Interview with Eric Gilbert

British private served with 9th Bn Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's), 214th Independent Infantry Bde in GB, 2/1942-9/1942; trooper served with 159th Regt, Royal Armoured Corps in GB and India, 9/1942-3/1943; private served with 10th Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 72nd Infantry Bde, 36th Indian Infantry Div and 36th Infantry Div in India and Burma, 3/1943-3/1945

REEL 1 Background in Southport, GB, 1922-1942: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment in British Army in GB, 1/1942: call-up for military service; mother's reaction to call-up; degree of knowledge of Second World War. Aspects of training as private with No 7 Infantry Training Centre at Cleethorpes, GB, 1/1942-2/1942: initial journey to Woodhall Spa; posting to No 7 Infantry Training Centre; accommodation; background of recruits; issue of boots; weapons training; instructor NCOs; sleeping arrangements; heating; learning of drill; firing rifle on range; route marches; details of live firing exercise; equipment issued. Aspects of period as private with 9th Bn Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's), 214th Independent Infantry Bde in GB, 2/1942-9/1942: posting to battalion at Woodhall Spa; accommodation; washing facilities; posting to Saltfleetby St Clements; accommodation; coastal defence duties; degree of knowledge of Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)'s history; discipline; recreational activities in Louth and Mablethorpe; further details of coastal defence duties; moves to Mablethorpe and Market Rasen; work on road at stately home; posting to Royal Armoured Corps including aptitude tests. Aspects of period as trooper with 159th Regt Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 9/1942-10/1942: character of regiment; journey to Southend-on-Sea; embarkation leave; gunnery training. REEL 2 Continues: journey to Liverpool; characteristics of M3 Grant Tank including composition of crew; details of regiment. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Stirling Castle from Liverpool, GB, to Bombay, India, 10/1942-12/1942: embarkation at Liverpool; composition of 159th Regt, Royal Armoured Corps; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; joining of convoy in North Atlantic; living conditions on board; lifeboat drill; guard duties; arrival in Brazil; knowledge of destination; activities in Salvador da Bahia; voyage between Brazil to Durban, South Africa; shore leave and departure from Durban, South Africa; voyage to and arrival in Bombay, India. Aspects of period as trooper with 159th Regt, Royal Armoured Corps in India, 12/1942-3/1943: train journey to Tarsi including health problems; nature of camp at Tarsi; change in intended role of regiment and reversion by to originally designation of 10th Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 3/1943. Recollections of operations as private with 10th Bn Gloucester Regt, 72nd Infantry Bde, 36th Indian Infantry Div and 36th Infantry Div in India and Burma, 3/1943-7/1944: posting in Poona, India; description of invasion training; plans for invasion of Akyab Island; situation in and journey to Burma. REEL 3 Continues: situation in Arakan; description of old Imperial Japanese Army positions; terrain; story of first night in jungle including noises from wildlife; opinion of Imperial Japanese Army troops; sleeping arrangements; details of tunnels in area; accidental shelling received from Royal Artillery; attachment to Corps of Military Police on pass; situation in area; move to Assam, India; presence of American forces in Assam, India; training undertaken; journey north; visit to United States Army camp; Recollections of operations as private with 10th Bn Gloucester Regt, 72nd Infantry Bde, 36th Indian Infantry Div in Burma, 7/1944-3/1945: flight into Burma, 7/1944; role on arrival at Myitkykina; rations; nature of advance south including contact with Chindit forces and air-supply drops. REEL 4 Continues: state of Chindits; contact with Chinese National Revolutionary Army troops; situation in Burma; role of United States Army; crossing of rivers; actions against Imperial Japanese Army at Pinwe, Burma including problems created by Japanese machine-gun position; relief from position and visit from press photographer; reflections on action at Pinwe including Imperial Japanese Army withdrawal; opinion and use of Lee-Enfield Rifle; arrival at and crossing of Irrawaddy River, Burma, 29/12/1944; prior recollections of problems from kite hawks in India; crossing of River Shweli; nature of action after crossing of River Shweli, Burma. REEL 5 Continues: rest period including contact with civilians and rations; details of American K-rations; dropping of sugar by air; Burmese civilians; nature of terrain during advance from River Shweli; visit to Mogok; news of return to India, 3/1945; flight to Mandalay; activities south of Mandalay. Aspects of period with as private with 10th Bn Gloucester Regt, 72nd Infantry Bde, 36th Indian Infantry Div in India, 3/1945-11/1945: journey to and leave in Calcutta; posting in Poona; anti-malaria precautions; hospitalisation in Poona; disbandment of battalion and posting to 2nd Bn Worcestershire Regt, 11/1945. Aspects of period as private with Worcestershire Regiment in GB, 1/1946-11/1946: voyage from India to GB; hospitalisation with malaria in Shaftesbury; period in Leominster; hospitalisation in Leicester; duties at No 4 Prisoner of War Camp, Scraptoft; prisoner of war clothing and conditions including camp band. REEL 6 Continues: background to creation of prisoner of war camp at Lutterworth; process of demobilisation including gratuity and reference, 11/1946; question of staying in British Army. Post-war life and employment: employment; opinion of treatment received from British Army. Recollections of operations as private with 10th Bn Gloucester Regt, 72nd Infantry Bde, 36th Indian Infantry Div in India and Burma, 3/1943-10/1945: degree of sleep obtained in front line; opinion and memories of battalion officers; opinion of United States Army; opinion about Japanese forces faced; mail; end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; opinion of medical treatment received; evacuation of wounded from Burma; problems settling into civilian life, 1946; opinion of men not engaged in fighting; details of pension; opinion of treatment received from British Army. REEL 7 Continues: story of Lady Lumley's canteen in Poona, India; contact with civilians in India; visit from Lady Edwina Mountbatten; opinion of senior officers; contact with British Indian Army troops; civilian workers in camps; memories of chaplain and church parades; warnings about and cases of venereal disease; question of homosexuality among troops; problems with gaining souvenirs; relations with General Francis Festing.