Mason, Alfred (Oral history)

British private served with General Service Corps in GB, 1945; private served with 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in GB and Germany, 1945-1947; private and NCO served with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Germany, GB, Greece and Cyprus, 1947-1950; NCO served with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in GB and Germany, 1950-1952; NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Germany, GB, Korea, Egypt, Aden and Cyprus, 1952-1962; NCO Permanent Staff Instructor served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1962-1963; NCO Permanent Staff Instructor served at Northumbria University, GB, 1963-1969

REEL 1 Background in Bentley and Doncaster, GB, 1924-1939: area grown up in and family; family home; holidays with Arksey Club; stories from childhood; accidents in local pit; father's service during First World War; religion; brother's army service; summary of education. REEL 2 Continues: stories from childhood; early education; opinion of education; school discipline; education at Doncaster Grammar School. REEL 3 Continues: work interviews after leaving school; job taken in foundry. Aspects of period as civilian in GB during Second World War: fire watching duties; pay; reactions of father to leaving school; details of work in foundry and war work undertaken there; stories about work colleagues; parts made for Supermarine Spitfires; further stories about work colleagues; working hours; leisure activities; American armed forces in Doncaster; clubs visited; bombing in area; story of a house fire; attempt to join up. REEL 4 Continues: school week; time in St John's Ambulance Brigade; ARP Warden training; duties; method for warning of an air raid; uniform and equipment; more on duties; bomb that fell on Bentley; length of time as ARP Warden; methods for getting news of war; discussion of the trustworthiness of war news; sinking of the HMS Hood and Ark Royal; German propaganda and Lord Haw Haw's broadcasts; news of D Day; end of attempts to join army; brother's service in army; reasons for wanting to join up; VE Day street party; casualties from village; call-up papers and qualification for war medal; surprise at arrival of papers; medical. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as private with General Service Corps in GB, 1945: uniform issued on arrival at Richmond; details of Corps joined; description of camp; stories of comrades at Richmond; arrival at Richmond and NCOs; issue of uniform; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; handing over of civilian clothing; locker in barrack room; washing of floor; tables and stoves; washing facilities; details of pay; cleaning of kit; issue of meals and rations. REEL 6 Continues: settling into army life; background of recruits; razor blades in caps of Glaswegian recruits; kit inspections and pressing of uniform; reveille; morning procedures and breakfast; rifle rack; rifle issued; weapons training; NAAFI break; standard of shooting; indoor rifle shooting; training with bren gun; opinion of sten gun; grenade training; drill; daily routine; physical training; fitness of recruits before army. REEL 7 Continues: talks from officers; gambling; punishment for gambling and PRI fund; issue of battle dress; story of returning late from leave; initiative tests; unit selection process; opinion of basic training; marking of equipment; cleaning of boots; free time and leave; end of training; reactions to posting with King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry; weapons tests; cap badge and flashes; journey to Berwick. REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of period as private with King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in GB, 1945- 1946: march through Berwick; arrival in camp; description of camp; cap badge; NCOs at Berwick; issue of rifle; reception from Sergeant; sleeping arrangements; stoves in barrack room; equipment issued; accommodation of NCOs; rota for duties; assembly of the bren gun; failure of tests; population of camp; issue of meals; cleaning of plates; length of stay at Berwick; selection of future NCOs; stories from training; bayonet training; setting sight on rifle; daily routine; cleaning of No 4 rifle. REEL 9 Continues: opinion of Thompson Sub-Machine Gun; description of firing the PIAT; rifle range; platoons; firing of 2" mortars; physical training; description of milling; runs to Scottish border; training with live ammunition; marching up and down hills; route marches; VJ Day celebrations; care of feet; gas training; field craft training. REEL 10 Continues: three-day exercise away from camp; difference of opinion with Sergeant; selection as section leader on exercise; training in sections; assault course; summary of training; period before being allowed out of camp; German POWs; relationship with civilians and leisure activities; evening activities; NAAFI; gambling; visits to Berwick; guard duties; standard of shooting attained; opinion of training; leave; standard of training; passing out parade. REEL 11 Continues: contact with officers; story of explosives training; opinion of NCOs; treatment for elbow in Edinburgh; attitude of NCOs towards privates; attitude of privates; teaching of regimental history; posting orders; leave; sent on signals course at Richmond; accommodation; selection for course; initial duties; memories of physical instructor; description of stables billeted in; morning procedures; outline of course; telephone systems; cable laying. REEL 12 Continues: radio operation; map reading; move of school to Catterick; Christmas 1945; opinion of course; descriptions of final assessments in morse code, radio operation, map reading and cable joining; attitude towards course; return to Berwick; courses attended by other troops; conditions in barracks; temporary promotion to Lance Corporal; duties; role following promotion; offer to stay on as instructor; size of draft to Germany. REEL 13 Continues: journey to Germany. