Interview with Graham William Arthur Swain

British civilian messenger with Bournemouth Fire Brigade and National Fire Service, Bournemouth, GB, 1939-1942; private served with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 167th (London) Infantry Bde, 56th (London) Infantry Div in Italy, 10/1943-6/1944; served with 2/7th Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt), 169th (London) Infantry Bde, 56th (London) Infantry Div in Italy, 12/1944-4/1945

REEL 1 Background in Lambeth, London and Bournemouth, GB, 1924-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of period as civilian messenger with Bournemouth Fire Brigade and National Fire Service in Bournemouth, GB, 939-1942: German Air Force attacks on Bournemouth area; work during German Air Force raids on Southampton; attitude towards likely outcome of Second World War. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1942-1943: call-up to 17th Infantry Training Centre, Hyderabad Barracks, Colchester Garrison, 7/1942; first night in military service; his opinion of military discipline; meaning of term '252'; training as Universal Carrier driver; need for care in driving Universal Carrier; firing Bren Gun; how he became a despatch rider. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Takliwa from GB to French Algeria, 9/1943: conditions on board; disembarking in rench Algeria. Recollections of operations as private with 13 Platoon, C Coy, 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 167th (London) Infantry Bde, 56th (London) Infantry Div in Italy, 1943-1945: posting to battalion, north of Naples. REEL 2 Continues: responding to German fighting patrol north of Naples; attending to call of nature; rations and supplies in front line; problems of terrain; reasons why he became a fatalists; memories of Corporal 'Curley' Collett and George Newman; advance to and crossing of River Garigliano; landing at Anzio and move into The Wadis; holding line against German Army attacks; opinion of German 90th Panzergrenadier Div; becoming despatch rider at Anzio; occasion when he was buried under rubble and effect on his hearing; mobile bath unit; opinion of counselling; battle casualties; bravery of commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel M.E.N McWilliams; contracting dysentery and malaria in Egypt during rest period; return to Italy 6/1944; visit by King George VI. Recollections of operations as private with 2/7th Bn Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt), 169th (London) Infantry Bde, 56th (London) Infantry Div in Italy, 1944-1945: degree of forbearance in front line on River Senio, winter 1944-1945; crossing flooded Lake Comacchio in Fantails; problems of capturing Gemmano prior to transfer to battalion; advance towards Venice, 4/1945; last action in Venice, 4/1945; attitude towards Egyptians and Italians, 1943-1945; commanding officer's demonstration to deter Yugoslav Partisans; victory parade in Pola; posting to 4/5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt in Malta after VJ Day; demobilisation and starting career as policeman in Gravesend, GB, 1947.