941: camp outside and visits into Nicosia; posting in A Company and digging of defences on airfield; relationship with civilians; story of visit to Kyrenia.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of journey from Cyprus to Northern Iraq, 11/1941: voyage to Palestine; transport received in Palestine; details of journey through desert; sleeping arrangements; stop at RAF Habbaniya; marching during journey. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Iraq, 11/1941-2/1942: role of battalion; visits to Mosul; problems with weather; methods of keeping warm; Christmas 1941; rations; morale; use of oil for heating; journey to Gazala Box. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 2/1942-7/1943: details of Gazala Box; accommodation; details of desert sores and problems with flies and ants; proximity to opposing troops; story of a patrol with Sergeant Major Armstrong; explosion of mines; story of an attack from Italian troops; opinion of Italian infantry and artillery; details of listening post; further details of patrol; role in A Company; opinion and memories of platoon troops; night patrols; activities during day; breakout to Mersa Matruh; position taken in wadi; advance of captured British British trucks; shelling; memories of Private Adam Wakenshaw; story of capture by Germans and escape; journey with South African scout car; shelling of car; journey to Geneifa; return to battalion Tel-el-Eisa; course taken in Palestine and promotion to Colour Sergeant; memories and opinions of Major Worral; duties as Colour Sergeant; story of argument with Quartermaster.
REEL 5 Continues: reinforcements; description of Operation Supercharge; role during operation; noise of battle; position and role during Battle of Mareth; return to Egypt; invasion training at Kabrit. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 7/1943-10/1943: picking of parachutists from sea; requisitioning of civilian transport; reception from civilians; terrain; advance north; role at Primosole Bridge; story of attack by Italian armoured cars; walk back to A Echelon; supply of rations; scenes at Primosole Bridge; memories of Bob Carr; involvement with burial party; deaths of Major Robinson and Lieutenant Colonel Clarke; visit of Montgomery; return to GB. Aspects of period as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 11/1943-6/1944: arrival in GB; posting in Saffron Walden; leave; accommodation and suffering with change in weather; leisure activities; issue of Africa Star; contact with American troops; reinforcements and training; story of taking draft to 6th Battalion. Aspects of operations as NCO with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North West Europe, 6/1944-7/1944: rejoining of battalion in Normandy and reversion to sergeant; opinion of campaign; problems with terrain in Bocage; story of wounding at Hottot; message sent back; evacuation and hospitalisation at Bayeux; orderlies in hospital; details of pay. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 7/1944: flight to GB; hospitals stayed in; problems with ear; contact with family. Aspects of period as NCO with 4th (Holding) and 6th Bns Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1944-1945 postings in 4th and 6th Battalions; journeys to mess; accommodation; duties in Skipton; demobilisation at York; reaction to demobilisation; involvement with Regimental Association.
