Parkinson, Thomas Walter (Oral history)

British private served dispatch rider served with 21 Ammunition Depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps in North Africa and Italy, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Kentish Town, 1923-1939: family; education; employment; reaction to declaration of Second World War. Aspects of period as civilian living in Kentish Town, 1939- 1942: memories of German Air Force attacks; story of thwarted use of Anderson shelter, 1940; work on gun sites on Primrose Hill; plundering of BBC night club wine cellar; effect of sirens; handling horses during German bombing; effect of German bombing on public morale; story of civilian killed by anti-aircraft shell; fire-watching duties; volunteering for aircrew, 1940. Enlistment and training with Rifle Brigade in GB, 1942-1943: enlistment at York, 9/1942; memories of Gerald Lascelles; attitude to army discipline; driving course at Ashton-under-Lyne. Voyage from GB to Algiers. Recollections of operations as dispatch rider with 21 Ammunition Depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps in North Africa, 1943: first night in Algiers; conditions on train journey to Bougie. REEL 2 Continues: character of road journey to Beja; composition of unit; role as dispatch rider using Norton 500 at Beja; move to Souss; death of Les Marshall in road accident; dangers of dispatch riding in black-out; hazards of journey from Tunis to Kala Kabira. Recollections of operations as dispatch rider with 21 Ammunition depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Italy, 1943: voyage from Bizerta to Catania and onto Taranto; dispatch rider work in Bari area; sight of ambulances fetch wounded from bombed ammunition ship; move to Tiano area; German Air Force raids on Tiano. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as dispatch rider with 21 Ammunition Depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Anzio Beachhead, 1944: character of speech from commanding officer prior to sailing for Anzio; arrival in Anzio; relieving 3 Ammunition Depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps; details of ammunition supply to bridgehead; character of German shelling of beachhead; duel between German rail guns and British warships; damage done to German aircraft by British Bofor guns; interception of German midget submarines; trading with US troops; artillery barrage preceding breakout from beachhead, 5/1944; sheltering in sea cave during German Air Force raid on ammunition dump. REEL 4 Continues: unit casualties during German Air Force raid; visits to Rome. Recollections of operations as dispatch rider with 21 Ammunition Depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Italy, 1944- 1945: move to Arezzo near Florence, 8/1944; experience of river flooding; billeting in Monte San Sevino; aid he gave to villagers to bring in supplies; fraternisation with Italian civilians in Monte San Sevino; motorcycle accident near Arezzo; motorcycle accident near Arezzo; reputation of Germans amongst Italian civilians in Monte San Sevino; question of dangerous character of BSA 500 motorcycle; leaving Monte San Sevino for Naples, 1945. Period with Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1945-1946: reaction to not being posted to Far East; posting to Forli to 'de-kit' Sherman Tanks before return to US. REEL 5 Continues: tank accidents at Forli; theft of tyres from snowmobiles at Forli; return to GB for demobilization, 3/1946. Question of why BSA 500 motorcycle was so dangerous. Attitude to having served with 21 Ammunition Depot, Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Second World War.