Interview with Maynard Leslie Winspear

British NCO served with 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding), 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 9/1952-10/1953

REEL 1 Background in North Yorkshire and Cleveland, GB, 1933-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Boosbeck, GB, 1939-1945: declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; use of moorland for pasture; German Air Force attacks on ironstone mine; rationing; following war news; role overseeing school's agricultural production; character of village; victory celebrations, 1945; memories of General Election, 1945. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1950-1951: enlistment in Green Howards (Alexandra Princes of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) at Richmond, 1950; reasons for his back squadding at Stensall Barracks, Fulford; chores he did at Imphal Barracks, York. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding), 61st Lorried Infantry Bde in Germany, 1951-1952: background to transfer to battalion at Minden; role as regimental policeman; reasons for move to C Coy. REEL 2 Continues: background to move to Intelligence Section, Headquarters Coy. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Dunera from GB to South Korea, 1952: use of camera on voyage; locust plague in Red Sea; route march in Colombo, Ceylon; memories of Bill Speakman VC in Singapore, Federation of Malaya; typhoon experienced off Philippines; living conditions on board troopship. Recollections of operations as private and NCO with Intelligence Section, Headquarters Coy, 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding), 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 9/1952-10/1953: train journey to front line; winter clothing issued; scruffiness of 1st Bn Welch Regt on relief at Yong Dong Po, 11/1942; arrival of reporter Tommy Lennon from Yorkshire Post Newspaper; method of keeping diary; terrain at Yong Dong Po; rat infestation at Yong Dong Po; move from Yong Dong Po to Nae Chong. REEL 3 Continues: terrain on front line especially around The Hook and Nae Chong; memories of sniper Phil Seymour; map-compilation work; photographic interpretation course he did with United States Marine Corps; Christmas in front line at Yong Dong Po, 12/1952; promotion to lance corporal; reasons for transfer of black Glaswegian from 1st Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) to 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding); postponement of Christmas celebrations until 2/1953; his stall at fete held to raise money for east coast flood relief in GB; incident of Royal Thai Expeditionary Forces troops deserting positions; problems unit had plugging line after disappearance of Royal Thai Expeditionary Forces troops; playing cards and Russian roulette with French Canadian troops, 3/1953. REEL 4 Continues: acquiring Chinese People's Volunteer Army grenade from French Canadians; battalion move to positions on The Hook, 12/5/1953; attempts to fire on Chinese People's Volunteer Army heavy machine gun position; Chinese People's Volunteer Army build up for attack on The Hook, 5/1953; Chinese People's Volunteer Army attack on D Coy's positions, 5/1953; recapture of D Coy's positions from Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops, 5/1953; commanding officer's explanation of battalion's steadiness in action; award of Military Medal to Corporal Bailey; effect of Chinese People's Volunteer Army sniper fire at Nae Chong; narrow escape from Chinese People's Volunteer Army mortar fire; under fire from United Nations' tanks; his opposition to patrol to inspect Chinese People's Volunteer Army dug tunnels; how he got commanding officer to call off reconnaissance patrol; aid he gave to badly burnt comrade. REEL 5 Continues: improvised trench heating; dealing with winter climate; reasons for carrying loaded rifle in front line; summer climate; violence of monsoon; opinion of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; question of political aspect of the Korean War; opinion of United Nations' allies; contact with Korean civilians at Inchon; attitude to having served with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding) in Korean; question of effects of service in Korean War.