Interview with William Norman Mackenzie

British private trained with Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle, GB, 12/1951-3/1952; private served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, Area Troops Berlin in Berlin, Germany, 3/1952-6/1952; NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 9/1952-9/1953; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 9/1952-11/1952; private served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, Territorial Army in GB, 1953-1956

REEL 1 Background in Birtley, GB, 1933-1939: family; childhood; education; military service of family members in war. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Birtley, GB, 1939-1945: construction of air raid shelters; presence of Essex Regiment troops in Birtley; work delivering potatoes to prisoner of war camp and military personnel and nature of pay; effect of German Air Force raids on grandmother; problems on journey to Highfield Institute and Municipal Hospital in Sunderland. Aspects of period as schoolchild and civilian in Birtley, GB, 1946-1951: opinion of education; playing football at school; skills that could learned from local residents; presence of Belgian community in Birtley; question of what employment to take up on leaving school; employment as apprentice bricklayer. REEL 2 Continues: pay and comparison of wage with other jobs in area; family; hours worked; unemployment in area; recreational activities; employment prior to age of fifteen; sporting activities; reason for not finishing apprenticeship. Aspects of call-up for National Service in GB, 12/1951: attending medical examination; method of being called-up and reaction to having to do National Service. Recollections of training as private with Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle, GB, 12/1951-3/1952: story of arrival at Brancepeth Castle; process of enlisting; uniform issued; reprimand for cutting across parade square. REEL 3 Continues: accommodation; first meal; cleaning of plates; pay given and items bought; tour of camp; reaction to military lifestyle; origins of other recruits; story of chocolates; nature of regimental depot; pay; morning procedures and daytime activities kit and room inspections including punishments for a poor show; comradeship; opinion of discipline; backgrounds of fellow recruits; taking showers; duties; recreational activities; sneaking out of camp after inoculations; sports and gambling; military authorities' attitude to gambling; Christmas leave, 12/1951; duration of basic training and reaction of family to his military service. REEL 4 Continues: unit organisation; fitness training; fitness of troops; visit to dentist; heating of barracks; daily routine; drill; working up to light infantry marching pace; problems of some troops with drill; story of recruit desperate to get name in newspaper; NCO instructors at Brancepeth Castle; guard duties and bugle calls; physical training; assault course; rifle training and firing at Whitburn; shooting tests; bayonet training; reasons for training being intensified; talks given by officers; contact with officers; fatigues; hockey; summary of training; role during journey from GB to Berlin; soldiers who dropped out; opinion of training; further details of pay; passing out ceremony; visit from veteran association. REEL 5 Continues: memories and opinion of NCOs; opinion of NCOs; bullying NCOs; news of future postings in Berlin, Germany and South Korea; degree of knowledge of Korean War; leave. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, Area Troops Berlin in Berlin, Germany, 3/1952-6/1952: journey to Berlin and kit taken; arrival in Berlin; reception with Support Coy and transfer to C Coy; duties; nature of Smuts Barracks, Spandau; accommodation in Smuts Barracks and in hotel, Spandau; arrival of reinforcements from other units and changes in battalion; rations; facilities at Smuts Barracks, Spandau; contact with German civilians; internal security duties; accommodation in hotel; weapons training; further details of internal security duties. REEL 6 Continues: story of tour around Berlin; recreational activities in Berlin; relations with German civilians and use of Navy Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); story of breakfasting with United States Army personnel and weapons demonstrations; opinion of United States Army troops; black market; story of guard duty at Spandau Prison; details of guard duty; manoeuvres at Putlos; cut off of rations and use of Canadian and French Army rations. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1952-7/1952: return to Brancepeth Castle; opinion of training received; mail; leave; story of collection by Corps of Royal Military Police; prisoner escort duty; manoeuvres at Catterick Garrison. REEL 7 Continues: promotion to lance corporal; period spent at Bellerby; march into Brancepeth Castle; issue of uniforms and rifles; reinforcements; organisation of battalion; weapons in S Coy; memories of Second Lieutenant Jeffrey Dunn and commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Jeffreys; composition of section; opinion of Company Sergeant-Major Robinson; final preparations for overseas posting; laying up of colours parade in Durham; reaction to overseas posting; character of battalion; opinion of training received; visit to brother prior to embarkation; reaction of family to embarkation; embarkation from Southampton. