Interview with Russell Henry Matthews

British officer served with 457th (Independent) Light Bty, Royal Artillery, First Army in North Africa and Sicily, Italy, 11/1942-7/1943; served with 457th Mountain Bty, 7th Mountain Regt, Royal Artillery, Eighth Army in Italy, 10/1943-1944; served as pilot with 656 Air Observation Post Squadron, RAF in Dutch East Indies and Malaya, 1945-1947; officer served with 26th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Malaya, 1/1947-5/1948; served as pilot with 1914 Air Observation Flight, 656 Air Observation Sqdn, RAF in Federation of Malaya, 1948

REEL 1 Background in Jullundur, India and GB, 1922-1941: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; membership of 20th (Tiverton) Bn Devonshire Home Guard. Recollections of operations as officer with 457th (Independent) Light Bty, Royal Artillery, First Army in North Africa, 11/1942-5/1943: role of unit and personal duties; voyage from GB to French Algeria, 11/1942; landings during Operation Torch, French Algeria, 11/1942; first artillery shot fired by First Army at Algiers, French Algeria, 8/11/1942; move aboard HMS Queen Emma from Algiers to Bone, French Algeria, 11/1942; reaction to disembarking at Bône, French Algeria; race towards Bône Airfield, French Algeria; anti-tank positions at Béja, Tunisia; German capture of unit officer Captain Michael Codnor; German forces' attempted ruse to remove Royal Artillery presence during German armoured advance at Tébourba, Tunisia; in action against German armour at Tébourba, Tunisia. REEL 2 Continues: withdrawal of German armour and aftermath of action at Tébourba, Tunisia; withdrawal of battery; move to Green Hill, Tunisia; taking over as section commander at Green Hill, Tunisia; effect of moves between Sidi Nasr and Green Hill, Tunisia; nature of action at Sidi Nisr, Tunisia; in action at Green Hill, Tunisia; arrival of Ordnance QF 25 Pounder Field Guns and first use; fighting at Longstop Hill and Djebel el Rhar, Tunisia; in action at Djebel Bou Aoukaz, Tunisia; relaxation in Tunisia after end of North African campaign, 5/1943-6/1943. Aspects of operations as officer with 457 (Independent) Light Bty, Royal Artillery, Eighth Army on Sicily, Italy, 7/1943: rescue of airborne soldiers from sea, 7/1943; capture of Regelbuto by 1st Canadian Infantry Div; reaction to withdrawal to Catania. Recollections of operations as officer with 457th Mountain Bty, 7th Mountain Regt, Royal Artillery, Eighth Army in Italy, 10/1943-4/1945: decision to convert light battery into mountain battery role. REEL 3 Continues: processing of transforming unit North Africa prior to move to Italy, 8/1943-10/1943; arrival in Naples, 10/1943; working up for mountain operations; arrival at front line near Monte Cassino, 2/1944 sight of Polish II Corps casualties at Monte Cassino, 5/1944; views available from Monte Cairo; role of Elbowforce; character of South African Army Zulu drivers; integration of Italian Alpini drivers into unit; in action at Monte Fileto; preparations at Gran Sasso d'Italia for move into Dolomite Mountains, 4/1945; return to GB for Air Observation Post training and to obtain regular commission. Recollections of operations as officer with 656 (Air Observation Post) Sqdn, RAF 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 British Indian Army drivers in lorry column; evacuating wounded British Indian Army soldier by Auster, 5/1946; taking command of A Flight at Medan in Sumatra. REEL 4 Continues: role commanding flight; effect of military taking over railways; opinion of 2nd Bn Patiala Infantry, Indian State Forces; move to Malaya, 1947; living conditions; disbanding of 656 (Air Observation Post) Sqdn, RAF, 15/1/1947. Aspects of period as officer with 26th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Malaya, 1947-1948: posting to Corunna Bty, 26th Field Regt, Royal Artillery at Tampin, 1/1947; patrolling in jungle; degree to which regiment adapted to jungle conditions. Recollections of operations as pilot with 1914 (Air Observation Post) Flight, 656 (Air Observation Post) Sqdn, RAF in Federation of Malaya, 1948: reformation of 656 Air Observation Post) Sqdn, 29/6/1948; operations in Ipoh area; formation of 1914 (Air Observation Post) Flight within 656 (Air Observation Post) Sqdn, RAF at Kuala Lumpur; degree of apprehension during operations; degree of success against Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents; contrast in operating in Federation of Malaya and Dutch East Indies. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Artillery in GB, Libya, Oman and Aden Protectorate, 1948-1974: taking over Air Observation Flight in Tripoli, Libya, 1956; operations co-ordinating with Special Air Service in Jebel Akhdar, Oman; reconnaissance work in Aden Protectorate; story of suppressing sniper fire at Dhala, Aden Protectorate. REEL 5 Continues: pattern of service in GB, 1950s-1960s; formation of first air surveillance unit at Larkhill Camp, early 1960s; effect of military cutbacks, 1960s; attitude to posting to Royal Artillery Regimental Depot at Woolwich; use of drones for air surveillance; attitude to having served with Royal Artillery.