Description
Object description
British officer served with 2nd and 4th Field Coy, West African Engineers in Nigeria, 1943; served with West African Engineers , 82nd (West African) Infantry Div in India, 1/1944-12/1944; served with 9th Field Park Coy, 82nd (West African) Infantry Div in Burma, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Highgate, London and Muswell Hill, GB, 1920-1940: social circumstances and religion; education; summer holidays in Somerset; question of political beliefs; background to taking articles as chartered engineer with Hornsey Borough Council, 1937-1939; pre-war air raid precautions; effects of outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; role in charge of construction of air raid shelters at Turnpike Lane, Duckett's Green; abandoned road schemes; mortuaries; role dealing with unexploded German Air Force bombs.
REEL 2 Continues: story of dealing with German Air Force parachute land mine; inquiry into location of fire stations; duties. Aspects of period as assistant divisional engineer with Essex River Catchment Board, Colchester, GB, 1940-1942: role monitoring sea defences and drainage canals; story of narrow escape from mortar shell fired during British Army exercise; background to recruitment to British Army, 1942; role as platoon commander with 17th (Colchester) Bn Essex Home Guard, 1940-1942. Aspects of period as sapper at Royal Engineers School of Military Engineering at Chatham, GB, 1942: question of passing tests and selection for officer cadet training; living conditions; basic training. Aspects of period with No 148 Pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit at Wrotham, GB, 1942: start of course.
REEL 3 Continues: character of Royal Engineer platoon; relations with instructors and story of being discipline; endurance test on escarpment. Aspects of period as officer cadet with No 140 Officer Cadet Training Unit, Royal Engineers at Newark-on-Trent, 1942-1943: Bailey Bridge and pontoon bridge training; story of planning exercise in demolition of bridges illustrating importance of punctuality; explosives and demolition; story of battle exercise in North Wales including accidental shooting, carrying Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (PIAT) and overcoming exhaustion; theoretical training; trench digging.
REEL 4 Continues: question of failing course; story of passing out parade; question of posting to Africa and kitting out. Aspects of voyage from GB to Lagos, Nigeria via Freetown, Sierra Leone, 1943: route; role in charge of party of soldiers; conditions on board troopship; state of morale; initial impressions of Freetown, Sierra Leone; story of African servant; African musicians; detachment to survey dam site in Sierra Leone; voyage from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Lagos, Nigeria. Aspects of period with 2nd Field Coy, West African Engineers attached to 2nd Bn Gold Coast Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria, 1943: appearance of African women; impressions during Willys Jeep journey inland; effects of climate and ants.
REEL 5 Continues: reception on joining unit in jungle clearing; relationship with officers; composition of company; question of British officers and NCOs treatment of African women and troops; story of first parade with platoon; stories illustrating inexperience as officer; background to later assignment of 82nd (West African) Infantry Div in British India, 11/1943; work devising pillboxes with all round defensive capabilities; felling trees with explosives; story of censoring British NCO's letter; background to leaving unit. Aspects of period as officer 4th Field Coy, West African Engineers attached to 4th Nigeria Regt, Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria, 1943: posting to company.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of officers including attitude to African soldiers and drinking habits; story of loss of regimental funds and officer's cheating at cards in attempt to replace them; venereal disease problem and medical officers introduction of inspection of African prostitutes; bilharzia infection; explosives training and accident; parades; relations with African troops; send off for British NCOs from their African women. Aspects of voyage from Lagos, Nigeria to Karachi, India, 1943: visit to Aden, Aden Protectorate; story of running aground. Aspects of train journey from Karachi to Ranchi, India, 1943: initial impressions of India; story of visit to Indian village illustrating reputation of British Army; monkeys; question of location of 82nd (West African) Infantry Div.
REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with West African Engineers, 82nd (West African) Infantry Div at Ranchi, India, 1/1944-12/1944: intended role of 82nd (West African) Infantry Div in Arakan, Burma; allocation of West African troops to Chindit forces, 1/1944-2/1944; dying uniforms to conceal officer status; rumours; use of model Douglas Dakota aircraft to practice boarding aircraft; rifle grenade training; story of explosives demonstration; story of British officers visiting Indian prostitutes; Indian massage; story of African servant washing gramophone records; role as officers' mess secretary and story of officer bullying African cook; role of African servants; nature of officers' mess including their reaction to expression of socialist views, drinking habits and gambling; relations with Indian contractors; story of packing Gold Coast Regiment silver before leaving Nigeria; stories of acting on board of courts martial.
REEL 8 Continues: train journey to Calcutta; situation. Recollections of operations as officer with 9th Field Park Coy, West African Engineers, 82nd (West African) Infantry Div in Arakan, Burma, 12/1944-5/1945: journey to Maungdaw; officers' mess; role of unit in storing and issuing heavy engineering equipment; adaptations to former Japanese assault landing craft and stories of recreational trips; relations with fellow officers; routine duties; cattle pens; use of Burmese labourers; question of road and airfield construction.
REEL 9 Continues: story of assisting Corps of Military Police in arrest of African soldier; move into isolated location; guarding African prisoner; move in landing craft tank to Akyab Island; story of attack by Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft; moves down coast of Arakan; arrival of new commanding officer and background to returning on Leave in Addition to Python (LIAP) to GB; flight from Burma to GB. Aspects of period as officer with 9th Field Park Coy, West African Engineers, 82nd (West African) Infantry Div in Burma, 1945-1946: rejoining company at Rangoon; promotion to second in command of unit; demobilisation process; prior temporary staff appointment; story of getting drunk at party.
REEL 10 Continues: contact with Burmese civilians; story relating to black market; voyage from Rangoon, Burma to Lagos, Nigeria and repatriation of West African troops, 1946. Aspects of period as officer with No 2 Bomb Disposal Coy, Royal Engineers in London, GB, 1946-1947: relations with commanding officer; inactive nature of unit; state of NCO morale; demobilisation, 1947. Post-war life and employment: return to civilian employment as engineering assistant with Islington Borough Council; importance of military service in fostering enduring belief in importance of multi-racial society.
