Bowdler, Norman (Oral history)

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 living in Dunchurch, 1939-1941: lack of family military tradition; membership of Dunchurch Home Guard; 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; 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 GB to India aboard HMT Samaria, 3/1942: embarkation at Liverpool; conditions on board; seasickness; poor rations; coaling at Freetown; reception at Cape Town; storm in Indian Ocean; route march in Mombasa. 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; 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 Stuart tanks; opinion of 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 Lee/Grants; comparison between Lee/Grants and Shermans; versions of Sherman tanks used; mechanics course; target training; character of jungle training; degree of knowledge about Japanese, their tanks and anti-tank guns; character of Japanese anti-tank mines and techniques for their disposal; living conditions at Calcutta; characteristics of 0.38 pistol, 0.45 pistol and Thompson machine guns; effects of Thompson machine on Japanese soldier in Burma; loss of place in tank crew through illness; impressions of his squadron leader, Major Horn; posting to tank crew as loader for 75mm; role as loader; selection of ammunition; rate of fire with 75mm. REEL 5 Continues: procedure for testing and adjusting sights on 75mm; lack of use of 37mm; smoke discharge unit outside turret; waterproofing tanks. Recollections of operations as trooper with 3 Troop, C Sqdn, 25th Dragoons in Arakan, 1943-1944: voyage from Calcutta to Cox Bazaar on board US Landing Ship Tank; incident of missing Japanese dive bomber in The Box; conditions on board; disembarking at Cox's Bazaar area; use of Valentine Bridging tanks; character 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 Japanese position at Tortoise; role of Bombay Grenadiers as supporting infantry; casualties caused by US Air Force accidental bombing of unit during advance to hill; Japanese field works and tunnels on Tortoise; role of tanks during attack; Japanese counter attack recapturing summit; destruction of two Japanese field guns; Japanese use of mortars. REEL 6 Continues: reasons for lack of success during attack on Tortoise; 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; duration of first action; at rest in harbour guarded by Bombay Grenadiers; briefing from Lord 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 Div; Japanese infiltration behind British lines; formation of The Box; tank strength of squadron; Japanese snipers; reaction to sight of Japanese troops; positioning of tanks; infantry positions in The Box; infantry to tank communication; use of slit trenches and turret guards; features occupied by infantry; Japanese attack on divisional headquarters; reasons why Japanese didn't attack vehicle park; arrival of units from 7th Indian Div; role rescuing units under attack; effective sighting of Japanese 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 Box; effect of lack of sleep; problems of answering the call of nature; use of panjis. REEL 8 Continues: use of barbed wire; types of artillery in The Box; Japanese frontal attack in which grenade rolled under tank; Japanese wounded crying out; patrol to check bodies in which he took Japanese officer's sword and pistol; disposal of dead; Japanese attack on field hospital in The Box; effect on attitude of unit after Japanese attack on field hospital; opinion of Japanese rifle and quality of other equipment; air supply; method of extinguishing fire on ammunition dump; sight of air supply by Douglas Dakotas; man killed by air dropped sack of sugar; Japanese Air Force dive bombing of positions; effect of shooting at Japanese dive bomber. REEL 9 Continues: effects of Japanese Air Force attack on The Box; character of patrols; collection of rations; biscuit burgoo; air dropping of US K rations; craving for corned beef; fuel and ammunition drops; character of air drops; changing nature of the battlefield; gradual forcing of Japanese off hills; character of Japanese positions; role supporting infantry in attacking Japanese positions; bunker busting; infantry formation in attacks on Japanese positions; Gurkha attacks; use of grenades and opinion of Japanese grenades; sorties from The Box; Japanese skill at infiltration; growing Japanese shortage of ammunition; state of health; importance of tea; water supply and use of chaguls. REEL 10 Continues: importance of cool clean water; sources of water; conditions in The Box towards end of siege; attacking hills surrounding positions; Japanese always fighting to the end; Japanese POW; question of Japanese troop's mentality; reinforcement of The Box; character of Japanese artillery piece 'Buthidaung Bertha', housed in tunnels on road from Akyab to Buthidaung; method of destroying 'Buthidaung Bertha'; character of tunnels; character of Buthidaung; opinion of Japanese tanks and armoured tactics; unit role on attack on Buthidaung; squadron tank losses; leaving The Box via Okie Doke pass; advancing through barrage during attack on Japanese positions on hill; catching Japanese in the open during attack; condition of Japanese troops; character of Japanese defensive positions on Okie Doke pass; method of clearing obstructions. REEL 11 Continues: alcohol available in The Box; problems of smell of tobacco; availability of cigarettes; encounter with burnt corpse; reaction to departure from The Box; 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 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; evacuation to hospital; evacuation by paddle steamer along River Brahmaputra to hospital at Comilla; re-joining 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 Sherman Duplex Drive tanks; resuming duties as driver; comparison between Sherman tank and Lee/Grant tank; driving characteristics of Sherman Duplex Drive tanks; 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 North Burma, 1945: journey to Lashio; orders to takeover Sherman tanks from Chinese and take them to south Burma; condition of tanks; behaviour of Chinese guards; leaving camp at Lashio; opinion of US engineers; fording rivers under direction; celebrations on hearing news of VE Day, 5/1945. REEL 13 Continues: listening to BBC on radio; overnight stops; 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. 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 OCTU at Bovington Camp; opinion of driving Comet tank; respect shown by cadets; reasons for wish to leave army; question of officers and NCOs towards other ranks; demobilisation and adjusting to civilian life, 1946. REEL 14 Continues: 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.