Interview with Peter Alfred Lincoln Vaux

British officer served with 4th Royal Tank Regt, 1st Army Tank Bde in GB, 6/1940-12/1940; served with 4th Royal Tank Regt, 22nd Guards Bde Group and 4th Armoured Bde in North Africa, 2/1941-9/1941; staff officer served with Headquarters, 7th Armoured Div in North Africa, 10/1941-9/1942; staff officer served with Headquarters, XIII Corps in North Africa, 9/1942-12/1942; staff officer served with General Headquarters, Middle East in Cairo, Egypt, 1943; student at Staff College, Haifa, Palestine, 1943-1944; staff officer served as brigade major with Headquarters, 7th Armoured Bde in Italy, 3/1944-9/1944

REEL 1 Recollections of period as officer with Reconnaissance Troop, Headquarters Sqdn, 4th Royal Tank Regt, 1st Army Tank Bde in GB, 6/1940-12/1940: reassembling of unit with Infantry Mk II Matilda Tanks at Tweseldown, 6/1940; billeting in East Grinstead area; railway transportation for tanks; integration of drafts to unit; anti- invasion exercises; defence tactics practised; effect of Infantry Mk II Matilda Tank crossing railway; use of Light Tank Mk VIC for reconnaissance; methods of navigating and communicating; reconnaissance and recognition training; method of observing potential targets; use of sketches; method of containing German invasion. REEL 2 Continues: degree of intelligence about potential German invasion; establishment of 1st Army Tank Bde; training with Home Guard; occasion when Home Guard dug up civilian's garden. Recollections of voyage aboard HMT City of London from GB to Egypt, 12/1940-2/1941: embarking at Liverpool, GB, 12/1940; rations available to officers and men; loss of cookhouse on deck during storm in North Atlantic; casualties during collision with HMT Elizabethville; scattering of convoy after sighting of German Navy heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, 25/12/1940; breakdown of ship; lack of defensive armament aboard HMT City of London; layout of convoy; training and duties as assistant adjutant; methods of relaxation; relations with Royal New Zealand Artillery personnel; memories of bumboatmen in Freetown, Sierra Leone; discipline on board including court martial. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with 4th Royal Tank Regt in Egypt, 2/1941-4/1941: initial impressions of Egypt, 2/1941; kitting out with Middle East uniform and equipment; fitness training; situation in Mediterranean Theatre, 2/1941; sources of information; intelligence briefings at General Headquarters, Cairo; methods of navigating in desert using compasses; tactics employed; recreational facilities in Canal Zone; problems with flies; state of unit's health; character of rations and water supply; desert sores and jaundice; degree of knowledge of Italian and German forces; effects of Axis air superiority; tank tactics prior to arrival of Deutsches Afrika Korps; state of regiment's tanks on arrival in Egypt; entraining for Mersa Matruh. Recollections of operations as officer with Reconnaissance Troop, Headquarters Sqdn, 4th Royal Tank Regt, 22nd Guards Bde Group during Operation Brevity in North Africa, 15/5/1941-16/5/1941: degree of warning on impending action. REEL 4 Continues: assembling near Mersa Matruh, Egypt; leading regiment through sandstorm; unit deployment; observing Deutsches Afrika Korps tanks from wadi; camouflaging vehicles; orders to attack Halfaya Pass and Sollum, Egypt; sight of unit attack; observing Deutsches Afrika Korps tanks moving on the horizon; contact with Senussi people; formation of C Sqdn during attack; start line; line of infantry advance; effectiveness of Deutsches Afrika Korps anti-tank weapons against Infantry Mk II Matilda Tank; description of tank stowage; Deutsches Afrika Korps equipment captured; impressions of German prisoners fo war; capture of Fort Capuzzo, Libya; loss of unit tank to Deutsches Afrika Korps anti-tank fire, 15/5/1941; sight of unlaid mines at Halfaya Pass, Egypt; regimental casualties; lack of protective headgear worn in action. REEL 5 Continues: role of Deutsches Afrika Korps tanks near Fort Capuzzo, Libya, 15/5/1941; withdrawal of 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards at Fort Capuzzo, Libya, 15/5/1941; reasons for not entering Fort Capuzzo, Libya, 15/5/1941; effects of German 50mm Anti-Tank Gun on Infantry Mk II Matilda Tank; effects of sand on tank guns; defect in Besa Machine Gun; living in crews; daily routine; cooking