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Germany, 1946- 1947: description of transit camp in Osnabruck; offer of job on telephone exchange; activities in camp; black market and state of Osnabruck; relationship with civilians; posted to Bergedorf near Hamburg; offer of job in stores; storage of signal equipment; accommodation; organisation of Headquarters Company; requisitioning training with radios; discipline; standard of turnout. REEL 14 Continues: inspections; cigarette ration and NAAFI pack; pay; giving cigarettes to civilians; morning procedures; signals training; stories from exercise in Poland; journey to Minden; canoeing in Bergedorf; visit to Hamburg; relationship with civilians; black market; brothel area and talks about Germany before arrival; transport to Hamburg; trips organised. REEL 15 Continues: journey to Minden; purpose of transfer; Minden barracks; telephone exchange at Minden; ATS presence; arrival in Minden; accommodation; battalion headquarters; Commando Unit present and meals; move into barracks; running at Minden stadium; state of Minden; test of equipment on arrival; maintenance of telephone lines; reason for not having kit inspections; guard duties; separation from rifle companies; ENSA visits; area around Minden. REEL 16 Continues: relationship with civilians; Minden Rose Club and local band; recharging of batteries; organisation of signal platoon at barracks; internal security duties; story of Lance Corporal Mario Webber and the local schnapps; rifle company parades and training; signal platoon duties; sports and bugs caught from kit; discipline; fusing of lights. REEL 17 Continues: barrack inspections; tidying of bed and room; windows; NAAFI van; memories of Sergeant "Junior" Cook; news of the closing down of battalion; transfer to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Luneberg; annual leave; mail; conditions in winter; Armistice Day parade; disbanding of battalion; opinion of Ox and Bucks; reaction of troops to disbandment; other King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry troops transferred to Ox and Bucks. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Germany, 1947-1948: accommodation of signal platoon; reception from regiment; practice with radios; story of charge for missing duties and punishment; discipline in regiment; description of barracks; Operation Woodpecker; memories of Corporal "Brummie" Hyde; attitude of regiment. REEL 18 Continues: stories of exercise with tanks while in King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry; radio sets used on exercise; radios trained on; communication with tanks; radios used on exercises with Ox and Bucks; tuning of radios; memories of Medical Inspection Sergeant; morning procedures; discipline; opinion of Sergeants in regiment; promotion to Lance Corporal; signals instructors course attended; Ox and Bucks involvement in Berlin Airlift; memories of Sergeant Briggs; Christmas leave. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in GB, 1949: posting to Richmond for full signals course; collection of kit from Harwich; return to battalion at Crowborough; promotion to Corporal; embarkation leave. REEL 19 Continues: learning of radio theory on full signals instructor course; aerial classes at Catterick; telephone cable training with Royal Signals; exercise in Scarborough; importance of practice with radio; sending of messages; training for teaching; how an aerial works; examinations; return to Crowborough and promotion to Corporal; embarkation leave; preparations for embarkation to Greece; posting to Oxford to form rear party; ship sailed on; stories of events while at Oxford. REEL 20 Continues: carrying coal to married quarters; basketball match for Depot at Devizes; details of the rear party; other sports played; Regiment Sergeant Major under arrest; reactions to posting in Greece. Aspects of journey from GB to Greece, 1949: routine on journey to Greece; sleeping arrangements; issue of meals; population of ship; sleeping on deck; rations; seasickness; activities onboard; stops at Gibraltar, Tripoli, Benghazi and Piraeus; journey through Greek Islands. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Greece, 8/1949-1/1950: arrival in camp near Thessalonica; description of camp and journey of equipment; washing facilities; latrines; uniform worn; problems with flies; fuel used in burners and rations; story of soldier put on a charge while on an exercise and his punishment; desert training exercise; effect of sand on equipment; activities in camp; camp guards; Greek Guard's Regimental tune; time on beach; visits to Thessalonica. REEL 21 Continues: loading of ship; journey to Cyprus; rations. