Neary, Tom (Oral history)

British NCO served with 1st Bn East Lancashire Regt in North West Europe, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn East Lancashire Regt in Normandy, 6/1944-8/1944: attitude to move to Normandy, 6/1944; reasons for starting to smoke pipe during Channel crossing aboard Lady Longford; disembarkation off Normandy; initial impressions of beach-head; move through Benne sur Mer; move to Granville, 2/7/1944; character of 71st Bde; attack on house suspected to held by Germans; conditions near Hill 112; casualties during German bombing of unit at Mouen; advance towards Bougy; timing of German shell-fire; effect on stretcher bearer of German shelling at Bougy; attack on Bougy; description of echelon system; twenty four hour period left out of battle at B echelon; move to Evercy; unit move from 71st Bde to 158 Bde; advance across River Orne; attack on Bois- Halbout, 8/1944; casualties in wireless position. REEL 2 Continues: encounter between A Coy and Germans; capture of Russian POWs serving with Germans; capture of high ranking German officers; move to Noron L'Abbaye; attack on Miette, 8/1944; capture of German officer; rain storm on edge of Falaise. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn East Lancashire Regt in North West Europe, 1944-1945: opinion of Captain Hawkins; clash with Captain Hawkins over communication problems; attitude of civilians in France; advance to St Pol; death of stretcher bearer Walter Eastwood; advance to Antwerp, 9/1944; laying cable to Manchester Regt positions at Antwerp. REEL 3 Continues: clash with Captain Hawkins; move to Lommel area; crossing Escaut Canal at night; attack on German positions and capture of POWs; question of personal morale; attack on Bladel; advance towards Eindhoven; accidental attack by RAF Hawker Typhoons; character of attack on S'Hertogenbosch; equipment carried by signallers; ambush on German vehicles and horse drawn artillery; casualties during street fighting in s'Hertgenbosch; German shelling of signal platoon; narrow escape from German patrol on canal in River Maas area. REEL 4 Continues: walking through minefield; crossing Wessem Canal; problems encountered during line laying on River Maas, 11/1944; taking over signals office; clash with Captain Hawkins; visit by General Miles Dempsey; return to Belgian; move to Ardennes; Christmas celebrations, 12/1944; accommodation in hotel and Royal hunting lodge; move to Hotton area, 2/1/1944; start of snowing and engagement with German troops in forest; winter conditions; German mortaring of troops; wounding in head by shell-fire; evacuation to regimental aid post. REEL 5 Continues: casualties at battalion headquarters in Ardennes; treatment for head wound in Brussels; recuperation and period in holding camp at Bourg Leopold; rejoining unit at Helmond; at Nijmegen after action in Reichswald Forest; leave in GB, 2/1944; return to unit prior to attack on Goch; linking up with 9th US Army; capture of Geldern prior to period in reserve; posting to B Coy; crossing of River Rhine; in action against German tanks in Rhine bridgehead; unit casualties at Bocholt; crossing Ems-Weser Canal. REEL 6 Continues: sight of German burnt by flame-throwers; capture of German officer on Ems-Weser Canal; boat accident during crossing of River Aller; narrow escape from German shell-fire; unit casualties after crossing of River Rhine; capture of German village and acquisition of wine, 4/1945; advance to Rottenburg; sight of high ranking German officers moving through British lines, 5/1945; advance into Hamburg; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945. Period on occupation duties with 1st Bn East Lancashire Regt in Germany, 1945: communication duties in Oberhausen. REEL 7 Continues: amusing communication story at Oberhausen. Memories of period with 1st Bn South Lancashire Regt in Palestine, 1945-1946 and demobilisation process, 3/1946. Return to civilian life after 1946.