arrangements and rations; bartering with Arabs; water supply; personal hygiene; water discipline; effect of heat inside tanks; clothing and footwear worn; effects of shortage of sleep; deployment in leaguers overnight. REEL 6 Continues: usual location of line of observation; question of tactical bounds; use of Universal Carrier; Deutsches Afrika Korps reoccupation of Fort Capuzzo, Libya and Halfaya Pass, Egypt, 16/5/1941; withdrawal under fire from Halfaya Pass, Egypt, 16/5/1941. Recollections of operations as officer with Reconnaissance Troop, Headquarters Sqdn, 4th Royal Tank Regt, 4th Armoured Bde during Operation Battleaxe in North Africa, 15/6/1941-17/6/1941: reformation of unit, 5/1941-6/1941; character of attack on defences of Halfaya Pass, 15/6/1941; destruction of C Sqdn by Deutsches Afrika Korps artillery; unit casualties in minefield; capture of Deutsches Afrika Korps anti-tank mines; effect of Deutsches Afrika Korps anti-tank screen on A Sqdn; reinforcing of A Sqdn with B Sqdn; his reconnaissance role during battle; limited vision on battlefield; lack of artillery support; attack on Fort Capuzzo area, Libya, 15/6/1941; strength of unit during operation; role of German anti-tank guns at Halfaya Pass, 15/6/1941; experiences of unit squadron serving in East Africa. REEL 7 Continues: rate of tank breakdown; orders to withdraw; use of petrol and anti-tank mines to destroy broken down tanks under Deutsches Afrika Korps artillery fire; story of Deutsches Afrika Korps tank which followed his tank and aftermath of incident; question of British strength during Operation Battleaxe; opinion of General Archibald Wavell; impact on morale of failure of operation; briefing procedure for Operation Battleaxe; unit objectives during Operation Battleaxe; commanding officer's style of briefing; his own troop briefing and extent of soldier's curiosity; leave in Alexandria, Egypt; rotation of crews. Recollections of period as staff officer with Headquarters, 7th Armoured Div in North Africa, 10/1941-9/1942: joining headquarters near Mersa Matruh, Egypt, 10/1941; character of headquarters; use of Armoured Command Vehicle; role monitoring battle and locating Axis formations; communications. REEL 8 Continues: line parties at divisional headquarters; communications with brigade headquarters; messing facilities; use of map boards including security measures; overrunning of headquarters during Battle of Gazala, Libya, 6/1942; escape from Deutsches Afrika Korps armoured cars; documents destroyed during Battle of Gazala, Libya, 6/1942; method of keeping war diaries; signal logs; radio watch during night; drill for action in event of attack on headquarters; nature of withdrawal during Battle of Gazala, Libya, 6/1942; disguising of Armoured Command Vehicle as soft skin lorries; security measures in leaguer; air defence measures; making contact with corps headquarters and his role commanding division; escape of Major-General Frank Messervy and his staff; divisional, corps and brigade communication problems. REEL 9 Continues: role as divisional intelligence officer during Operation Crusader, 18/11/1941-30/12/1941; Deutsches Afrika Korps counter-attack; story of capture of German prisoner of war; importance of information gained from prisoners of war; tricking Deutsches Afrika Korps staff officer prisoner of war into giving information; handling Italian prisoners of war; efforts to take prisoners of war prior to Battle of El Alamein, 10/1942-11/1942; Deutsches Afrika Korps officer tricked into identifying his unit; sources of intelligence and intelligence summaries; information gained from Ultra; role updating Axis Order of Battle; intercepting wireless transmissions; producing appreciations from German point of view; concern about myth of General Erwin Rommel; Deutsches Afrika Korps use of tanks and anti-tank screens; use of Royal Air Force tactical reconnaissance; relations with Royal Air Force; field security section; evening Order 'O' Groups; assessment of Axis casualties; value of reports from brigade headquarters. REEL 10 Continues: situation reports; procedures for armoured car reconnaissance; question of overall quality of intelligence picture; problems caused by highly mobile armoured operations; visit to 2nd New Zealand Infantry Div near Sidi Rezegh, Libya; daily routine including pre-dawn move, use of Morse Code, importance of negative reports, increased activity towards evening and