Interview with Norman Bowdler

British trooper served with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1941-1942; served with 25th Dragoons in India and Burma, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Aspects of period as civilian in Dunchurch, GB, 1939-1941: lack of family military tradition; membership of 7th (Rugby) Warwickshire Home Guard at Dunchurch; activities of Home Guard; sources of wartime information; employment in Coventry. Recollections of enlistment and training as trooper with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1941-1942: reason for volunteering for Royal Armoured Corps, 8/1941; basic training at Tidworth Camp; origins of fellow recruits; adjustment to discipline; lack of bad language used by NCOs; physical stature of recruits; character of rations; gas training; opinion of accommodation; treatment of scruffy recruit; skills testing; specialisation in driving with second job as radio operator; character of uniform including black beret and boots; recreational facilities; lack of organised sporting activities; learning to drive. REEL 2 Continues: advanced training at Bovington Camp; trade training; driving a wide variety of armoured vehicles; opinion of First World War tanks; driving cruiser tanks; opinion of tank armament; training as wireless operator; use of sand table for tactical training; passing out parade; system of assessment; reaction to overseas posting; issue of tropical kit. Aspects of voyage from aboard HMT Samaria from Liverpool, GB to Bombay, India, 3/1942: embarkation at Liverpool, GB; conditions on board; seasickness; poor rations; coaling at Freetown, Sierra Leone; reception at Cape Town, South Africa; storm in Indian Ocean; route march in Mombasa, Kenya. Recollections of period as trooper with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons in India, 1942-1943: landing at Bombay; opinion of Indians. REEL 3 Continues: conditions at Galunchi Camp; formation of unit; effect of influx of regulars from 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards); health precautions taken; restricted training due to lack of equipment; performance of radio sets; reveille; ablution facilities; prevalent illnesses; eye injury during dust storm; issue of cap badge and topis; leave in Poona; political situation; security precautions taken for female guests of officers; sight of riot in Poona; character of troop officers and the qualities they needed; degree of knowledge of progress of war; move to Calcutta; initial issue of M3 Stuart Tank; opinion of M3 Grant and Lee Tanks including limited traverse of 75mm gun and appreciation of their firepower. REEL 4 Continues: opinion radial engines used; use of starting handle; character of suspension; driving M3 Lee/Grant Tanks; comparison between M3 Lee/Grant Tank and M4 Sherman Tank; versions of M4 Sherman Tank used; mechanics course; target training; character of jungle training; degree of knowledge about Japanese forces, their tanks and anti-tank guns; character of Japanese anti-tank mines and techniques for their disposal; living conditions at Calcutta; characteristics of service issue pistols and Thompson Machine Gun; later effects of Thompson Machine Gun on Imperial Japanese Army soldier in Burma; loss of place in tank crew through illness; impressions of squadron leader, Major Spencer Horn; posting to tank crew as loader for 75mm Tank Gun; role as loader; selection of ammunition; rate of fire with 75mm Tank Gun. REEL 5 Continues: procedure for testing and adjusting sights on 75mm Tank Gun; lack of use of 37mm Tank Gun; smoke discharge unit outside turret; waterproofing tanks. Recollections of operations as trooper with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons, 7th Indian Infantry Div, XV Indian Corps in Arakan, Burma, 12/1943-1944: voyage on board American landing ship tank from Calcutta to Cox Bazaar, 12/1943; incident of missing Imperial Japanese Army Air Service dive-bomber in The Admin Box, 2/1943; conditions on board; disembarking at Cox's Bazaar area, 12/1943; use of Valentine Bridging Tank; nature of water obstructions and virgin jungle; role of advance party; deployment in squadron and troop areas; visits from wild elephants and baboons; encounters with snakes; problems with dysentery and jaundice; orders to attack Imperial Japanese Army position at Tortoise Hill; role of 2/4th Bn Bombay Grenadiers as supporting infantry; casualties caused by United States Army Air Force accidental bombing of unit during advance to hill; Imperial Japanese Army field works and tunnels on Tortoise Hill; role of tanks during attack; Imperial Japanese Army counter-attack recapturing summit of Tortoise Hill; destruction of two Imperial Japanese Army field guns; Imperial Japanese Army use of mortars. REEL 6 Continues: reasons for lack of success during attack on Tortoise Hill; reaction to first time in action; casualties prior to attack; question of battle hardening; character of passes over the mountains; C Sqdn's retirement from attack on Tortoise Hill; duration of first action; at rest in harbour guarded by 2/4th Bn Bombay Grenadiers; briefing from Lord Louis Mountbatten; lack of tactical briefings; problems crossing Ngakyedauk Pass along narrow winding ledge; performance of tank; risk of fire; handling characteristics; descending Ngakyedauk Pass; crossing paddy fields and bunds; character of paddy bunds; reaction to driving through elephant grass; orders for no smoking, no noise and no lights. REEL 7 Continues: sounds of battle during night; role of C squadron supporting 7th Indian Infantry Div; Imperial Japanese Army troops' infiltration behind British lines; formation of The Admin Box, 5/2/1944; tank strength of squadron; presence of Imperial Japanese Army snipers; reaction to sight of Imperial Japanese Army troops; positioning of tanks; infantry positions in The Admin Box; infantry to tank communication; use of slit trenches and turret guards; features occupied by infantry; Imperial Japanese Army attack on divisional headquarters; reasons why Imperial Japanese Army troops did not attack vehicle park; arrival of