Interview with Albert Watts

British bandboy and bandsman served with 1st Bn North Staffordshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's) in India, 1938-1942; private served with 9th Bn Parachute Regt in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945; NCO served with 1st Bn, Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in South Korea, 11/1950-11/1951

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Blackdown and Blackdown Camp, GB, 1922-1937: father's military service; barrack lifestyle; education; work as tea boy. Aspects of enlistment and training as boy soldier at North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's) Regimental Depot, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, GB, 12/1937-3/1938: background to enlistment, 12/1937; kitting out; barrack room; training as stretcher-bearer; training on flute and bugle; preparation for kit inspection; rations; relations with boys, NCOs and officers; issue of tropical kit. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Neuralia from GB to Bombay, India, 4/1938: seasickness; messdecks; conditions; route. Aspects of period as bandsboy and bandsman with 1st Bn North Staffordshire Regt (The Prince of Wales's) at Delhi and Fort William, Calcutta, India, 1938-1942: prior movements before joining unit. REEL 2 Continues: description of barracks; bed bug problem; rations; band practice; interview with commanding officer over failure to write to parents; effects of climate on daily routine; escorted visits to Delhi; canteen; move to Fort William, Calcutta, 1939; restrictions on movements and battalion's role controlling civil disturbances in Calcutta; reactions to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; change in status to bandsman; conversion to wartime role; move to hill station in hot season at Darjeeling; voyage from India to GB, 1942. Aspects of period as gunner with Royal Artillery in GB, 1942: minimal training on Bofors Gun; anti-aircraft barrage fire during German Air Force raids; story of volunteering for paratroopers to avoid punishment for disobeying NCOs orders during preparations for brigadier's inspection. Aspects of training as private with Airborne Forces Depot, Hardwick Hall, GB, 9/1942-10/1942: start of training. 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. Aspects of training as private with No 1 Parachute Training School, RAF at RAF Ringway in GB, 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 Douglas Dakota aircraft; completing jumping programme to qualify as parachutist. REEL 4 Continues: passing out parade. Aspects of period as private with 9th Bn Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div at Kiwi Barracks, Bulford Camp, GB, 1/1943-6/1944: reception; infantry training and course in firing Ordnance SBML 2 Inch 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; relations with civilians. Aspects of operations as private with 9th Bn Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div during attack on Merville Battery, Merville-Franceville-Plage, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: question of prior briefing; boarding Douglas Dakota aircraft at RAF Brize Norton; kit carried; state of morale; flight and low approach due to German anti-aircraft fire; parachute jump and landing six miles from target; surrender of German Army troops; reorganisation and skirmishing during advance to Merville Battery, Merville-Franceville-Plage; move inland in to Normandy. Recollections of operations as private with 9th Bn Parachute Regt, 3rd Parachute Bde, 6th Airborne Div in GB and North West Europe, 6/1944-5/1945: return to Kiwi Barracks, Bulford Camp, GB, 9/1944. REEL 5 Continues: operating as infantry at Bande, Ardennes, Belgium, 12/1944-1/1945; ruse to conceal identity as parachute unit; discovery of civilians massacred by German forces; story of landing in tree during Operation Varsity, the crossing of the River Rhine, Germany, 24/3/1945; advance into Germany; reception on meeting Soviet Army troops, Wismar, Germany, 5/1945. Aspects of period as NCO with British Army in GB, 1945-1949: duties at Kiwi Barracks, Bulford Camp, 1945-1947; duties as NCO in officers' mess at Aldershot Garrison; blowing bugle for high court judges during posting to Chester; civilian employment in factories in Chesterfield, 1949-1950. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in South Korea, 11/1950-10/1951: joining unit at Colchester Garrison, GB, 1950; compassionate leave due to wife's illness; voyage from GB to South Korea; brigade move River Imjin; living conditions in trenches; Chinese People's Volunteer Army attacks at Happy Valley; death of No 2 in mortar crew and subsequent efforts to trace family; return for demobilisation in GB, 1952; post-service civilian employment; membership of Parachute Regiment Association.