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Halladale from Southampton, GB, to Pusan, South Korea, 7/1952-9/1952: embarkation at Southampton, GB, character of troopship and crew; problems with engine; military population on board troopship; sleeping arrangements; rations; duties on board; cleaning of decks; inspections; training; organised activities; gambling. REEL 8 Continues: availability of alcohol; routine of life on board; inoculations; health lectures; physical training; problems with seasickness; stops for water; stops at Gibraltar and Malta in Mediterranean; journey through Suez Canal, Egypt; ashore at Aden, Aden Protectorate; impressions of Aden, Aden Protectorate; stops in Colombo, Ceylon and Singapore, Federation of Malaya; nature of shore leave; stopover in Hong Kong including food and relations with civilians; changes in climate; care taken against sunburn. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 9/1952-1/1953: arrival in Pusan and unloading of equipment; boarding of train. REEL 9 Continues: nature of train journey to Britannia Camp, Ujongbu; arrival in Britannia Camp, Ujongbu; rations; contact with other troops serving with battalion from Birtley; relieving 1st Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry; accommodation in Britannia Camp; mistaken trip to front line; care of weapons; population of Britannia Camp, Ujongbu; latrines; precautions taken against mosquitoes; burial of waste; proximity to front line; equipment issued; grenades; role with Bren Gun section; preparations for move to front line; move into front line; arms in reserve area and proximity to front; terrain along front line; units close to battalion position at Point 255; trenches; terrain around Point 255; settling in to position and proximity to Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; condition of trenches; battalion deployment; presence of snipers in area; firing along front; adapting to situation. REEL 10 Continues: finding bearings in position on arrival in front line; stand to; rota; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; keeping warm; care of trenches; rain water; patrols; rations; supply of water; rota for washing and eating; duties; latrines; contact with Korean civilians; importance of keeping living areas clean; problems with rats; cleanliness of United States Army troops; role during first period in front line; personal hygiene and inspections; further details of rats; precautions against insects; treatment of feet; activity in line; morning procedures; maintenance of weapons; storage of grenades; personal weapon; care for uniform; reaction of troops to first week in front line; story of battalion members accidentally unpinning grenades; need to learn quickly and mistakes made by battalion members; battalion members moved out of front line; wearing of tin hat; troops' personal morale; linking up with troops on either side; sentry duty; wiring of minefield. REEL 11 Continues: work undertaken at night and story of patrol to farm; installation of new accommodation; protection against snipers; sleeping; observation point duty; artillery barrages; listening post; minefield inspections; story of soldier frozen to death; Christmas cards and music received from Chinese People's Volunteer Army personnel; protection from artillery fire; tanks; aerial activity; artillery shelling received from own artillery; machine gun fire; lines laid down for attack; sniper activity; casualties in C Coy; treatment after being bitten by rat; composition of a fighting patrol; stories of involvement in fighting patrols; purpose of fighting patrol; nature of standing patrol; communications; purpose of standing patrol; wire guard; booby-traps; difference between ambush and fighting patrols; story of an ambush patrol; first patrols involved in and casualties in minefield; reaction to casualties; differences between being in reserve and front; rotation between front and reserve positions; relief from first position; trench dug in rest area. REEL 12 Continues: process of being relieved; further details of trenches dug in rest area; proximity to front line; first day in rest area; hygiene; weapons training; map reading training; washing of clothes; sporting activities; cinema and visits from Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); concerts; visits to A and B Echelons; problems with uniforms and cold; composition of B Echelon; journeys to from Echelons; position of A and B Echelons; supply of ammunition; use of diesel for heating; later medical treatment at Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital; medical facilities and hope for ride in helicopter; news of war and football results; mail; parcel received from Mayor of Durham; question of tampering with mail; regularity of mail; effect of mail on morale; rumours received from front