Interview with Francis Gerrard Burton

British marine served as signaller with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Special Service Bde and 1st Commando Bde in GB and North West Europe, 8/1943-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Liverpool, GB, 1923-1941: family; education; employment; German Air Force bombing of Liverpool; joining Home Guard. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Marines in GB, 1941-1942: reasons for initial rejection on attempting to enlist; nature of training at Royal Marine Depot, Lympstone, 12/1941; signals training at Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth; memories of German Air Force attacks on Plymouth and Liverpool. Aspects of period as signaller with 5th Bn Royal Marines, 101st Royal Marine Bde, Royal Marine Division in GB, 1942-1943: posting to unit at Carmarthen; United States Army troops attitude towards training outdoors; living conditions at Carmarthen; reasons for volunteering for commando training. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as marine with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Special Service Bde in GB, 8/1943-6/1944: civilian billeting system; pattern of training; passing out of Commando Basic Training Centre, Achnacarry; long march to test dry rations between Wick and Achnacarry, 1944; nature of voyage from Oban to Milford Haven; in sealed camp at Southampton, 5/1944-6/1944. Recollections of operations as signaller with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Special Service Bde on Sword Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: embarkation aboard Landing Ship Infantry (Large) 518 (LSI 518 (L) at Warsash, GB, 5/6/1944; German artillery shell hit on Landing Ship Infantry (Large) 518 (LSI 518 (L) on run into Sword Beach; nature of beach landing; role as commanding officer's 'rover' signaller; wounding of commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel Norman Rees; loosing unit after crossing over Bénouville Bridge. Recollections of operations as signaller with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Special Service Bde in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: attachment of No 10 Commando personnel to unit; unit casualties at Merville-Franceville-Plage. REEL 3 Continues: digging in at Merville-Franceville-Plage; rations available; under fire whilst doing laundry; reaction to having to find break in telephone lines; attack on German forces positions across River Dives. Aspects of period as signaller with No 45 Commando, 1st Special Service Bde in GB, 9/1944-12/1944: withdrawal to Petworth, 9/1944; reaction to potential posting to Far East; relations between commandos and officers; issue of new equipment at Eastney Barracks. Recollections of operations as signaller with No 45 (Royal Marine) Commando, 1st Commando Bde in North West Europe, 1/1945-5/1945: reaction to return to front line; character of commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel William Gray; wounding in arm at Brachterbeek, Netherlands, 1/1945; how cigarette tin saved his life; hospitalisation in Brussels, Belgium; problems finding unit after hospitalisation. REEL 4 Continues: search for unit in Netherlands; crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; wounding of Lieutenant-Colonel William Gray by panzerfaust at Wesel, Germany, 3/1945; role under Major Alfred Blake; Waffen-SS defence on River Weser, Germany, 4/1945; machine gunning of Germans of bank of River Weser, Germany, 4/1945; crossing of River Elbe, Germany, 4/1945; mass surrenders of German prisoners of war at Eutin, Germany, 4/1945; VE Day, 8/5/1945; award of Military Medal by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery in Netherlands. Aspects of demobilisation from Royal Marines in GB, 1945: method of avoiding duties at Eastney Barracks; issue of demobilisation clothing; gratuities he received on demobilisation; return to civilian life.