Spencer, Anthony John (Oral history)

British officer served with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Italy, 1944; POW in Italy, 11/1944; escaped to GB via Yugoslavia, 11/1944-1/1945; served with British Military Administration in Malaya, 1945-1946; served as private secretary to Governor in Borneo, 1946-1947

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1924-1942: father's background; family; education at Ardingley College and Odiham Grammar School; character of OTC training; reaction to declaration of Second World War; employment in building industry at Reading; registering for military service, 7/1942. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Berkshire Regt, 1942: initial reception at Colchester, 9/1942; treatment of recruits. REEL 2 Continues: question of bullying of recruits and recruits' collective response; cleaning kit for pay; off duty in Colchester; character of junior NCOs; origins of recruits; attitude towards military service; discipline and punishment; rations; daily routine; instruction; training with Bren-gun carrier. Recollections of period of officer training in GB, 1942-1943: selection for officer training; character of tests for officer candidates; pre-OCTU training at Blackdown; physical training; character of regime at Blackdown; degree of wastage from pre-OCTU; reasons for posting to Royal Armoured Corps OCTU at Royal Military College, Sandhurst. REEL 3 Continues: choice of regiment; pattern of training at Sandhurst; physical training; attempts to show initiative during exercises; tank training; use of veterans for instruction at Sandhurst; use of Valentine tanks; effect on training of Desert War; degree of knowledge of German forces; lack of technical training; assessment and qualities required by officers; memories of Lord Mostyn; commissioning into 16/5th Lancers. Period as officer with 17/21st Lancers in GB, 1943: posting to unit at Bridlington; commanded Intercommunication Troop; map reading training; road race; cross country motorcycle riding with Corporal Norton; modification to Humber Scout Car. REEL 4 Continues: his troop's functions; comparison between Humber and Dingo scout cars; method of commanding soldiers; character of Intercommunication Troop; posting to North Africa, 1/1944. Memories of voyage from GB to Algeria, early 1944. Period on draft in Algeria and Italy, 1/1944-6/1944: initial impressions of Oran; attitude to stay in holding camp; salvaging staff car from dump; entertainment in Algiers; evening out in Algiers; loss of Staghound armoured cars in mountains; posting as tank liaison officer with 16th Bn Grenadier Guards in Italy. Recollections of operations as platoon commander with 19 Platoon, D Coy, 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Poggio area, Italy, 6/1944: reception at unit disrupted by German counter-attack; overloading with ammunition; joining platoon in ditch; under German multi- barrelled mortar fire; lone reconnaissance up wooded hill; deployment of platoon. REEL 5 Continues: arrival at battalion headquarters and his taking over of 19 Platoon; reception by Sergeant Richards; deployment on ridge and German range finding with mortars; reconnaissance of ridge; dealing with casualty with mortar bomb lodged in shoulder; terrain on hillside; advance towards German positions; calling in fire support; tactics employed; close quarter action and character of POWs taken; treatment of POWs by unit and Gurkhas; question of POWs being a problem; degree of contact with civilians; experiences of German booby-traps; character of German defensive lines; formation of special patrol group; training given to special patrol group. REEL 6 Continues: skills needed for patrolling; preference for three man patrols; size of special patrol group; exercising control of patrols; German night time tactics; problems of moving noiselessly in terrain; direction of patrolling activity; duration of patrols; successful patrolling; question of sleep; method of attacking farm buildings; memories of attack on steep hill and farm buildings; effect of platoon members drinking wine on German counter-attack on positions. Recollections of attack on Incontro Monastery, near Florence 6/1944: plan to attack monastery; casualties to battalion 'O' group; Sergeant Richard's shooting of wounded German directing the throwing of grenades; storming of breach in monastery's outer wall; attack on main monastery building; clearing of monastery and taking German POW. REEL 7 Continues: method used by Germans to conceal themselves in crypt; lack of effective fire from the monastery during assault; German mortaring of monastery after its capture; scale of assault on monastery. Recollections of operations as platoon commander with 19 Platoon, D Coy, 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Italy, 6/1944-8/1944: in reserve; normal arrangements for feeding troops in field; preference for sleeping outside; effect of armoured piercing shells on buildings; lack of armour support; lack of contact with German armour; effect of German Air Force attacks; lack of close air support; contact with US troops; witnessing incident between US military police and black serviceman in Naples; getting to know his platoon and relations between officers and men. REEL 8 Continues: rest periods; reactions to being under bombardment; incident when he was deafened by German shell; crossing mined area in single file; question of marking of minefields; capture of German POWs during patrol across River Arno; method of re- crossing River Arno; interrogation of POWs; award of Military Cross; contact with Italian civilians in farmhouse during patrol; move to Cesena/Forli area. REEL 9 Continues: orders to take reconnaissance across River Ronco; situation on River Ronco; making way to farmhouses on north side of River Ronco; character of positions and terrain on River Ronco; confusion over location of his troops; attack on German trench. Recollections of period as POW in Italy, 10/1944-11/1944: capture by German; initial treatment by German troops; advising his troops to give no information during interrogation; character of his own interrogation; question of not wearing insignia in the field; transportation in