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Cyprus, 1/1950-5/1950: journey from Famagusta to Nicosia; camp; reason for support company leaving; accommodation; NAAFI; maintenance of signals equipment; hat issued; daily routine; swimming; parades; Python leave; stay in Port Said; journey to GB. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in GB, 1950: story of customs at Liverpool; leave; reported to Cowley Barracks in Oxford; make-up of barracks; description of barracks; start of Korean War; activities at Cowley; posting in Borden. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in GB, 1950-1951: story of transfer to 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; transfer to Salisbury Plain; accommodation; organisation of unit; background of troops; old comrades joining him in regiment; signals course teaching at Hythe and Sandhurst; bicycles issued. REEL 22 Continues: morning journeys to work at Sandhurst; description of the new 62 set radio; learning the workings of the 62 set; instructing the use of the 62 set; opinions of the training Major; marriage; arrival in Bodmin; journey to Germany. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Germany, 1952: arrival in Minden; position of barracks; interview with commanding officer; transfer to Durham Light Infantry in Berlin. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Germany, 1952: reason for transfer; memories of Jake Hamner; posting to signals platoon; description of Spandau Barracks; settling into platoon; morning procedures; memories of another signals Corporal; parades. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1952: issue of webbing at Brancepeth Castle. REEL 23 Continues: embarkation leave; exercise at Catterick; march into Brancepeth; reactions to posting in Korea; background of troops in battalion; details of training before embarkation; uniform issued; issue of radios on arrival; organisation of journey. Aspects of journey from GB to Korea, 1952: promotion to Sergeant; duties on ship; sleeping arrangements; route of journey; stop-off in Aden; time in Hong Kong; deserters in Hong Kong. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Korea, 1952-1953: reception at Pusan; train journey through Korea; training with Major Atkinson; description of front line rest camp; latrines; supply of water; American ration packs; self-heating cans of soup; tin openers. REEL 24 Continues: British ration packs; story of salmon steaks; front line latrines; move into Battalion Headquarters on the front line at Naechon; make-up of A Echelon; role of buglers; terrain and positions on front line; routine of rifle companies; proximity of Chinese troops; position on left; duties as signal sergeant; problems with telephones at Naechon; manning and description of telephone exchanges; morning procedures; phone manned by signals Corporal; standard of turnout; maintenance of telephones; proximity of brigade headquarters; description of telephone cable. REEL 25 Continues: laying of telephone cables; repairing of cables; sleeping and night activities of rifle companies; throat microphones; training of rifle companies in use of radios; radio communications; supply and maintenance of equipment; communication on company raids; identification of units through communications; state of Chinese troops; stories of being shelled; suspicion of Chinese spies; routine of front line; listening in on raids; memories of Colonel Jeffreys; officers and NCOs in battalion. REEL 26 Continues: receiving news of casualties; accidents with sten guns; death of Colour Sergeant Joe Camby; effect on morale of casualties; periods in reserve area; accommodation in reserve area; description of a gun in one reserve area; firing of the gun; story of journey to Camp Casey; conditions in rest area; sanitation; washing of kit; mobile shower unit; activities in rest area; organisation of telephones during relief of front line positions; carrying of signals equipment to rest area; routine in rest area; concerts; contact with civilians; story of exploding a hole for a latrine; winter clothing issued; rotation around positions; description of Point 159; duties in A Echelon stores; accommodation; items kept in stores. REEL 27 Continues: hard tack rations; supply of rations from A Echelon; supply of meals at A Echelon; contact with front line; use of insulation tape; evacuation of casualties; supply of ammunition; storage of greatcoats; use of A Echelon stores; company transport; journeys between positions; state of roads; methods of getting news from the front and the Crown News newspaper; Koreans working with signals platoon; Battalion Headquarters built at Point 355; position at Yong Dong; stand-by at Hook and movements around Korea; posting at Camp Casey; accommodation; memories of the Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant; activities at Camp Casey; checking the cables. REEL 28 Continues: story of Korean soldier who refused an order; memories of Korean troops with platoon; leisure activities; story of evening in Seoul and repercussions on return from Japan; leave in Tokyo; contact with civilians in Japan; kimono bought for wife; return to line at Point 355; conditions; story of watching the 4.2" New Zealand Mortar Platoon; story of near shelling; final attack at Hook; negotiations for armistice; parcel from the Mayor of Durham. REEL 29 Continues: ceasefire; reasons for posting to Egypt; events following armistice; reactions to ceasefire and type of fighting; journey to Egypt; role of advance party. