Jenkins, William Glyn (Oral history)

British officer served with 43 Commando, Royal Marines in Yugoslavia and Italy, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Morpeth and Tiverton, 1925-1943: family; education; effect on Tiverton and Oxford University, 1939-1943. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Marines in GB, 1943-1944: enlistment, 8/1943; pattern of training including kit inspections; blood poisoning in his arm; character of OCTU at Thurlstone; selection for commando training; night exercise to capture Dawlish railway station winter 1943-1944; move to Gibraltar Camp, Towyn; move to Achnacarry; escape of marines with criminal records on route to Spean Bridge; training at Achnacarry under commanding officer Charlie Vaughan. REEL 2 Continues: 'Me and My Pal' system of training; description of term 'pepperpot'; method of negotiating a boss on cliff face; commando trainee who was injured during cliff climb; use of live ammunition; offer to become instructor at Achnacarry; cliff assault course with 'Spider' Leach at Sennen near Land's End; climbing equipment used at Kynance Cove; street fighting course at Battersea; sabotage training at Battersea Power Station; waiting for posting with Holding Operational Commando at Wrexham. Recollections of operations as officer with 43 Commando in Yugoslavia 1944-1945: posting to unit, 8/1944; contact with Yugoslavian Partisans during voyage from Bari to Vis; living conditions on Vis; reasons for raid on Brac; relations with Partisans; historical and cultural background to Yugoslavia. REEL 3 Continues: problems with political commissars; nature of operations from Vis; Combined Operations course in Italy; first operation against Solta including encounter with stick mines; acquiring lice from German mattress; German shelling and mortaring on Solta; wiping out of German force on Solta; casualties to schu-mines on Solta; attack on Brac; strafing attack by Supermarine Spitfire on Brac; rest period in Italy; escorting guns to Montenegro as part of Floydforce; Tito's attitude towards British aid and Partisan's obstruction of British assault forces. REEL 4 Continues: obstruction by commissars at Podgorica; living conditions in Montenegro; Communist hunt for Chetniks in Montenegro; handling of mules; taking rations to Long Range Desert Group in Montenegro; Partisan harassment of unit in Dubrovnik, 1/1945. Recollections of operations as officer with E Troop, 45 Commando in Italy, 1945: return to Italy, 1/1945; patrolling along River Reno; capture of German equipment; use of amphibious vehicles for proposed crossing of River Reno; problems 2 and 9 Commando had crossing Lake Comacchio; crossing River Reno in Buffaloes; character of British artillery barrage; orders to take 9 Commando objective on River Reno; winning of Victoria Cross by NCO; impression of Italian Partisans; contrast in Commandos and Jewish Bde personnel towards Germans. REEL 5 Continues: impression of Gurkhas on River Reno; prior recollection of work helping sappers in Montenegro; relieving East Kent Regt in River Silaro valley; taking over 2 Commando positions near Argenta; account of action in which he won Distinguished Service Order, 16/4/1945- 17/4/1945. REEL 6 Continues: question of firing on German in cold blood; end of action, 16/4/1945- 17/4/1945; role commanding remnants of E and D Troops; taking charge; use of Wasp carrier to clear battlefield; loss of Wasp carrier; story of German NCO with large amount of lire; end of war; story of visit to Austria after end of war. Attitude to having served with Royal Marine Commandos in Second World War. Demobilisation from Royal Marines.