procedure for evening orders; length of day; personal staff; character of maps used; use of dummy map to deceive Deutsches Afrika Korps at Alam Halfa, Egypt; night movements; use of despatch riders; role of Field Security Section; capture and interrogation of Arab spy; use of Arab spies; degree of liaison with Long Range Desert Group and Special Air Service. Recollections of operations as staff officer with Headquarters, XIII Corps in North Africa, 9/1942-12/1942: reasons for posting. REEL 11 Continues: intelligence prior to Battle of El Alamein, Egypt; use of sandtable model for briefing to corps by General Bernard Montgomery; Major-General Brian Horrock's demand for after dinner entertainment; capture of German paratroop commander, Major Walter Burkhardt at Fûka, Egypt, 5/11/1942; problems for non-motorised Italian Army troops after Battle of El Alamein, Egypt; information gleaned from Major Walter Burkhardt and recovery of specialist equipment; attempt to use German recoilless rifle; quality of information received from prisoners of war; procedures for interrogating prisoners of war; accommodation at corps headquarters; daily routine at headquarters; opinion of Major-General Brian Horrocks; quality of intelligence during Battle of El Alamein, Egypt, 10/1942-11/1943. REEL 12 Continues: contracting jaundice. Aspects of period as staff officer with Armoured Fighting Vehicles Branch, General Headquarters, Middle East in Cairo, Egypt, 1943: duties training reinforcements and equipment; changes in tactics; daily routine and accommodation; personnel in branch; requests from GB; recreational activities in Cairo; recovery from jaundice. Aspects of period as student at Staff College, Haifa, Palestine, 1943-1944: methods of instruction; character of students; occasion when he misplaced his identity card; lack of serious threat from insurgents; visits to French Syria and Lebanon; opinion of course. Recollections of operations as brigade major with Headquarters, 7th Armoured Bde in Italy, 3/1944-9/1944: joining 7th Armoured Bde, 3/1944; composition of brigade; character of brigade commander; reasons for sacking of brigade commander during attack on Coriano Ridge on Gothic Line. REEL 13 Continues: aftermath of action at Coriano Ridge; prior recollection of 1st Greek Infantry Brigade's mutiny in Alexandria, Egypt, 2/1944 prior to move to Italy including cause of mutiny and ending of mutiny; organisation of brigade headquarters; strength of 7th Armoured Brigade; role as brigade major; brigade commander's style of command; character of morning prayers; tactical headquarters; landing at Taranto, Italy, 3/1944; taking over tanks from 23rd Armoured Bde; terrain and weather on arrival in front line; condition of roads; living conditions; contact with Italian civilians. REEL 14 Continues: role of independent armoured brigade; attitude to detaching regiments to other brigades; effects of terrain on operations; effects of demolition of bridges and mines; German use of armour and anti-tank weapons; river crossings and bridging operations; essential to complete bridges overnight; move to Bracciano; training with Duplex Drive Amphibious Tanks and amphibious vehicles; movement across Italian peninsula; written and verbal orders; exercises for breakthrough; communication problems; brigade wireless nets; logistic arrangements; use of infantry in half tracks; air support; nature of the 'bomb line'; lack of German Air Force activity; nature of German artillery fire; occasion when tactical headquarters was badly shelled; attempts of spot German observation posts; receiving artillery support from self-propelled guns. REEL 15 Continues: use of divisional and corps artillery; story of reconnaissance troop of 2nd Royal Tank Regt contact with United States Army troops during capture of Rome, 5/6/1944; troop's nickname for brigadier; quality of intelligence; security measures; crowded nature of radio airwaves; problems of operating radios in Italy; use of liaison officer and personal visits to units; German morale; condition of German prisoners of war; wounding by German artillery fire near San Marino; medical treatment received for wounds in San Marino; condition of his wounded driver; medical treatment at Advanced Dressing Station; death of wounded German prisoner of war during night; character of German prisoners of war; method of moving armour through mountains; role of Churchill Tank in mountains.