Richardson, George Stephenson (Oral history)

British private trained with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1940; private and NCO served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, Cyprus, Iraq, North Africa, Italy and North West Europe, 1940-1944; served with 21st Army Headquarters Defence Coy in North West Europe, 1944-1945; served with Essex Regt in GB, 1945; served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1945

REEL 1 Background in New Herrington, GB, 1919-1940: family; education; opinion of education; membership of scouts; work at Herrington Colliery; further education ultimately learning to survey mines; registration for army service and call-up; false air raid alarm on outbreak of war 9/1939; patriotism and more on boy scouts; receiving of call-up papers; letters from Sunderland Technical College principle; fear of going to war; reason for joining army; reaction of parents to his joining army; medical in Sunderland; story of placement in Durham Light Infantry. Aspects of period as recruit training at Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1/1940-6/1940 : journey to and arrival at Brancepeth Castle; story of prisoner scrubbing steps; issue of uniform and equipment; journey to Willington; description of accommodation; first army meal; issue and filling of palliasse; make-up of squad; accommodation of NCOs; making of bed; civilian clothes taken home. REEL 2 Continues: cleaning of accommodation; washing facilities; morning procedures; opinion of treatment; previous experience of tough life; working uniform; breakfast; introductory lectures; learning of regimental history; rifle training; marching pace; boot inspections; medical; first weekend leave; details of pay; story of first pay parade; reception from parents on first leave; drills learned; visits to Durham for baths; lunch; weekends and visits to Salvation Army; relationship with civilians; arrival of Sergeant Slater; parade of Willington squads after three weeks; contact with officers; self defence combat and gymnastics; working day; bayonet training at Tow Law; gas training; course at Whitburn firing range including weapons training at Willington; training with Bren gun; training with gas mask; bullying from NCOs. REEL 3 Continues: lecture on military law; items bought with pay; background of troops; end of basic training; issue of cleaning of equipment; rifle inspections; cleaning of rifle; kit inspections; regularity of haircuts; inoculations; guard duties at Company Headquarters; NCOs at Willington; acceptance of treatment from NCOs; interview with Sergeant Slater; reason for posting to signals platoon; accommodation at Browney Colliery in Meadowfield; baths; sleeping arrangements; welcome from NCOs at Meadowfield; Morse code training; maintenance of field telephone and laying of cable; semaphore training; signal lamp training; morning practices; telephones used; care needed laying cables near water; opinion of German field telephones; maintenance of telephones; 12 line exchanges; tests at Brancepeth Castle; award of crossed flags; activities following Dunkirk evacuation. REEL 4 Continues: state of troops returning from Dunkirk; evacuated troops at Browney Colliery; opinion of Dunkirk veterans as to reasons for defeat; effects of Dunkirk on young troops; guard duties on railway bridge; roadblocks in area; story of shooting at car of orderly officer; interview with commanding officer; stories from evacuated troops; contact with civilians; posting to Holding Company at Hartlepool; patrol duties; air raids. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1940- 5/1941: joining of 6th Battalion at Cannock Chase; accommodation; weather; reinforcements from Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; background of signal platoon troops; make-up of Headquarters Company; move to Dorset; story told about split of battalion in France; training with rifle companies; increasing importance of signals platoon to battalion; role of battalion on Chesil Beach; accommodation in Litton Cheney; Stand To and first meeting with Major Watson; posting to intelligence section and promotion to Lance Corporal; survey work undertaken; headquarters and hide built on Punknowle Hill; artillery support; situation and physical training; story of 21st birthday; issue of bicycles; rumours of attempted invasion; air activity; wooden spikes erected in fields; area covered by 50th Division; contact with civilians; description of NAAFI. REEL 5 Continues: roles of maps made; location of NAAFI and cookhouse; latrines; position of rifle companies; story of being suspected of being a fifth columnist; night patrols; leave in Caterham; story of an air raid and attempt to capture parachutist in Surrey; shooting of injured horse; posting in Uffculme; request to return to signal section; role of intelligence section; accommodation of signals section in Willand; training with and description of No 18 Wireless; transportation of No 18 Wireless; weapons carried by signals platoon; use of No 18 Wireless; range of No 18 Wireless; other forms of communication; use of despatch riders and accommodation in Uffculme; recording of messages received; communications in a static situation; artillery practice shooting; route marches; exercises; contact with supporting arms; receiving and spreading of information; contact