Matthews, Russell Henry (Oral history)

British officer served with 457 Light Battery, Royal Artillery in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1944; served as pilot with 656 Air Observation Post Squadron in Dutch East Indies and Malaya, 1945-1948

REEL 1 Background in India and GB, 1922-1941: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; membership of Tiverton Home Guard. Recollections of operations as officer with 457 Independent Light Bty, Royal Artillery in North Africa, 1942-1943: role of unit and personal duties; voyage from GB to North Africa autumn 1942; landings during Operation Torch, 11/1942; first artillery shot fired by 1st Army at Algiers, 8/11/1942; move to Bone aboard Princess Emma; reaction to disembarking at Bone; race towards Bone airfield; anti-tank positions at Beja; capture of unit officer Michael Codnor; German attempted ruse to remove Royal Artillery presence during German armoured advance at Tabourba; in action against German tanks at Tabourba. REEL 2 Continues: withdrawal of German tanks and aftermath of battle; withdrawal of unit; move to Green Hill area; taking over as section commander at Green Hill; effect of moves between Sidi Nasr and Green Hill; character of action at Sidi Nasr; in action at Green Hill; arrival of 25 Pounders and first use; fighting at Longstop Hill and Jebel Ra; in action at Jebel Bou Akas; relaxation in Tunisia, summer 1943. Aspects of operations as officer with 457 Independent Light Bty, Royal Artillery in Sicily, 1943: rescue of airborne soldiers from sea, 7/1943; capture of Regelbuto by Canadians; reaction to withdrawal to Catania. Recollections of operations as officer with 457 Independent Light Bty, Royal Artillery in Italy, 1944-1945: decision to convert unit into mountain battery role. REEL 3 Continues: processing of transforming unit North Africa prior to move to Italy; arrival in Naples; working up for mountain operations; arrival at front-line near Monte Cassino; sight of Polish casualties at Monte Cassino; views available from Monte Cairo; role of Elbowforce; character of Zulu drivers; integration of Italian Alpini drivers into unit; in action at Monte Fileto; preparations at Gran Sasso for move into Dolomite Mountain; return to GB for Air Observation Post training and to obtain regular commission. Recollections of operations as officer with 656 Air Observation Post Sqdn in Malaya and Dutch East Indies, 1945-1947: character of Operation Zipper landings at Port Swettenham, Malaya, 1945; move to Dutch East Indies; joining C Flight at Bandoeng, Java; liberation of Dutch internees; Indonesian insurgent ambush on Indian drivers of lorry column; evacuating wounded Indian soldier by Auster, 5/1946; taking command of A Flight at Medan in Sumatra. REEL 4 Continues: his job commanding flight; effect of army taking over railways; opinion of 2nd Bn Patiala Regt; move to Malaya, 1947. Recollections of operations with 26 Field Regt, Royal Artillery and Malay Headquarters Flight, 656 Air Observation Sqdn during Malayan Emergency, 1948: living conditions; disbanding of 656 Air Observation Sqdn; posting to Corunna Bty, 26 Field Regt, Royal Artillery at Tamplin; patrolling in jungle; degree to which unit adapted to jungle; reforming of 656 Air Observation Sqdn and operations in Ipoh area; formation of Malaya Headquarters Flight at Kuala Lumpar; degree of apprehension; degree of success against insurgents; contrast in operating in Malaya and Dutch East Indies. Aspects of various postings with Air Observation Squadrons and Royal Artillery , 1948-1974: taking over Air Observation Flight in Tripoli, 1956; operations co-ordinating with Special Air Force in Jebel Akhdar, Oman; reconnaissance work in Aden Protectorate; story of suppressing sniper fire at Dhala. REEL 5 Continues: pattern of service in GB, 1950s-1960s; forming of first air surveillance unit at Larkhill, early 1960s; effect of army cutbacks, 1960s; attitude to posting to Royal Artillery Depot at Woolwich; use of drones for air surveillance. Attitude to having served with Royal Artillery.