Watts, Albert (Oral history)

British bandboy and bandsman served with 1st Bn, North Staffordshire Regt in India, 1938-1942; served with 9th Bn, Parachute Regt in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1947; served as NCO with 1st Bn, Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 1950-1952

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Blackdown and Blackdown Camp, 1922-1937: father's military service; barrack lifestyle; education; work as tea boy; background to enlistment into marriage. Recollections of basic training as boy soldier at North Staffordshire Regt Depot, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, 12/1937-3/1938: kitting out; barrack room; training as stretcher bearer; training on flute and bugle; preparation for kit inspection; food rations; relationship with boys, NCOs and officers; issue of tropical kit. Voyage aboard Neuralia to Bombay, India, ca 4/1938: seasickness; messdecks; conditions; route. Aspects of period as bandsboy and bandsman with 1st Bn, North Staffordshire Regt at Delhi Barracks and Fort William, Calcutta, ca 1938-1942: prior movements before joining unit. REEL 2 Continues: open barracks; bed bug problem; food rations; band practices; interview with colonel over failure to write to parents; effects of climate on daily routine; escorted visits to Delhi; canteen; move to Fort William, 1939; restrictions on movements and unit's role controlling civil disturbances in Calcutta; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; change in status to bandsman; conversion to wartime role; periods at Darjeeling hill station in hot season; voyage back to GB, 1942. period with 7th Bn, NS (Anti-aircraft) Regt in Hants, 1942: minimal training on Bofors gun; barrage fire during German air raids; story of volunteering for paratroopers to avoid punishment for disobeying NCOs orders during preparations for brigadier's inspection. Period with Army Air Corps Training Centre at Hardwick Hall, Chesterfield, 9/1942-10/1942. REEL 3 Continues: intense physical nature of training; opinion with instructors; weapons training and difficulty in passing rifle test; nature of physical training; practice jumps from tower; assessment and passing out parade. Period with Army Air Corps Parachute Training Centre at Ringway Airfield, Manchester, ca 10/1942-12/1942: learning to roll on landing; parachute familiarisation; personal morale on first static line parachute jump from balloon; procedure employed on first static line parachute jump from Dakota; completing jumping programme to qualify as parachutist. REEL 4 Continues: passing out parade. Aspects of period with 9th Bn, Parachute Regt at Kiwi Barracks, Bulford, 1/1943-6/1944: reception; infantry training and course in firing 2" mortar; organisation of company; parachute training; conditions of service; opinion of officers and NCOs; disciplinary offences and punishment of being confined to barracks; visits to Salisbury; relationship with civilians. Aspects of attack on Merville Bty, Normandy, France, 6/6/1944: question of prior briefing; boarding Dakota at Brize Norton; kit carried; state of morale; flight and low approach due to German anti-aircraft fire; parachute jump and landing 6 miles form target; surrender of German troops reorganisation and skirmishing during advance to Merville; move inland; return to Kiwi Barracks, Bulford, ca 9/1944. REEL 5 Various spects of operations as infantry at Bandy, Ardennes, France, 12/1944-1/1945: Ruse to conceal identity as parachute unit; discovery of French boys massacred by German troops. Various aspects of operations in Germany, 3/1945-5/1945: story of landing in tree when parachuting across Rhine; advance; recption on meeting Soviet troops. Period at Kiwi Barracks, Bulford, 1945-1947. Various postings in GB, 1948-1949: duties as NCO in officers' mess at Aldershot; blowing bugle for high court judges during period at Chester. Work in factories in Chesterfield, 1949-1950. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn, Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 1950-1952: joining unit at Colchester; compassionate leave due to wife's illness; voyage out; move with 29th Bde to Imjin River area; conditions of service and lifestyle in trenches; Chinese attacks in Happy Valley sector; death of No 2 on mortar and subsequent efforts to trace family; return demobilisation in GB, 1952. Post-service career; work in coalmines; membership of Parachute Regt Assoc.