with rifle companies; changing of wireless frequencies; code books; sending of company commander's messages; opinion that commanders had no faith in communications. REEL 6 Continues: activities of battalion; story of exercise with 149 Brigade; Royal Army Service Corps support; relationship with civilians including activities of bugles; leisure activities and baths; memories of Lance Sergeant Dawes; training with riflemen; laying of cables; method of breaking opposition lines; mail; censorship of mail; rumour of posting in Iceland; length of time at Uffculme; Christmas 1940 leave; lectures about being posted abroad; issue of khaki dress; rumours of destination; parading in khaki dress; equipment issued for posting abroad; reaction to going abroad; embarkation leave; attitude towards men not in army; loss of troops to key occupations; near return to colliery and reason for unit's refusal; train journey to Glasgow. Aspects of journey from Glasgow, GB, to Port Tewfik, Egypt, aboard the Duchess of Winchester, 5/1941-7/1941: storage of equipment; description of ship; units onboard; embarkation; footwear worn on deck; guard duties; sleeping arrangements; conditions on ship; details of convoy; scenes from deck; seasickness; deck located on; problems sleeping in hammock; make-up of convoy; disappearance of escort; Morse code practice. REEL 7 Continues: sleeping arrangements; bugle calls for meals; rations; reason for disappearance of escort; discipline; roll calls; boat drill; water ration; washing facilities; route taken and changing of clocks; leisure activities including bingo sessions; money taken from bingo for PRO Fund; entertainments; boxing competitions; problems with climate; guard duties; accommodation of officers; conditions for troops; swimming pool; duties; signal training; rifle training; death of pilot from HMS Exeter; church parades and communion; bumboats in Freetown harbour; attack from aircraft; reading of inter-ship signals en route to South Africa; enjoyment of voyage; reaction to coming action; attitude of veterans toward defeat in France; reception fro civilians in Durban; parade at Durban Cricket Ground; troops taken onboard; stop in Aden; disembarkation at Port Tewfik. Aspects of period in transit through Egypt, 7/1941: first impressions of Egypt; train journey to camp near Ismailia; description of camp; morning procedures; sunburned troops; length of time in camp; training and discipline. REEL 8 Continues: health of battalion; rations; origin of rations; sanitary conditions; size and organisation of camp; learning of bugle calls; camp cinema; change of blanco; route marches; role of camp; signalling activities; journey to Port Said; boarding and description of HMS Nyzam; voyage to Cyprus. Aspects of period as NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Cyprus, 7/1941-11/1941: arrival in Famagusta; accommodation in Larnaca; impressions of Cyprus; story of first visits to Larnaca; relationship with civilians; building of airfield; lines laid among companies including length of line carried; relationship with civilians; in bounds brothels in Larnaca; costs; VD precautions and treatment; number of registered brothels; examination of prostitutes; girls at cinema; army attitude towards VD; role of battalion; arrival of RAF; air raids; length of time on Cyprus; posting near Nicosia; change in role; exercises; signal training including new equipment used; communications with brigade and division headquarters; mountain training; trips to Kyrenia and Nicosia; relationship with Sherwood Foresters. REEL 9 Continues: description of a brigade exercise with artillery and live ammunition; communications on exercise; details of dispatch riders; RAF presence; make-up of support company; officers and NCOs in battalion; memories of Major Ovenden; health of battalion; acclimatisation in Cyprus; topees; accommodation; latrines; rations; supplements to rations; local wine; details of pay; discipline of battalion; mail; news of war; opinion of chances against an Axis attack. Aspects of period in transit from Cyprus to Iraq, 11/1941: journey to Haifa; posting in Acre; description of area; accommodation; handover and checks made on transport; entertainments; knowledge of destination; story of fighting column sent to Syria; route taken into Iraq; stops at pumping stations; conditions on journey; maintenance of trucks; movement in column; desert buses; stop at RAF Habbaniyah. REEL 10 Continues: daily routine during journey; truck and weapon inspections; civilians raid on camp at RAF Habbaniyah; search for weapons and arrest of culprits; increases in security; description of Habbaniyah; entertainments; condition of roads in Mesopotamia; journey through Baghdad; impressions of civilians; journey to Kirkuk; scenes in area; march to camp. Aspects of period as NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Iraq, 11/1941-2/1942: location of camp; weather conditions; coping with cold; accommodation; latrines; disposal of rubbish; activities of signal section; parades; sports; role of battalion; defences built; Christmas 1941 in Mosul; story of wild boar hunt; rations; contact with civilians; policy of Standing To; patrols and guards; training with Thompson Sub- Machine guns; methods of keeping troops busy; fights among NCOs; jaundice outbreak among officers; work in officers