Interview with Mark Henry Philips

British officer served with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Bde, 78th Infantry Div in GB and North Africa, 1942-1943

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1922-1940: family; education at Eton College; period with Staffordshire Home Guard. Aspects of period as private with 8th Bn Royal Berkshire Regt (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) in GB, 1941: joining battalion; airfield defence duties near Padstow; method of having to prove himself; relations between ex-Borstal boys and ex-Etonians. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1941: problems with dyslexia; reaction to receiving commission. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards in GB, 1942: atmosphere in battalion; ceremonial duty in London; training in Scotland and Isle of Wight; abortive plans for raid on France. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Bde, 78th Infantry Div in North Africa, 1942-1943: voyage aboard HMT Nea Hellas from GB to French Algeria, 11/1942; landing at Algiers, French Algeria; Vichy French Admiral Jean Darlan's funeral in Algiers, French Algeria. REEL 2 Continues: role as platoon commander; opinion of role of 2nd Bn Hampshire Regt at Tébourba, Tunisia; taking up positions near Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia; attack on Longstop Hill, Tunisia and capture of German trenches, 22/12/1942-23/12/19; under German machine gun and mortar fire on Longstop Hill, Tunisia, 12/1942; taking command of company; arrival of troops of 18th Regimental Combat Team, United States Army and their loss of Longstop Hill, 24/12/1944; wounding during recapture of Longstop Hill, night-time 24/12/1944; evacuation and operation in field; opinion of medical attention he received, 1943; return to battalion, 10/2/1943. REEL 3 Continues: role of unit in Tunisia; threat of disaster at Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, 2/1943; memories of General Harold Alexander; attending mine warfare course; taking command of pioneer platoon; execution role of pioneer platoon; rivalry of armoured units to be first regiment to enter Tunis, Tunisia; in action at Hammam-Lif, Tunisia; capture and search of Bey of Tunis' palace and his harem, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia, 9/5/1943; rounding up of German prisoners of war, 5/1943; treatment of surrendering German Army general; policy towards presence of brothels in Tunis, Tunisia; capture of Lampedusa Island, Italy, 6/1943. injury received during Arab arms raid at Constantine, French Algeria. REEL 4 Continues: medical treatment received in GB and period as instructor; attitude to having served with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards in Second World War; story of commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel William Stewart-Brown's answer to General Dwight D Eisenhower's enquiry about lack of Purple Heart medals in British Army.