Interview with Harry Sanson

British private trained with Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle, GB, 12/1951-3/1952; private served as bugler served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, Area Troops Berlin in Berlin, Germany; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 9/1952-9/1953; NCO served as bugler with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 9/1953-11/1953; served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, Territorial Army in GB, 1953-1956

REEL 1 Background in Birtley, GB, 1930-1951: family; holidays; recreational activities; discipline; education; Belgian community; opinion of education; discipline; memories of teachers; employment available in Birtley; membership of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts including uniform worn, meetings, camps, chain of command, discipline, bugle playing and parades; playing with band in Chester-le-Street; employment as plumber; working week; pay; leisure activities. REEL 2 Continues: trade union members; deferral of military service; recreational and leisure activities; presence of anti-aircraft guns in Birtley during Second World War; German Air Force raids and use of air raid shelter; rationing; brothers' wartime employment. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle in GB, 12/1951-3/1952: call-up for National Service and reason for allocation to Durham Light Infantry; reception at regimental depot; medical; issue of uniform; family's reaction to call-up for National Service; background of fellow recruits; memories of Regimental Sergeant-Major William Rafferty; uniform and equipment issued; description of regimental depot and accommodation; first pay and items bought; heating in barrack room; washing facilities and latrines; cleaning of barracks; kit inspections; rations; fatigues; standard of turnout; settling into military life; further details of background of fellow recruits; reaction of fellow recruits to military life; duties; issue of rifle. REEL 3 Continues: care of uniform and boots; activities among other recruits; weekend leave and visits to Durham; pay and visits to Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); military population of camp; duration of basic training; building up to Light Infantry pace; further memories of Regimental Sergeant-Major William Rafferty; drill; fitness of troops; fitness training; firing on Otterburn Ranges; opinion of the Bren Gun and nature of training on it; care of weapons; firing range; grenade training; assault courses; morning procedures and daily routine; opinion of training; organisation of training units; building up of pride in unit; opinions of officers and NCOs at Brancepeth Castle; military discipline. REEL 4 Continues: passing out parade; news of postings to Germany and South Korea; degree of knowledge of Korean War; reactions to overseas posting; chevron issued for Germany; reaction of family to his overseas posting; journey to Germany with reinforcements from other units. Recollections of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, Area Troops Berlin in Berlin, Germany, 3/1952-6/1952: allocation to Smuts Barracks, Spandau; joining battalion and Bugles Section; composition of Headquarters Coy and the Bugles Section; memories of Sergeant Albert Martin; accommodation; washing facilities; cleaning of rooms; whitening of belt and gaiters; comparison of accommodation in Smuts Barracks, Spandau to Brancepeth Castle; reunion accommodation at Shrewsbury; other military units serving in Berlin; rations; use of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); standard of turnout; guard duties; duties on May Day, 1/5/1952; day to day activities; visits to the Olympic Stadium for Turkish Baths; transport around Berlin; German civilians employed by British Army and relations with them; bartering with coffee; use of British Armed Forces money. REEL 5 Continues: daily routine in Berlin; bugle calls and work with regimental band; guard inspection; uniform worn day to day; discipline; physical training; duties at Brandenburg Gate; trips into Berlin; use of American PX store; pay; state of Berlin; reception from civilians; visit to East Berlin; evening activities; troops' accused of rape; use of cinemas; state of housing; rota of guarding Spandau Prison; sporting activities; return to GB, 6/1952. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1952-7/1952: leave; training at Bellerby; accommodation; bugle duties; rations; supplementing rations; training for service in Korean War; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Jeffreys. REEL 6 Continues: typical day at Bellerby; opinion of Bren Gun; separation from rifle companies; weapons in Bugles Section; opinion of Sten Gun; weapons in Support Coy; motor transport; transport of Bren Gun and it's ammunition; training with slit trenches; exercises; reaction of troops to such work; meals on exercises; standard of turnout; specialist training; degree of knowledge of Korean War; recreational activities; relations with civilians; opinion of training; march to Brancepeth Castle; leave; role as duty bugler; degree of knowledge of situation in South Korea; reaction to posting to South Korea; issue of winter equipment; later conditions on guard duty in South Korea; reaction of family to posting to South Korea. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Halladale from Southampton, GB, to Pusan, South Korea, 7/1952-9/1952: embarkation at Southampton, GB; description of troopship and military population on board; sleeping arrangements; latrines and washing facilities; rations; details of cookhouse. REEL 7 Continues: weapons training; duties onboard; bugle practice; morning procedures; inspections with commanding officers; physical training and boxing sessions; kit inspections; bugle practice; duties onboard; bugle calls; rota for bugle duties; crew on ship; leisure activities; discipline; seasickness; stop at Aden, Aden Protectorate and journey through Suez Canal, Egypt; route march on Ceylon; visit to Hong Kong; arrival in Pusan, South Korea. Recollections of operations as bugler with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 9/1952-9/1953: presence of United States Army band on arrival at Pusan; nature of train journey northwards; impression of Korean civilians; rations; money paid in; journey to Britannia Camp, Ujongbu; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; problem with rats; rations; supply of water. REEL 8 Continues: sterilisation of water; latrines; washing; physical training; disposal of waste; inoculations; clothes worn; health of battalion and story of soldier wetting himself; morning inspections; organisation of battalion; story of mistaken identity in book on battalion's service in Korean War; selection and role of commanding officer's bugler; incident involving a gun being held to Major John Campbell's head; duties of Bugles Section; guard duties; leisure activities; weapons training; opinion of Bren Gun; cleaning Bren Gun; duration of time spent in front line; terrain around Britannia Camp and Korean civilians working there; protection of Britannia Camp; supplying ammunition to front line positions; issue of winter clothing; keeping warm; training of Canadian Army buglers; memorial services in Pusan. REEL 9 Continues: memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Jeffreys; composition of Bugles Section; daily routine; trips to Pusan for memorial services; experiences of artillery and mortar fire; use of artillery and tanks; news from front line; journeys along the 'Mad Mile'; week spent in front line and reason for stopping sending bandsmen to front line; comradeship; story of bugler who lost his nerve; bugle practice; church services; military discipline and punishments given out; opinion of officers; memories of United States Army soldier who stayed with Bugles Section; visit to United States Army camp; pride in regiment; integration of troops from other regiments; mail; Christmas 25/12/1952; description of Camp Casey; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; heating; rations; latrines; washing facilities; cleaning of uniform; daily routine; duties. REEL 10 Continues: parade for senior officer; concert; recreational activities; visits to Seoul; visit to 38th Parallel; leave in Tokyo, Japan; relations with Korean civilians; return to forward positions. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 9/1953-11/1953: arrival at Port Said; description of camp; fight with airborne troops; attack on guardroom; length of stay in Egypt; manoeuvres; opinion of Egypt; clash with Sergeant-Major Robert Hawksworth; duties in Egypt; arrival of band; missing out on Coronation celebrations; further details of duties; recreational activities; protection against civilian thieves; reaction to demobilisation, 12/1953; offer of lengthened stay; journey to Brancepeth Castle, GB. Aspects of period as NCO with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, Territorial Army in GB, 1953-1956: joining Territorial Army battalion; commitment to reserve training with Territorial Army; firing courses at Whitburn; attending camp at Whitby; details of pay; background of Territorial Army troops; return to civilian employment; settling back into civilian life; opinion of military life.