mess; communications; spread of signallers; size of signals staff and duties in battalion headquarters; spread of rumours from bugles and signals officer; mail. REEL 11 Continues: journey to Sinai Desert; crossing of Suez Canal; train journey to Western Desert; changes in terrain. Aspects of operations as NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1942-1943: description of Gazala Line; defences around positions; reaction to being in a war zone; opinion of chances against German forces; supporting arms; accommodation; heaters made; water rations; cleanliness; shaving in tea; trips to mobile baths; changing of blankets; proximity to German lines; details of listening post duties; comfort and rations at listening post; opinion that acclimatised by now; details of Jock Columns; capture of Italian tank by Captain Cole; souvenir picked up by column; role in Jock Columns; radio signals sent out from cardboard tanks; air activity and reactions to coming under fire; effect of columns on morale; German attack on 150 Brigade; tank battle at Knightsbridge; firing of box artillery and German retaliation; halving of water rations; story of reconnaissance mission for escape route; activity in signals office; opinion of Regimental Sergeant Major Page; Stand To and patrols sent out; preparations for breakout; briefing of officers; reaction to situation; departure of first Durham battalion; 6th Battalion breakout. REEL 12 Continues: position in breakout; scenes during breakout; orders for engagement; surprise of Italians; Italian POWs taken; singing of regimental hymn and sounds heard; distance to open desert; route taken; convoy; orders and point for rendezvous; reactions following morning; details of withdrawal including troops passed through; journey into Egypt including water and fuel situation; navigation; preparations for breakout; dropping off of POWs; arrival at concentration centre on Egyptian border; help given to artillery during journey to Egypt; story of discovering a laager of German tanks; method of escaping from laager; date of breakout; situation at Mersa Matruh; disappearance of Whitwell; position taken on escarpment; NAAFI supplies brought up; shelter taken in wadi; troops in wadi close by; position taken by anti-tank gun; approach of armoured cars; fight with cars; troops taken prisoner; withdrawal of remaining cars; items taken from armoured car by Regimental Sergeant Major Page; breakout from wadi; reaction following breakouts; award of Military Cross to Regimental Sergeant Major Page; survivors from his breakout group; morale; death of Hubert Latham; importance of religion; arrival at Alamein and reunion with battalion; roll calls; telegram sent to parents. REEL 13 Continues: activity on arrival at Alamein; search for Division police and battalion; state of battalion; changes in signals including promotion to corporal; building up of Alamein line; reactions of loss of troops; reformation and visits to Alexandria; army attitude to letting soldiers relieve tension in towns; promotion of Sergeant Dawes; move into reserve position on Alamein Line; wounding of Sergeant Dawes; takeover of signals platoon; reinforcements including arrival of Sergeant Teag; arrival of signals officer; duties of troops guarding camps and capturing objectives; involvement in actions as infantryman; role in composite battalion during bayonet charge; casualties and opinion of charge; sounds during attack; opinion of Colonel Battiscombe; movement of advance; separation from Colonel Battiscombe; position dug with 8th Battalion officer; breakdown of wireless; reactions to and following action; reaction to fighting in close combat with Germans; effects of rum ration; description of rum issued; issue of rum en route to Sicily; more on reactions following action; rest in Alexandria; orders to not shave at Gazala; story of rescinding of order at Alamein; arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Watson; relief of New Zealand troops in Alamein Line; patrol activity; Royal Army Medical Corps rescue of wounded troops. REEL 14 Continues: Royal Army Medical Corps support; description of Alamein Line; artillery and air activity in line; marking of forward positions; minefield; position in line; accommodation; activity to north; message from and impressions of Montgomery; effect of Montgomery's decisions on morale; improvements in equipment and training; relief of positions and march north; actions of Highland Divisions; move into forward positions; plan for attack including marking of line of advance; time of advance; artillery bombardment; infantry and barrage advance; work of intelligence section; use of wireless sets; attachment to B Company; start of advance; reactions before operation; issue of rum; description of advance; role in B Company; orders for advance; digging into positions; bombardment from Germans; noise and light during advance; loss of contact with battalion headquarters; BBC commentary; control of advance; equipment carried; fate of Battalion Headquarters; disappearance of company commander; advance of German tanks; actions of a 9th Battalion sergeant; actions of tanks during day; rations; decision to return to battalion headquarters; pass through 8th Battalion positions; return to battalion during tank battle; signallers killed at headquarters; withdrawal of