Description
Object description
British driver served with 425 Bty, 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1942; served with 107 bty, <SNH> 7th Medium Regt, RA in North Africa Sicily and GB, 1942-1944; served with 425 Bty, 107th Medium Regt, <SNH> RA in GB and North West Europe, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Various aspects of background in Norfolk and Nottinghamshire, 1920-1939. Recruitment and training as gunner with D Troop, 426 Bty, 107th Regt, South Notts Hussars Royal Artillery at Derby Road Drill Hall, Nottingham, 4/1939-9/1939: reasons; drill nights; signals training at summer camp; relationship with ORs and NCOs; signals training. Various aspects of mobilisation and initial periods as Nottingham, Rillington and Panton Hall, 9/1939-1/1940. Various aspects of period in Palestine, 1/1940-6/1940: quarantine at Sarafand Camp; laying telephone lines whilst mounted. Various aspects of period at Mersa Matruh, Egypt, 6/1940-1/1941: sandstorms; high level air raids; dugouts; various officers and NCOs. Period mine spotting on Suez Canal, 1/1941-2/1941.
REEL 2 Aspects of period at Tobruk, Libya, 4/1941-12/1941: journey from Egypt; initial battle, 4/1941; Stuka dive bombing attacks; water supply and method of cooling water; Uniform; food; duties as signaller at Bulwell and Hucknall observation posts including firing orders and repair of telephone lines; telephone equipment; story of first experience of driving; breakout operations, 11/1941. Period in desert, ca 12/1941. Period in Egypt, 1/1942-5/1942: move to C Troop; opinion of various officers and NCOs; posting as driver; opinion of Chevrolet and Morris trucks.
REEL 3 Move to Gazala area, 5/1942. News of Knightsbridge Action, 6/6/1942. Period in Egypt, 6/1942-10/1942: reorganisation into A Troop, 107 Bty, SNH, 7th Medium Regt, RA; passing driving test and motor mechanic course; vehicle maintenance; relationship with regulars of 7th Medium Regt; relationship with officers; period in coastal sector at El Alamein, 1942; duties as driver mainly for Lieutenant David Elliot; digging in vehicles; slit trenches; white sand and camoflage necessitated; bombardment prior to El Alamein offensive, 10/1942; duties driving Ford pick-up truck radio car and occasional mechanical problems encountered. Various aspects of advance through Libya and Tunisia, 11/1942-5/1943: relationship with Elliot; story of truck exploding whilst carrying mines; desert driving conditions; story of ruse employed in direction finding exercise.
REEL 4 Continues: story of driving through Medenine Hill. Period at Malta, 6/1943-7/1943. Various aspects of period in Sicily, 7/1943-11/1943. Accompanying Elliot on course and rejoining unit in Algeria, 11/1943. Period in GB, 12/1943-7/1944: movements; re-formation of 107th Medium Regt, SNH RA; relationship with civilians in Bournemouth. Various aspects of period in North West Europe, 7/1977-3/1946: shelling incidents; accidental bombing by Allied aircraft; stories of driving for Elliot on his promotion to command A Troop, 425 Bty; personal morale; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1944; story of driving for inconsiderate officer, role driving patrols searching German civilian's homes whilst based at Gescher; displaced persons camp.
REEL 5 Continues: displaced persons' camps; black market; relationship with German civilians; demobilisation, 3/1946. Post-war work. Question of effects of war service.