Williams, Thomas Rheidol "Rhei" (Oral history)

British private trained with General Service Corps in GB, 1943; served with 1/5th Welch Regiment in GB and North West Europe, 1943- 1944; served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in GB, 1944-1946

REEL 1 Background in Pontarddulais, GB, 1924-1943: area grew up in; education; periods in work and at dole school; family; Pontarddulais during war; air raids on Swansea and Pontarddulais; use of house cellar as local air raid shelter; joining of cadets; details of service with ARP; reactions to war; reaction of parents to his joining army; medical in Swansea; call-up papers; reaction to joining army; journey to Brecon with Harry Waters. Aspects of period as recruit with General Service Corps in GB, 1/1943-6/1943: arrival in Brecon and march to camp; fellow recruits; memories of Corporal Cotton and Sergeant Davies; illness and hospitalisation; anxiousness to return to unit; memories of George Williams; contact with officers; discipline; visits to Brecon; church parades; driving lessons; passing out parade; accommodation; opinion of rations; relationship with fellow recruits; cleaning of boots; fitness training; weapon training; pace of drill; physical training; gas precaution training; leisure activities; interest in news from war; knowledge of destination; news of posting in Welch Regiment; leave. Aspects of period with 1/5th Welch Regt in GB, 6/1943-6/1944: arrival in Sittingbourne; reactions to posting; destinations of fellow recruits; journey to Milstead; posting in SP Company. REEL 2 Continues: description of Milstead and accommodation; memories of Sergeant Matthews including story of a soldier's suicide; Welsh speakers in area; training with bren carriers; story of barrage on scheme; sleeping arrangements during exercises; role of exercises; period in Colchester; opinion of American troops; training with Scout Platoon in Herne Bay; reason for return to bren carriers; preparations for posting in France; opinion of training received; doodlebugs seen at Herne Bay and Purfleet; scenes on East India Docks; reactions to embarkation; visit from Montgomery in Tonbridge; date of landing in France; length of voyage and period in Thames Estuary; journey to Purfleet; send-off on journey to East India Docks; boarding of ship; ship's crew, sleeping arrangements; anti-aircraft battery in estuary; boarding of landing craft. Aspects of operations as private with 1/5th Welch Regt in North West Europe, 6/1944-8/1944: landing on Gold Beach and scenes on coast; movement inland; crew of beren carrier; contact with civilians; relief of Scottiosh Division including crash of bren into duck pond; house clearance; first dead soldier seen; night in orchard; arrival of SP Company and occupation of orchard; protection from shrapnel in orchard; advance to Hill 122; description of trenches situated in a hedgerow. REEL 3 Continues: accommodation of Baron; magazines found about First World War; story of barrage faced and evacuation to first aid post; description of barrage; interview with medical officer. Aspects of hospitalisation in France, 8/1944: evacuation to and description of hospital; treatment received; journey to GB. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 8/1944-9/1944: train journey to Reading; description of hospital in Reading; restrictions on shaving; opinion of ftreatment received; journey to Scotland including help given on train; patients on train; arrival at Bridge of Balgie; details of neurosis ward; treatment on isolation ward; civilian casualties in hospital; leave; reactions to suffering from shellshocked; nightmares following experiences; visits of siblings to Scotland; visit to family doctor; posting in Gravesend; reactions to news of return to unit; medical board; reaction to downgrading; period in Croydon. Aspects of period as private with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in GB, 9/1944-4/1946: period in Donnington; posting in Saltburn-by-the-Sea; return to basic training and reason for move to cookhouse; posting in and opinion of Old Dalby; work in Ordnance Depot; make-up of depot and staff; continuing symptoms of shellshock. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 4/1946-7/1946: visit to doctor and advice to go to Warncliff Hospital; opinion of medical staff. REEL 4 Continues: reflections on army service; location and description of Warncliff Hospital in Sheffield; sessions with psychiatrists and work in gym; discharge and pension; improvement during stay at Warncliff; contact with comrades from battalion; civilian work and clearance of shellshock; demobilisation at York; reactions on return home; reasons for move to Leicester; marriage and family; reactions of parents to illness; discussion of medical treatment; symptoms of shellshock. Aspects of operations as private with 1/5th Welch Regt in North West Europe, 6/1944-8/1944: fate of bren gun crew and troops met since war; memories of Captain Davies; opinion of officers and their lifestyle; opinion towards German troops; opinion of what he was fighting for; confirmation and church parades; freedom of movement during day in Normandy; air raid on Caen; state of Cheux; return visits to Normandy; contact with civilians; pass through Bayeux; confidence in victory; knowledge of situation including discussion on George Williams. REEL 5 Continues: teamwork in platoon; rations; scavenging for extra rations; story of drunken soldier during an air raid; discipline; age of self and NCOs while in Normandy; impressions of old people as child. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: process of discharge; gaining of civilian work; work in Leicester; reason for losing job; work as bus driver; reasons for return to Pontarddulais; jobs worked until retirement; effects of army service on life; enjoyment of travelling; difference between Leicester and Pontarddulais; changes in Pontarddulais since war; visits to Leicester from Ordnance Depot; guard duties in Nottingham; VE Day celebrations; reaction to atomic bombs; VJ Day celebrations; contact with Military Police; details of journeys home from Kent; opinion of conscientious objectors; opinion of army service; 50th Wedding Anniversary; family.