battalion; activities of stretcher bearers; reformation; receiving and sending of messages during advance; use of code names. REEL 15 Continues: reformation of battalion; scenes on battlefield during journey to coast road; start of journey along coast; POWs taken on journey; Italians left behind; passing through of RAF Regiment and arrival at Fukah airfield; cessation of advance and return; reinforcements; advance to Benghazi area; mushrooms in camp; training for street fighting; Christmas 1942; position in camp; scenes on advance to Tripoli; visit to Tripoli; evidence of fighting on arrival in Mareth Line; description of positions at Mareth; movement up to line; briefing for attack; advance of 6th Battalion; terrain fighting over; own advance with another signaller; Italian POWs taken; message sent from Italian positions; description of positions; contact with Battalion Headquarters and call for artillery fire; advance of Italian tanks; bombs dropped by RAF and Junkers Ju 87 Stukas; reasons for withdrawal; description of journey back including Italian soldier killed; talk with Colonel Watson; advance to anti-tank ditch; orders and reaction from Brigadier; memories of Colonel Watson; state of battalion; opinion of mistakes made in battle; start of advance through Tunisia; position taken by Germans; plan for attack; opposition faced; artillery support; German dispatch rider captured during reconnaissance; attitude of dispatch rider; work collecting dead; advance across plain; sapper killed by mine; care taken due to booby traps; cessation of advance; actions of 8th Army. Aspects of period as NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 4/1943-7/1943: journey back to Delta; leave in Alexandria; reassembly at Ismailia Transit Camp. REEL 16 Continues: start of war weariness; effect on morale of correspondence with home; reasons for fighting on; invasion training; details of naval signalling course including navy pay parade; leisure activities in Port Suez and knowledge of destination; mountain training; description of and accommodation on Winchester Castle; disembarkation exercises; cruise down Red Sea; shore landing on Arabian coast; inspection from Montgomery; return to Suez; preparations for embarkation; boarding of Winchester Castle. Aspects of journey from Port Suez, Egypt, to Sicily, Italy, aboard the Winchester Castle, 7/1943: journey up canal; swimming while docked at Port Said; embarkation; issue of rations packs and booklet about Sicily; briefings and preparations for invasion; description of No 21 Wireless; boat drill; scenes on morning of invasion; boarding of landing craft; issue of rum ration; seasickness. Aspects of operations as NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 7/1943-10/1943: landing and action elsewhere; action taken against inland artillery; contact with navy; joining with American glider troops and Italian treatment of American paratroopers; report to Battalion Headquarters; casualties; movement inland and capture of Avola; search for line route; handing over of Avola keys and freeing of prisoners. REEL 17 Continues (not for public consumption until 2013): REEL 18 Continues: activities during rest period including work in signals office; civilian complaints about troops swimming in nude; casualties at Primosole Bridge; opinion of operation; deserting troops; signs of battle weariness; role of rest period following Primosole Bridge; German airbase near Catania; withdrawal of Germans and taking of Catania; clearance of mines from roads; story of near miss from German shell; state and treatment from medical officer; advance along coast road; artillery fire brought down on spandau position; code word for calling down artillery; cessation of advance; move back to Augusta; hospitalisation with sand fly fever; news of return to GB; return to battalion; issue of medals and attitude toward medal awards; embarkation; crew of troopship; voyage to GB. Aspects of period as NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 11/1943-6/1944: arrival in Gourock and journey to Cambridgeshire; leave; return to spit and polish; visits to Cambridge; relationship with American troops; story of visit from Eisenhower including attitude toward American army; speech made by Eisenhower. REEL 19 Continues: length of time spent at Cambridge; signal training; features of new equipment issued; wireless training given to platoons; journey to Nightingale Wood; description of camp; visits out of camp in first week; route marches; confinement in camp; entertainments; defences around camp; briefings for D Day; plan for invasion; exercises with LCIs; description of brigade landing exercise with live ammunition; inspection from Montgomery; march to Hayland Island; overnight stop and return to Nightingale Wood; role in exercise; wireless batteries; weapon and ammunition carried; morale of battalion and opinion of chances on D Day; discipline; commanding officers; troops not returning from leave; communications; opinion of Lieutenant Colonel Green and Major Wood; march to Southampton and back on 4th June; boarding of ships and postponement of voyage; visits from high ranking officers; inspection from King George VI; messages of praise; embarkation; scenes during voyage; bombardment of coast. Aspects of operations as NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North