Harwood, Herbert Stephen (Oral history)

British NCO served with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regt in GB, France, Belgium, Middle East, India and Burma, 1939-1945

REEL 1 Background in Bletchingly, GB, 1920-1939: family; education; employment as gardener. Recollections of period as private with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in GB, 1939-1940: background to joining Territorial Army, 8/1939; visit to summer camp, 8/1940; reaction to drilling; discipline within unit; recruiting area of unit; method of instructing rifle firing; story of training recruit who threw grenade badly; issue of uniform; digging trenches on mobilisation at Edenbridge, 9/1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; move to Axminster area; accommodation at Lyme Regis; cooking for platoon; character of night exercises; method of digging trenches. REEL 2 Continues: character of unit's equipment; grenade training; memories of unit cooks; unit morale; leave. Recollections of operations as private with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in France and Belgium, 4/1940-5/1940: voyage from GB to France; initial impressions of France; duties on Franco-Belgian border, 4/1940-5/1940; advance into Belgium, 5/1940; taking up positions at Oudenaarde; capture of German POW; sight of refugees and question of fifth columnists; withdrawal from Oudenarde; role as company runner; hitching lift on Bren-gun carrier to Dunkirk; reaction to sight of Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attack; obtaining rations; lack of knowledge about situation; attempt to wade out to ship that had run aground; German Air Force attacks on Dunkirk. REEL 3 Continues: embarking on destroyer; equipment brought back to Dover; reception at Dover. Recollections of period as NCO with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in GB, 1940-1942: arrival at Blandford, 6/1940; equipment on return to GB; opinion of Sten gun and Bren gun; opinion of Boyes anti-tank rifle and PIAT; reforming of battalion at Oxford; unit morale after Dunkirk; promotion to Sergeant at Walton on the Hill; degree of fitness in unit; footwear and footcare; emphasis on cleanliness; guard duties; gas training; attending booby trap course. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of voyage from GB to Egypt, 1942: conditions on board; ashore in South Africa. Recollections of period as sergeant with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in Middle East, 1942: arrival in Egypt; casualty caused by accidental discharge of rifle at Port Tewfik; uniform issued; contracting sandfly fever and treatment received; role as guard commander in transit camp at Beirut; riding bus for free in Beirut; rejoining unit and move to Iraq; joining 4th Indian Division. Recollections of period as sergeant with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in India, 1943: initial impressions of India; problems with lightening in camp; jungle training. REEL 5 Continues: training with mules; lack of specialist training; issue of canvas shoes; training for movement in jungle; leave in Calcutta; degree of contact with Indian civilians; move to Chittagong. Recollections of operations as company sergeant-major with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in Arakan, Burma, 1943- 1944: terrain in Arakan; advance southwards into Arakan; nature of tracks and river tributaries; Japanese delaying tactics; effect of friendly fire on B Coy near The Tunnels; character of The Tunnels; degree of contact with Japanese; opinion of Japanese tactics; size of patrols; organisation of patrols; promotion to company sergeant-major; responsibilities as sergeant-major. REEL 6 Continues: description of captured Japanese underground fortification; use of flanking movements. Recollections of operations as company sergeant-major with C Coy, 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment at Kohima, 1944: flight from Arakan to Dimapur; road journey from Dimapur to Kohima; return to Dimapur, 1/4/1944; second move to Kohima, 4/4/1944; move of C Coy to DIS Ridge; opening fire on Japanese on Jail Hill; failure of Japanese frontal attack on DIS Ridge; continuing attacks on DIS Ridge; character of defensive positions on DIS Ridge; damage to his pack from mortar fire; Japanese use of captured ammunition; hearing shouts from Indian National Army; Japanese attacks on DIS Ridge; causes of casualties on DIS Ridge; conditions for wounded; air supply of water; evacuation of wounded; role as platoon commander; argument with company commander about moving ammunition from exposed position on DIS Ridge. REEL 7 Continues: water carrying parties; sense of isolation on DIS Ridge; corporal killed helping evacuate wounded; withdrawal into reserve on Garrison Hill; method of keeping record of casualties; degree of information available about battle; start of air drops; supplies dropped; character of rations; fire discipline and ammunition supply; importance of Bren gun; opening fire on Japanese with Sergeant Tatum; opinion of Japanese soldiers; character of DIS Ridge; attitude towards prospect of capture by Japanese; importance of comradeship; danger of moving in daylight; question of fatigue. REEL 8 Continues: in reserve on Garrison Hill; change in character of Kohima throughout siege; withdrawal from Kohima to Dimapur; degree of hand over to Royal Berkshire Regiment; contracting malaria in Dimapur; visit by Vera Lynn; physical condition after Kohima. Recollections of operations as company sergeant-major with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in Kohima-Imphal area, India, 1944-1945: return to Kohima box area; character of Japanese withdrawal from Kohima area; organising loads for mules; rate of advance operating in columns; air drops; Japanese delaying tactics; unit morale; relations between mules and muleteers; behaviour of mules; nightly routine; character of advance towards Imphal and onto Tiddim Road. REEL 9 Continues: character of the Tiddim Road; lack of contact with Japanese on Tiddim Road; flight from Kalewa to Imphal, c12/1944; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1944; road race. Aspects of operations as company sergeant-major with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment in Burma, 1945: returning to front-line at Meiktila; co-operation with tanks; method of transport during leapfrogging actions towards Rangoon; casualty caused by Japanese sniper; method of crossing rivers using inflated trousers; daily routine; importance of regular mail; character of Japanese flags; attacking village with tank support; infiltration of Japanese across Rangoon road at night. REEL 10 Continues: leave in Calcutta, c7/1945-8/1945; story of role looking after Japanese and Indian National Army POWs in Rangoon Jail including opinion of Indian National Army; reaction to end of Second World War; return to GB for demobilisation, late 1945; attitude to military service and discipline; question of changing relationships between officers, NCOs and other ranks in active service; story of dealing with private who left his post. Demobilisation process and return to civilian life after 1946. Attitude to having served with 4th Bn Royal West Kent Regiment during Second World War.