Winspear, Maynard Leslie (Oral history)

British NCO served with 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 1952-1953

REEL 1 Background in Yorkshire and Cleveland, GB, 1933-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as schoolboy living in Boosbeck, GB, 1939-1945: memories of declaration of Second World War, 3/1939; use of moorland for pasture; German Air Force attacks on ironstone mine; rationing; following news of war; role overseeing school's agricultural production; character of village; victory celebrations, 1945; memories of 1945 Election. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1950-1951: enlistment in Green Howards at Richmond, 1950; reasons for his back-squadding at Stensall Barracks; chores he did at Imphal Barracks, York . Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt in Germany, 1951-1952: background to transfer to unit 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 from GB to Korea aboard HMT Dunera, 1952: use of camera on voyage; locust plague in Red Sea; route march in Columbo; memories of Bill Speakman VC in Singapore; typhoon off Philippines; living conditions on board ship. Recollections of operations as NCO with Intelligence Section, Headquarters Coy, 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 1952-1953: train journey to front-line; winter clothing issued; scruffiness of 1st Bn Welch Regt on relief at Yong Dong, 11/1942; arrival of reporter Tommy Lennon from Yorkshire Post Newspaper; method of keeping diary; terrain at Yong Dong; rat infestation at Yong Dong; move from Yong Dong to Naechon. REEL 3 Continues: terrain on front-line especially around The Hook and Naechon; memories of sniper Phil Seymour; map-compilation work; photographic interpretation course he did with US Marines; Christmas in front-line at Yong Dong, 12/1952; promotion to Lance Corporal; reasons for transfer of black Glaswegian from 1st Bn Black Watch to 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt; postponed Christmas celebrations, 2/1953; his stall at fete held to raise money for east coast flood relief in GB; incident of Thai troops deserting positions; problems unit had plugging line after disappearance of Thai troops; playing cards and Russian roulette with French Canadian troops, 3/1953. REEL 4 Continues: acquiring Chinese grenade from French Canadians; move of unit to positions on The Hook, 12/5/1953; attempts to fire on Chinese heavy machine gun position; Chinese build up for attack on The Hook; Chinese attack on D Coy's positions; re-capture of D Coy's positions from Chinese; commanding officer's explanation of unit's steadiness in action; award of Military Medal to Corporal Bailey; effect of Chinese sniper fire at Naechon; narrow escape from Chinese mortar fire; under fire from United Nations tanks; his opposition to patrol to inspect Chinese 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 troops; question of political aspect of the Korean War; opinion of United Nations allies; contact with Korean civilians at Ebisu Camp, Inchon. Attitude to having served with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt in Korea. Question of effects of service in Korea.