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 1953- 1955: description of camp in Egypt; camp laundry; snowfall; tents and buildings in camp; equipment brought from Korea; daily routine; rations; latrines; use of ammunition for pranks; water; guard duties; competitions between rifle companies; movement exercise in desert; night in desert; training and testing of signallers. REEL 30 Continues: training signallers to lay cable; testing of telephones; German hacking of telephones; maintenance of telephones; teaching of telephone manner; selection of new troops; closing down of camps in Egypt; handing over to Egyptians; return to GB. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1955- 1956: camps and other units at Barnard Castle; accommodation; memories of Ken Phipps; story of Mattison and his MG; stay at Barnard Castle; training duties and standard troops trained to; involvement with Cadet Forces on camp at Barnard Castle; role as Lightning Brigade; exercise at RAF Dishforth; call to Middle East due to Suez Crisis; preparations for posting; betting on destination; accommodation in Aden; story of discovering destination at Manchester Airport; journey to Aden aboard a Bristol Britannia; crash of one plane in convoy. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Aden, 1956-1957: position of camp; outbreak of dysentery and water; latrines. REEL 31 Continues: role of battalion in Aden; exercises; company sent to Bahrain and presence of Royal Signals; positioning of aerial in desert; memories of Corporal Ishuan playing hockey; knowledge of situation; absence of maps; visit to the volcanic crater; conditions; problems with dysentery; return to Barnard Castle. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1957-1958: duties; journeys to Catterick; posted to Cyprus; situation in Cyprus. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1958-1959: relief of Royal Artillery; Pinefields Camp and ENSA concerts; split of battalion; memories of Royal Signals Sergeants; accommodation; climate in Cyprus; Middle East routine; memories of socialising with Ken Kidd; position and duties of B Company; wounding of one soldier; story of attack on ambulance; visits to rifle companies and their accommodation; relationship with civilians; communications; role in Cyprus; length of stay; photographs taken for passports and leave; trip out with rifle company; rest camp on beach. REEL 32 Continues: promotion of signals officer; promotion to Colour Sergeant and new role. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1959-1961: move of wife to Berwick; posting to Honiton; gaining place in married quarters; new officer; description of camp; accommodation in married quarters; parades; fitness training; sleeping arrangements on exercises at Alhampton; security defence exercise; preparation for cancelled exercise; role in exercises; details of new radios and batteries introduced; company exercises; journey to camp in morning; daily routine; guard and piquet duties; boxing judges course at Blandford Forum; stories from guards drill course at Pirbright. REEL 33 Continues: length of course and weekend leave; DLI relationship with guards; make-up of course; ranks sent on course; taking of RSMs from guards; grading at end of course; interview with commanding officer on return; comment from course; memories of Sergeant Dewer; education exams; return to duties; preparations for posting in Berlin; posting to D Company; reaction to posting; journey to Berlin; make-up of battalion. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Germany, 7/1961-9/1962: nature of posting in Berlin; description of barracks; warnings of being kidnapped by Russians; proximity of border; duties in Operation Rocking Horse; open sewage farm stationed near; accommodation. REEL 34 Continues: journey through East Germany; visit to East Berlin; duties; units drawn into D Company; guard duties at Spandau; parades; company training and football; transport in Berlin; contact with Regiment Sergeant Major; writing of details for following day; memories of commanding officer; duties at weekends; family's life in Berlin; stories from exercises; news of transfer to 8th Battalion; time in barracks while battalion on exercise; preparations for return to GB; journey to GB and to Scotland for leave. REEL 35 Continues: leave in Cooper Angus. Aspects of period as NCO with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 10/1962-7/1963: posting at Durham; accommodation; role as Staff Instructor; duties in recruitment office; organisation of battalion; reservists in battalion; communication training; weekend camps; camp at Blackfell and Sennybridge; liaison with doctors and preparation for posting to Hong Kong. Aspects of period as NCO at Northumbria University, GB, 1963-1969: offer of job at Northumbria University; offer of post at Sunderland recruitment office; work training in weapons at Northumbria University in Newcastle; communications training; training for civil service; civil service demobilisation course at Catterick; reason for failing executive part of course. REEL 36 Continues: process of demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1969: work with civil service at Longbenton; adjustment to civilian life; family homes; reflections on army career.