Interview with James Donaldson

British private served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 1st (Malta) Infantry Bde on Malta, 1940-1943; served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde, Eighth Army on Sicily, Italy, 7/1943-8/1943; served with 2nd Devonshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB and Normandy, France, 12/1943-6/1944

REEL 1 Background in Leith, GB, 1920-1939: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Devonshire Regiment in GB, 9/1939-12/1939: enlistment under age at Exeter, 9/1939; training with 4th Bn Devonshire Regt; journey on draft from GB to Malta via France. Recollections of period as private with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 1st (Malta) Infantry Bde during Siege of Malta, 1940-1943: initial six months on island; start of Axis air attacks; work of unit especially on airfields; Royal Air Force defences on island; units serving in 1st Malta Infantry Bde; character of leaving island, 30/3/1943; marriages of soldiers to Maltese civilians; relations between Maltese civilians and troops; Maltese personnel who joined battalion; food shortages; role of Malta; state of his health; narrow escapes from Axis bombing. REEL 2 Continues: reception of tanker SS Ohio in Grand Harbour, Valletta, 15/8/1942; make shift footwear worn; sight of Royal Air Force Gloster Gladiator aircraft named 'Faith, Hope and Charity'; nature of protective pens for fighters; anti-aircraft work. Aspects of period with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt in Egypt, 3/1943-7/1943: move to Sidi Bishr; Combined Operations training; bathing at Port Said. Recollections of operations as private with Mortar Platoon, 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 231st Independent Infantry Bde, Eighth Army in Sicily, Italy, 7/1943-8/1943: plans to landing at Marzamemi to give covering fire to landings; nature of advance towards Vizzini; in action against Germans at Vizzini; capture of Agira; bayonet charge at Regalbuto; use of Ordnance ML 3 Inch Mortar; opinion of German Army troops; British troops flair for improvisation; end of Sicilian Campaign and landings at Porto San Venere on mainland Italy, 9/1943. Aspects of period with Mortar Platoon, 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 12/1943-6/1944: return to GB; leave in Edinburgh and Braintree. REEL 3 Continues: comradeship in regiment; amphibious landing training in Inveraray; meeting future wife at Lowestoft; in sealed camp at Beaulieu, 5/1944-6/1944. Aspects of operations as private with Mortar Platoon, 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt, 231st Infantry Bde, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div on Gold Beach in Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: landing at Le Hamel; sight of 47 (Royal Marine) Commando landing; malaria bout during landings. Reflections on military service: attitude to having served with 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt in Second World War; blowing up of his Universal Carrier on German Teller Mine at Fiumefreddo, Sicily, Italy; psychological effects of preceding incident; discovery of olive oil store in Italian farm; memories of Harry Ash.