line; war news; accommodation on The Hook; transport; Chinese People's Volunteer Army's attack on The Hook; religion amongst troops; morale; start of winter; visit from photographer on Christmas Day, 25/12/1952. REEL 13 Continues: description of actions during Operations Blaydon and Willington; leadership of operation; movement forward; purpose of operations; role in operations; briefing prior to operations; process of leaving trenches for operations; troops left behind; reaction to being picked for operations; troops that took fright; officers involvement in operations; casualties; effect on morale; role in advance party for move to next position; terrain at next position; New Year's Day 1/1/1953; effect of cold on hands; accommodation; battalion deployment in position; proximity of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; injuries that incurred at position; conditions in trenches; problems with insects; installation of accommodation; sleeping arrangements; methods of keeping warm; latrines; supply of rations; activities in position including patrolling; unit casualties. Aspects of hospitalisation Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in South Korea, 1953: injuring knee and medical treatment received. REEL 14 Continues: conditions at hospital; medical treatment; washing; description of hospital; other patients and staff at hospital; heating system; bandaging and footwear; entertainment; cigarette ration. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 2/1953-9/1953: return to battalion; time spent at Canadian Army Camp; account of period in tents at roadside in support of 1st Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt); activities in front line; description of Camp Casey and accommodation; washing facilities; supply of meals; relations with other United Nations troops; replacement of damaged uniform; story of soldier losing arm; Anzac Day Parade, 25/4/1953; rations; duties; sporting activities; training; problems with Sten Gun. REEL 15 Continues: duration of stay at Camp Casey; training and firing of M2 3.5 Inch Rocket Launcher; presence of Republic of Korea troops serving with company; Republic of Korea Army troops' demonstration; route march; physical training; morning procedures; standard of turnout; cleaning of tents; malaria precautions; later bout of malaria experienced at Scarborough, GB; activities in Camp Casey; recreational activities; drafts in and out of battalion and promotion to corporal; battalion officers; leave near Seoul and description of rest camp. REEL 16 Continues: journey to Japan; rest and recuperation in Tokyo, Japan; accommodation; relationship with civilians; return to front line in Korea; wounding of Lieutenant Jeffrey Dunn and Ronnie Ducker; nature of position at Hill 355; water supplies; defensive positions; supply of rations; heaters made to warm hands; proximity to Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; patrols; cleaning up of trenches; length of time spent at Hill 355; reinforcements; period spent in rest area; guard on bridge over River Imjin; mail received; return to Hill 355; conditions of front line trenches; activities in valley and items found; rumours of armistice; music played by Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; death of Major John Tresawna on patrol, 10/6/1953-11/6/1953; effect of death of Major John Tresawna on battalion; Coronation celebrations, 2/6/1953; increase in patrolling; rest period on River Imjin. REEL 17 Continues: being relieved on Hill 355; return of Lieutenant Jeffery Dunn and Corporal Bailey; further details of rest period on River Imjin; return to front line; Chinese People's Volunteer Army attacks prior to armistice; relief from 1st Bn Royal Warwickshire Regt; news of return home; move into tented camp in reserve; stay in Pusan; memorial service; journey to Egypt. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 9/1953-11/1953: voyage from Pusan, South Korea to Port Said, Egypt, 9/1953; guard duty; rations; problems with flies; taking care of new recruits; weapons training; latrines; illness; water guard; leisure activities; pay; leaving drinks with drafts; trouble with soldier from Liverpool; contact with civilians; buying beer from Rhodesians; charge received from officer; discipline; daily routine; cleaning of uniform; story of stripping weapons; duties; medical treatment received in Aden, Aden Protectorate and story of letter received later in hospital; story of guard duty at airfield. REEL 18 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 12/1953: journey to GB; searches on arrival in London; journey to Brancepeth Castle; activities at Brancepeth Castle; process of demobilisation in Durham. Aspects of period as private with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry, Territorial Army in GB, 12/1953-11/1956: joining battalion; details of Territorial Army service; reserve service commitments with battalion; demotion to private; activities and duties; return to civilian employment; problems with knee; adapting back to civilian life; involvement with veteran associations; reflections on miltiary service.