units from 7th Indian Infantry Div; role rescuing units under attack; effective sighting of Imperial Japanese Army 47mm Anti-Tank Gun; anti-tank gun hit on tank at Tattenham Corner; method of avoiding anti-tank gun fire; destruction of Japanese anti-tank gun at Tattenham Corner; character of rescue missions; evolution of The Admin Box; effect of lack of sleep; problems of answering the call of nature; use of punjis sticks. REEL 8 Continues: use of barbed wire; types of artillery in The Admin Box; Imperial Japanese Army frontal attack in which grenade rolled under tank; Imperial Japanese Army wounded crying out; patrol to check bodies in which he took Imperial Japanese Army officer's sword and pistol; disposal of dead; Imperial Japanese Army attack on field hospital in The Admin Box; effect on attitude of unit after Imperial Japanese Army attack on field hospital; opinion of Imperial Japanese Army rifles and quality of other equipment; air supply; method of extinguishing fire on ammunition dump; sight of air-supply drop by Royal Air Force Douglas Dakota aircraft; man killed by air dropped sack of sugar; Imperial Japanese Army Air Service dive-bombing of positions; effect of shooting at Imperial Japanese Army Air Service dive-bomber. REEL 9 Continues: effects of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service attack on The Admin Box; character of patrols; collection of rations; biscuit burgoo; air-supply drops of American K rations; craving for corned beef; fuel and ammunition drops; character of air drops; changing nature of the battlefield; gradual forcing of Imperial Japanese Army troops off hills; nature of Imperial Japanese Army positions; role supporting infantry in attacking Imperial Japanese Army positions; bunker busting; infantry formation in attacks on Imperial Japanese Army positions; Gurkha attacks; use of grenades and opinion of Imperial Japanese Army grenades; sorties from The Admin Box; Imperial Japanese Army troops' skill at infiltration; growing Imperial Japanese Army shortage of ammunition; state of health; importance of tea; water supply and use of chaguls water containers. REEL 10 Continues: importance of cool clean water; sources of water; conditions in The Admin Box towards end of siege; attacking hills surrounding positions; how Imperial Japanese Army troops' always fought to the end; Japanese prisoner of war; question of Imperial Japanese Army troops mentality; reinforcement of The Admin Box; nature of Imperial Japanese Army artillery piece 'Buthidaung Bertha', housed in tunnels on road from Akyab to Buthidaung; method of destroying 'Buthidaung Bertha'; nature of tunnels; character of Buthidaung; opinion of Imperial Japanese Army tanks and armoured tactics; unit role on attack on Buthidaung; squadron tank losses; leaving The Admin Box via Ngakyedauk Pass, 2/1944; advancing through barrage during attack on Imperial Japanese Army positions on hill; catching Imperial Japanese Army troops in the open during attack; condition of Imperial Japanese Army troops; character of Imperial Japanese Army defensive positions on Ngakyedauk Pass; method of clearing obstructions. REEL 11 Continues: alcohol available in The Admin Box; problems of smell of tobacco; availability of cigarettes; encounter with burnt corpse; reaction to departure from The Admin Box, 2/1944; incident when his tank ran over Japanese anti-tank mine; character of Japanese anti-tank mine; fitting of cage to tanks for anti-tank mine protection; return to old positions occupied prior to action at The Admin Box; unit casualties. Recollections of period as trooper with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons in India, 1944-1945: effect of Stingray attack on beach; medical evacuation to hospital; evacuation by paddle steamer along River Brahmaputra to hospital at Comilla; rejoining unit at Cocanada; occasion when he was charged for not wearing boots and punishment; fate of tanks abandoned in jungle; orders to prepare for amphibious operations. REEL 12 Continues: issue of M4 Sherman Duplex Drive Tank; resuming duties as driver; comparison between M4 Sherman Tank and M3 Lee/Grant tank; driving characteristics of M4 Sherman Duplex Drive Tank; amphibious training including escape drills, breathing apparatus and sequence that crew left tank; amphibious landing exercises; dropping tank screen; handling capabilities at sea; appearance of tank from shore; loss of tank during storm in Bay of Bengal in which tank commander Reggie Booker was dragged down by his headset; effect on crew of sinking. Aspects of period as trooper with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons in Burma, 4/1945-8/1945: journey to Lashio; orders to takeover M4 Sherman Tanks from Chinese forces and take them to southern Burma; condition of tanks; behaviour of Chinese guards; leaving camp at Lashio; opinion of United States Army Corps of Engineers personnel; fording rivers under direction; celebrations on hearing news of VE Day, 8/5/1945. REEL 13 Continues: listening to British Broadcasting Corporation on radio; overnight stops; effects of front moving too fast; distances covered per day; tanks damaged by rough conditions; guard duties; reception from Anglo-Burmese civilians at Maymyo; reasons why operation stopped; attitude towards Burmese; conditions in Mandalay and Meiktila; return to India and reaction to atomic bombs being dropped on Japan, 8/1945. Aspects of period with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1945-1946: flight from India to GB; reaction to cold weather in GB, 10/1945; issue of European uniform and disembarkation leave; role as driver on staff of Officer Cadet Training Unit at Bovington Camp; opinion of driving Comet Tank; respect shown by cadets; reasons for wish to leave British Army; question of officers and NCOs towards other ranks; demobilisation and adjusting to civilian life, 1946. REEL 14 Continues: Reflections on military service: question of psychological effects of warfare; attitude towards having served with Royal Armoured Corps in Second World War; return to civilian life and employment with British Oxygen Company.