Interview with Stanley Cyril Procter

British signaller served with Royal Corps of Signals attached to 214th Independent Infantry Bde in GB, 1942-1943; served with Royal Corps of Signals attached to 214th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 9/1943-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Carshalton, GB, 1922-1940: family; education; effects of Second World War on his employment; visit to RAF Croydon after first German Air Force raid, 15/8/1940; German Air Force bombing of Carshalton area; belief in ultimate Allied victory; memories of future archaeologist John Allegro; attempt to enlist with Royal Air Force, 1940. Aspects of period as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals, 214th Independent Infantry Bde in GB, 1942-1943: pattern of training with Royal Corps of Signals, 1941-1942; posting to 214th Independent Infantry Bde at Inveraray; memories of Dirk Bogarde. Aspects of period as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals attached to 214th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 9/1943-6/1944: posting with brigade to 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div; role in signals deception prior to D-Day, 1944; nature of Brigadier Hubert Essame's address to troops at Battle Abbey; question of Brigadier Hubert Essame attitude towards signallers; reliability of signals equipment; reasons for delay in embarking for Normandy. Recollections of operations as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals attached to 214th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: crossing English Channel aboard SS Will Rogers, 21/6/1944. REEL 2 Continues: disembarking in Normandy, 22/6/1944; move towards Carpiquet area for start of Operation Epsom, 26/6/1944; reaction to first casualty; capture of Mouen by 1st Bn Worcestershire Regt; move to 1st Bn Worcestershire Regt battalion headquarters; narrow escape from artillery shell splinter; move to Château de Fontaine near to Hill 112; Major-General Ivor Thomas' visit to front line; reaction to being under German multi-barrelled mortar fire; narrow escape from tracer fire at Hill 112; use of chore horse to charge wireless batteries; arranging for popular songs to be played to resting troops; case of driver who had battle fatigue; crossing of River Seine at Vernon, 8/1944; reaction to potential contact with German Tiger Tank at Gisors; period of rest in River Seine valley after Normandy Campaign. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals attached to 214th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-5/1945: role of Operation Market Garden, 9/1944; amusing radio communication; sight of aerial dogfight over Nijmegen, Netherlands; incident of German tank becoming mixed up in Allied convoy; extrication of troops from Oosterbeek Perimeter; billeting with Dutch civilians at Meersen; blowing up of ammunition train; use of Weasel Amphibian at Geilenkirchen, Germany, 11/1944; nature of 'Dorset Wood'; contact with American paratroopers; condition he was in on birthday in Bilzen, Belgium, 21/12/1944; narrow escape from short-fall of artillery fire near Goch, Germany, 2/1942; leave in Brussels, Belgium and GB. REEL 4 Continues: crossing River Rhine at Rees, Germany, 3/1945; liberating photographic development equipment at Cloppenburg and photographic work he did during advance into Germany; arrival at Bremen, Germany, 5/1945; discovery of German deserter in Bremen, Germany; hearing news of German surrender and how Major-General Ivor Thomas took it; memories of posting to India, 1945-1946; attitude to having served with 43rd 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in Second World War.