Wilmshurst, Harold Clement (Oral history)

British NCO served with 5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt in GB, France, Belgium and North Africa, 1939-1942; served with 4/5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt in Iraq, Persia and Palestine, 1943-1946

REEL 1 Background in Jarvis Brook, 1919-1939: family; education; enlistment in C Coy, 5th Bn (Cinque Ports), Royal Sussex Regt of the Territorial Army, 4/1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Recollections of operations as private with 14 Platoon, C Coy, 5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt in France and Belgium, 1940: move to St Pol area, 4/1940; character of hundred mile march; move into Belgium; withdrawal from River Escaut area; escape from encirclement in Lille area; under German Air Force attack at Mont des Chats; evacuation from Dunkirk; in action at farmhouse in Lille area; loss of his rifle within Dunkirk perimeter; scene on Bray Dunes; helping evacuate wounded from Dunkirk mole. Recollections of period as private with C Coy, 5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt, 44th Div in GB, 1940-1942: reforming at Leominister and Oxford; role as regimental policeman; reception from civilians in Thorne/Moorends area; use of commandeered civilian vehicles. REEL 2 Continues: character of thirty mile route march, summer 1940; billeting at Moorends; reaction of civilians in Moorends/Thorne to unit leaving area, 10/1940; methods of supplementing rations during coastal defence duties at Normans' Bay; German Air Force attack on train at Edenbridge; anti-aircraft in tunnel at Oxted; evening at Dover Hippodrome during German shelling; damage in Dover from German shelling; coastal duties at Deal; opinion of commanding officer Colonel Morgan; coastal defence duties at Ramsgate; military activity in Ramsgate area; how his use of rifle butt on commando ended training exercise; coastal defence in Pegwell Bay area; move to Canterbury area; setting fougasse traps for potential German invaders; move to Maidstone area; Montgomery's training regime for division; injury received in battle training in Kenley area. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of voyage from GB to Egypt aboard Santa Rosa, 1942: problems encountered collecting rations in rough weather; health problems encountered and ablutions available; reception at Cape Town, summer 1942. Recollections of operations as NCO with C Coy, 5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt, 44th Div in North Africa, 1942: arrival at Suez, 29/7/1942; nature of conditions at Kutatba Camp; move to Alam Halfa; problems of digging in; in action at Alam Halfa. REEL 4 Continues: capture of German POW at Alam Halfa; conversion of unit to lorried infantry; role of unit at during Battle of El Alamein, night 27/10/1942; fighting at El Alamein; hand wound received at El Alamein; narrow escape from shellfire; capture of Italian POWs and fish supplies; story of flooded blankets at Mersa Matruh; role as runner for company headquarters; problems with sandflies at Sidi Bishr; contracting jaundice, 12/1942; formation of 4/5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt. Recollections of period as NCO with 4/5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt with Paiforce in Persia and Iraq, 1943- 1945: move to Persia. REEL 5 Continues: living conditions at Kemanshah area; role of Paiforce; living conditions including threats from insects and reptiles; type of alcohol supplied; memories of comrades; problems with EP/IP tents; course he went on at Sarafand; road accident he had on route to Beirut for leave; leave camp at Karind; guarding communications in Teheran area, 1944; impressions of Russian troops in Teheran; German influence in Persia; relaxations in Persia. REEL 6 Continues: searching villages for army blankets; use of charcoal irons; relations with civilians in Persia; training at Khanikin in Iraq; mountain training in Lebanon including disarming mutinous Greek troops; return to Persia. Aspects of operations as NCO with 4/5th Bn Royal Sussex Regt in Palestine, 1945-1946: role guarding oil depot and clashes with Jewish insurgents at Haifa, 1/1946; relations with Palestine Police; degree of fatigue in Palestine; eagerness for demobilisation. Demobilisation in GB, 1946. Question of physical and psychological after effects of military service in Second World War.