Tout, Kenneth John (Oral history)

British NCO served with 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1944

REEL 1 Background in Hereford, 1924-1942: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; fire-watching duties; role as clerk in VD clinic; failure of attempt of join RAF. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1942-1943: call-up to Aberdeen, 1942; basic training at Gordon Barracks in Aberdeen including treatment of recruits by NCOs; testing of recruits; selection for Royal Armoured Corps; attempt to volunteer for Gordon Highlanders; armoured training at Catterick, 12/1942-6/1943. Recollections of period as driver with Headquarters Troop, 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry in GB, 6/1943-6/1944: posting to unit at Codford; problems with Crusader tanks; reasons for move of unit from Codford to Thetford via Weston-Super-Mare; re-equipping with Sherman tanks; problems with ammunition. REEL 2 Continues: method of clearing main armament stoppages; dangers of jumping onto moving tanks; introduction to Sherman Firefly at Brancaster; limited issue of Sherman Firefly and their proposed use; replacement of firing pins on Fireflies at Bury St Edmunds; anticipations of invasion of Europe, 4/1944-5/1944; waterproofing of tanks at Aldershot; allocation to reserve troop commanding Stuart tank; sight of glider armada at Aldershot, 6/6/1944; gambling on where landings would take place; drive from Aldershot to Eastleigh; ENSA show at Eastleigh. Aspects of Channel crossing, 6/1944: procedure for embarking at Southampton; attitude to embarking on board US ship; generosity of US crew; lack of fresh bread; character of Channel crossing; landing at Arromanches. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations with 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry in Normandy, 6/1944-8/1944: character of beach landing and danger from craters; reception from French civilians; German shelling of beachhead; signal wire that became tangled in tank tracks; arrival at Castillon; role of unit before 30/6/1944; capture of German POWs on horse drawn transport; failure to exploit success at Villers Bocage; effect of being given an incorrect map reference; confiscation of his Stuart tank by Brigadier Scott and transfer to C Troop; problems of operating in bocage terrain; capture of three German POWs; opening fire on Germans at Carpiquet during Operation Epsom; psychiatric case that occurred during operation; RAF raid on Caen. REEL 4 Continues: attempt to enter Caen through bomb devastation; Sergeant Kenny Jack's winning of Military Medal for reporting Caen evacuated by Germans; question of mental breakdowns; cases of cowardice and self- inflicted injury; vulnerability of tank commanders; attitude towards self inflicted wound cases; role of unit during Operation Goodwood; encounter with sonic deception group at Chateau d'Eudrieux; destruction of German self-propelled gun during Operation Goodwood; question of accuracy of intelligence on German forces; question of change in attitude of troops to experience of fighting; outcome of Operation Goodwood; character of Operation Totalise at Bourgebus Ridge; role of unit during Operation Totalise, 7/8/1944. REEL 5 Continues: problems crossing country at night; execution of Operation Totalise; character of German Hitler Youth Division attack, 8/1944; pace of fighting during action and atmosphere; in action against German Tiger tanks; how Sherman tanks brewed up; mutual dependency of tank crews; personal morale in action; method used by Germans to slow down Allied break-out. Aspects of operations with 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry in Netherlands, 1944: advance of unit into Netherlands; in action at St Michels Gestel; injury to his leg during recovery of his tank from ditch; return to GB for medical treatment for leg injury. Aspects of period as NCO with King's Dragoon Guards in Palestine, 1945-1947: character of road blocks operated in Galilee area; attitude towards landing of refugees. REEL 6 Continues: hijacking of army truck used in attack on market in Haifa; example of British Army discipline; rules governing opening fire; agreement between Arabs and Jews in Tiberius to avoid hostilities. Recapitulation of Operation Totalise in Normandy, 8/1944. Attitude to having served with 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry during the Second World War. REEL 7 Continues: Effects of having served in Second World War. Effects of his leg injury. Question of coming to terms with fear.