Interview with Oliver Parnaby

British sapper and NCO served with 386th Coy, 47th (Durham Light Infantry) Anti-Aircraft Bn, Royal Engineers in GB, 3/1939-8/1940; NCO served as fitter with 386th Bty, 47th (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regt, Royal Artillery, 43rd and 57th Anti-Aircraft Bdes, 7th Anti-Aircraft Div in GB, 1940-1941; served with 53rd (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Searchlight Regt, Royal Artillery, 57th Anti-Aircraft Bde, 7th Anti-Aircraft Div in GB, 1941-1942; served with 240th Coastal Bty, 504th Coast Regt in GB, 1943; served with 245th Bty, 62nd Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, Second Army and I Corps in GB and Normandy France, 1943-1944; served as quartermaster with 504th Coy, Pioneer Corps at Aldershot Garrison, GB, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in Sunderland, GB, 1917-1939: family; social circumstances; recreational activities; education; employment as apprentice motor mechanic at garage, 1931-1936; further recreational activities; employment as tram/bus conductor, 1937-1939. Recollections of period sapper and NCO with 386th Coy, 47th (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Bn, Royal Engineers at Dykelands Road Drill Hall, Sunderland, GB, 3/1939-9/1939: background to recruitment, 3/1939; drill nights and pay. REEL 2 Continues: nature of Dykelands Road Drill Hall; lorry generators; opinion of various officers; establishment and composition of unit; role as troop fitter; nature of 90cm Projector Searchlight and sound locators including maintenance and crew duties; communications; role liaising with Royal Air Force night fighters and aircraft identification signals; basic infantry training; grant of freedom of city; status of Territorial Army personnel; kitting out; kit inspections; initial status as driver mechanic; disposition of searchlight sites on annual camp, 8/1939; role as troop fitter checking generators and lorries; news of outbreak of war at church parade in Ripon, 3/9/1939. REEL 3 Continues: news of outbreak of war at church parade in Ripon, 3/9/1939; reaction to air raid sirens; success in illuminating German Air Force aircraft; role checking gas masks and capes; travelling between sites; question of motor transport spares; routine maintenance; difficulty in preventing engines from freezing up in cold weather; relations with officers; us of 24 hour passes; accommodation and bartering for coal; attending dances and relations with civilians; rations; recreational activities; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1939; leave; role protecting airfields; acting as homing beacons for disabled aircraft. REEL 4 Continues: effects of winter conditions; physical training; daily routine duties as troop fitter including visits as driver to regimental headquarters at Ripon Racecourse; role as stretcher-bearer; night sentry and readiness for action; success in illuminating German Air Force aircraft. Aspects of period as NCO fitter with 386th Bty, 47th (Durham Light Infantry) Searchlight Regt, Royal Artillery, 43rd and 57th Anti-Aircraft Bdes, 7th Anti-Aircraft Div in GB, 1940-1941: move to Staindrop to cover Durham; story of German Air Force attack on Staindrop; deployment of searchlights in clusters of three liaising with Royal Air Force night fighters; unit conversion to anti-aircraft role on introduction of radar. Aspects of period as fitter with 53rd (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Searchlight Regt, Royal Artillery, 57th Anti-Aircraft Bde, 7th Anti-Aircraft Div at Sedgefield, GB, 1941-1942: arrival of young soldier drafts; volunteering for training as engine room artificer; story of sighting aircraft; effects of fog and clouds; attending engineering course at Paddington Technical Institute, London, 1942. Aspects of period as NCO fitter with 240th Coast Bty, 504th Coast Regt, Royal Artillery at Kincraig, GB, 1942-1943: role maintaining generators and electrics; reception; volunteering for training as armoured fighting vehicle fitter. Recollections of period as fitter with 245th Bty, 62nd Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, Second Army in GB, 1943-1944: prior training course at Royal Artillery School of Mechanical Traction, Rhyl. REEL 5 Continues: characteristics of M10 Tank Destroyer; confusion over rejoining unit at Eastbourne; preparations for D-Day including waterproofing vehicles; move into sealed camp at Purfleet; secrecy; embarkation on Landing Craft Tank, 4/6/1944. Recollections of operations as NCO fitter with 245th Bty, 62nd Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, I Corps in Normandy, France, 6/1944-7/1944: personal morale; crossing English Channel, 5/6/1944-6/6/1944; Allied naval bombardment and air situation; German artillery fire; landing at Sword Beach, D-Day, 6/6/1944; situation on move inland; narrow escape from German artillery fire; role based at regimental headquarters; move to Ranville; evacuating lorries under artillery fire during German counter-attack; move to Hermanville-sur-Mer; repairs using cannibalised parts; story of getting motorcycle puncture. REEL 6 Continues: German artillery fire on beach areas; story of being wounded by artillery fire whilst watching Royal Air Force bombing Caen; evacuation to GB. Aspects of period as NCO at 504th Coy, Pioneer Corps at Aldershot Garrison, GB, 1944-1945: joining company after hospitalisation, 1944; collecting draft; company role on road repairs; role as quartermaster sergeant; VE Day, 8/5/1945; demobilisation procedure, 1946; review of service with Territorial Army, 1950-1967.