West Europe, 6/1944-11/ 1944: disembarkation; movement up beach; scenes on beach including directions given; assembly of battalion; role with Major Wood; position in convoy; encircling of Bayeux; arrival of artillery and armour; meetings with German units; German Division in Bayeux; battle in Caen area. REEL 20 Continues: advance to Condé-sur-Seulles including terrain and scenes in fields; attack from American aircraft and recognition symbols; return to signal office duties; capture of Condé-sur-Seulles; action at railway viaduct; German troops surrendering; attack on a platoon in a copse; relief of platoon; positions taken in slit trenches; messages sent; attacks on B Company; attack from German tank and infantry; messages sent and ammunition fired; advice given to 2nd Lieutenant; withdrawal after destroying wireless; artillery bombardment; return to position; setting up of listening post; elation during time in position; rest period with Lance Corporal Weir including arrest by military police during visit to Bayeux; advance across bocage country; awards given out including award of mention in dispatches; mix-up of his mention in dispatches with Joe Weir's military medal; changes in formation on advance through bocage; wine cellar found in captured chateaux; opposition faced on attack across cornfield at Verrières; casualties; communications; talk with replacement captain; advance with Bren carriers and tanks; withdrawal of German troops; description of German positions; RAF support; opinion of problems with attack; activities following battle; return to battalion headquarters and talk with Private Smith; reinforcements; air raids on and state of Tilly-sur-Seulles; actions of American and Canadian troops; scenes during advance; difficulties capturing Tilly-sur-Seulles; sleeping arrangements and weather conditions; burial of cattle. REEL 21 Continues: scenes in Falaise Gap; advance through First World War battlefields; Free French treatment of collaborators; rest in Amiens; sleeping arrangements; communications; description of ration packs issued; supplements of packs; opinion of rations; description of burners used to cook; mail; Stand To; opinion of mortar support during advance; reception in Brussels; unexpected battle with tanks in Gheel; reinforcements including drafts from navy; relief of Americna sin Eindhoven; speed of advance; German break through forward lines; duties at battalion headquarters; messages received during advance; retreat of Germans and defence of Nijmegen and Arnhem; arrival in and terrain beyond Nijmegen; position in Nijmegen; destruction of railway bridge; temporary bridge erected; alternation of battalions; patrolling activity; terrain including location of signal headquarters; telephones taken to listening posts; role at battalion headquarters; pigs and potatoes found in farmyard; German patrols and artillery fire; conditions in Nijmegen; civilians in area; vegetables found; story of custard made. REEL 22 Continues: morale; leisure activities in Nijmegen; eating of pigs; rumours about future; exercises for leaving island; bombardment of main bridge and relief from American troops; state of troops; preparations to join reserve army; church parade; withdrawal to Belgium; guard duties on Division store and accommodation; news of battalion's break-up and posting in GB; news of posting with 21st Army Headquarters Defence Company; reaction to posting. Aspects of period as NCO with 21st Army Headquarters Defence Coy in North West Europe, 11/1944-ca6/1945: accommodation in Brussels; location of 21st Army Headquarters; rank and uniform worn; guard duties at headquarters; officers visiting 21st Army Headquarters; guard drill and preparation for guards; retraining for drill including weapons carried; Christmas 1944 leave; guards at night and day; arrival of generals; story of being questioned by Montgomery; crossing of Rhine; camp at Zuktelan; interrogation of and delousing with displaced civilians; cleaning up of headquarters; patrols around camp; process of 21st Army advances; advance into Germany; building Chief of Staff wanted for headquarters in Hanover; advance on Hanover; warning of Germans on road; action against SS troops; items taken from an officer; cancellation of Hanover move; conditions on return journey; hospitalisation in Eindhoven with bronchitis; convalescence on Belgian-Dutch border and news of war's end; convalescent leave; return to Ostend; flamethrower course; flight to GB. Aspects of period as NCO with Essex Regt in GB, 6/1945: joining of unit in Sussex; other Durham troops; refusal to change badge; duties training unit for Far East; request to leave unit; posting to 6th Battalion. REEL 23 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1945: arrival in Skipton and discovery of battalion; role of battalion; interview with Colonel Wood; diversion from Far East draft; duties with Quartermaster; education course attended; leaves; news of release and choices given; process of demobilisation at Strensall including medical; leave; return to colliery; Remembrance Day parade at Whitehall; difficulties settling back to civilian work; education; survey work at Houghton Colliery; best officers served under; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Page; memories of Sergeants Scott and Dawes; memories of Jimmy Sixsmith and other troops.