lorries; rations available; confinement in transit camp. REEL 10 Continues: method of sharing rations; character of guards and transit camp; nature of rail transportation; exploration of possibilities of escape from rail wagons. Recollections of escape from train wagon and re-capture, 11/1944: method of escape from cattle wagon; jumping from train; attempts to climb out of valley; aid received from Italian civilians; meeting with German deserter; contact with British escapees living in cave; decision to split up his escape group and head from Yugoslavia; method of travelling including stealing bicycle; navigating; avoiding checkpoints; obtaining lift in truck; encounter with wiring party. REEL 11 Continues: attempt to obtain food from Italian civilians; re-capture by Germans; interrogation by German officer; meal in Sergeant's mess; transportation to Udine; treatment by SS in Udine; character of prison accommodation; food, drink and tobacco available; period in solitary confinement; exploration of potential escape routes; visit to Italian prisoner's cell. Recollections of second escape from German captivity in Udine, 11/1944: making dummy to fool guards; escape into courtyard; escape over wire; hitting guard; escape through town into fields. REEL 12 Continues: psychological effects of imprisonment and importance of mental activity; no training in resistance to interrogation; heading for Gorizia; navigation by stars; method of travelling; encounter with Cossacks in German service; calling at isolated farmhouse. Recollections of period with Partisans in Italy and Yugoslavia, 1944-1945: direction to Partisans; hearing of atrocities committed by Russians in German service; interrogation by Partisans; character of first Partisan unit; rations available; system of communication by courier; character of 'The General'; character of raid on village. REEL 13 Continues: evidence of German reprisals in villages; addressing Partisans in village hall; rapid move from barn on hearing Germans coming; evading German unit; operation on wounded Partisan; character of 'The General's' group of Partisans; incident at bridge in Yugoslavia; standard of Partisan fieldcraft; question of Partisan's attitude towards Churchill; meeting with Yugoslav commissar; attempts to cross river; encounter with Germans; Partisan's use of car. REEL 14 Continues: ambush on German unit; role during action against Germans; Partisan treatment of German POWs; effect of mortar fire on Partisans; meeting with British officer and NCO at command post; obtaining new clothing; German attack on command post area; message sent to parents by radio; character of trek through snow with wounded Partisans; problems using sled; directed to Partisan headquarters; arrival of British NCO in jeep; evacuation by aircraft; memories of Major Roberts. Period in rest camp in Italy, 1945: reception by Military Police in Bari; meeting with Russian officer in British uniform; drinking expedition and visit to ship. REEL 15 Continues: return to rest camp; debriefing on German activity; effect of multiple inoculations; role looking after ex-POWs on voyage from Italy to GB. Aspects of period as officer in GB, 1945: arrival in London; method of dealing with ex-POWs in London; caught in V2 blast in Blackheath; re-union with parents; mental and physical condition; character of leave; visit to Special Operations Executive offices; prior recollections of debriefing in Bari; training course in Wales. REEL 16 Continues: length of course in Brecon; content of selection course at Brecon; parent's reaction to posting to Far East. Aspects of period on draft in India, 1945: flight from GB to India; journey to Madras; initial impressions of India; briefings on Malaya; memories of Sikh officer and accident in village; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs; character of his proposed mission to Malaya. Recollections of period with British Military Administration in Malaya, 1945-1946: condition of British ex- POWs; story relating to Japanese POW discipline at Tamplin; condition of Japanese POWs; relations with resident commissioner in Seremban; role as Assistant District officer in Tamplin; role of British Military Administration; relations with local chieftains; method of enforcing decision to free prisoners of Japanese regime. REEL 17 Continues: arrangement for distribution of rice; served as magistrate; a case of murder; character of police chief; usefulness of his Tamil linguist; investigating illicit trading ; relations with Chinese businessman; question of corruption; co-operation with civil power; military activities in Tamplin; condition of railways and roads; condition of civilian population; significant shortages; budgetary measures for own household; encounter with rogue elephant; personal vehicles; road accident. memories of Tinku Abdul Rahman. REEL 18 Continues: amusing story relating to politician bitten by dog. [Short Reel]. REEL 19 Continues: Recollections of period as ADC and private secretary to Governor in Borneo, 1946-1947: background to obtaining position; flight to Borneo; special arrangements for entry of his dog; duties; communications in Borneo; distinguished visitors; protocol incident at racetrack; water buffalo races against Royal Navy; hiring Dusan dancers; meeting of British governors; qualities of High Commissioner; boating trips; near collision between LST and flying boat in harbour and its ramifications. REEL 20 Continues: military and naval presence in Borneo; diplomatic code used; story of Japanese invasion of Borneo; work of Royal Engineers; no perceived threat to internal security; visits to interior with oil company prospectors; contact with local population; story of sale of US military aircraft components on Labourne Island, his response and governors view; yachting parties; relations with local population and customs; economic activities; lack of effects of turbulence in Indonesia; an accident on crocodile shooting. REEL 21 Continues: characteristics of Borneo people; colonial social life; reasons for leaving colonial service; delayed voyage to Singapore; incident with dogs in club in Singapore; return to GB and returning to civilian employment. Question of value of military experience.