Cantlay, William Gordon (Oral history)

British officer served with 14 Field Sqdn, Royal Engineers attached to Guards Armoured Div in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Aberdeen, 1921-1941: family; education; plans to follow career in engineering; memories of outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; family's military experience; membership of Home Guard in Aberdeen, 1940- 1941; duties and exercises with Home Guard. Recollections of enlistment and training with Royal Engineers in GB, 1941-1944: enlistment, 6/1941; reporting for training at Ripon; attachment to 49 Training Party for basic training; move to Newark; pattern of training at Newark; promotion to lance corporal and taking charge of next training draft, 12/1941; experiences of War Office Selection Board and pre OCTU; comments on officer training and selection; Royal Engineer organisation at formation and unit levels. REEL 2 Continues: posting to 14 Field Sqdn, Royal Engineers attached to Guards Armoured Div near Frome, 1/1943; memories of training exercise Spartan; experiences of working with Guards; awareness of German minefield capability; pattern of training during preparations for invasion of Normandy; posting to 143 OCTU as training officer; rejoining unit in Brighton area, early 1944; receiving news of D-Day, 6/6/1944; embarking at Tilbury, 19/6/1944. Recollections of operations as officer with 14 Field Sqdn, Royal Engineers attached to Guards Armoured Div in Normandy, 6/1944-8/1944: landing in Normandy; initial role of clearing vehicle routes; rotating of squadron personnel through front-line to gain experience; initial reaction to German mortar fire; initial experience of German mines; being left out of battle during Operation Goodwood, 7/1944; divisional regrouping in Caen area, late 7/1944; lessons learnt from Operation Goodwood; role as engineers to 2nd Bn Irish Guards and 5th Bn Coldstream Guards; introduction of policy of linking armour and infantry units. REEL 3 Continues: move to St Martin; divisional advance to contact at Estry; cutting off of unit in German counter attack; setting up booby traps and capture of German Kubelwagen; use of PIAT as mortar; question of absence of briefing on German troops; clearing roadblock for 1st Bn Grenadier Guards; problems 43rd Div had crossing River Seine at Vernon. Aspects of operations as officer with 14 Field Sqdn, Royal Engineers attached to Guards Armoured Div in Belgium, 8/1944-9/1944: regrouping of division into battlegroups; personal method of operating; advance to Brussels; entry into Brussels; advance to Albert Canal; fighting around Meuse Escaut Canal. REEL 4 Continues: reconnaissance role of Household Cavalry; capture of bridge over Meuse Escaut Canal, 10/9/1944. Recollections of operations as officer with 14 Field Sqdn, Royal Engineers attached to Guards Armoured Div in Netherlands during Operation Market Garden, 9/1944: divisional preparations for Operation Market Garden; assessment of strategic situation, 10/9/1944; briefing for operation; unit equipment during breakout from bridgehead, 17/9/1944; initial advance with lead armoured squadron, 17/9/1944; withdrawal to allow air strike on German positions, 17/9/1944; under fire at bridge; arrival at Walkensward; delays to advance, 18/9/1944; problems with German 88mm at Aalst; making telephone call to Son, 18/9/1944; constructing bridge at Son overnight; advance to Eindhoven; story of capture of Nijmegen bridge, 20/9/1944; comments on neutralisation of bridge demolitions at Nijmegen bridge, 20/9/1944. REEL 5 Continues: continuing advance northwards; repairing damage after German frogman attack on Eindhoven bridge. Recollections of operations as officer with 14 Field Sqdn, Royal Engineers attached to Guards Armoured Div in North West Europe, 1944-1945: constructing leave camp at Bourg Leopold; improving river crossing on River Meuse; use of dog platoon to find mines; divisional role during Ardennes offensive; leave in GB, 1/1945; preparations to provide support for 51 Div at Gennep; wounding during demolishing bridge; evacuation for wounds; rejoining unit, 3/1945; bridge building across River Rhine; tank commander's comments on Churchill tank; advance northwards into Netherlands. REEL 6 Continues: method of advancing into Germany; capture of German panzerfaust gunner; character of advance into Germany including clearing roadblocks; treatment of SS POWs; German use of magnetic mines near Cuxhaven; psychological effects of service; occupation duties in Germany from 5/1945; comments on fraternisation; mine clearing techniques.