Interview with Henry Herbert Willimott

British private and NCO served with 4th and 5th Bns Dorsetshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 1939-1944; NCO served with 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 1944

REEL 1 Background in Shipton Gorge and Poole, GB, 1921-1939: family; move to Poole; education; employment; joining of Territorial Army, 1938; awareness of approaching war; pattern of training; civilian employment in military camps. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 4th and 5th Bns Dorsetshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 8/1939-6/1944: mobilisation, 8/1939; initial accommodation in Poole; memories of officer, 'Dizzy' West; expectation of overseas service; father's service in First World War; posting to Frome; route marches; period with band; conditions during winter; contact with troops evacuated from Dunkirk, France, 6/1940; pattern of training; church parades; relations with NCOs and officers; daily routine; period with signals and of anti-aircraft sections; posting in St Albans; duties including work on farms; visits to London; posting in Dover; anti-aircraft training undertaken in Seaford; composition and roles of anti-aircraft section; memories of Regiment Sergeant-Major Sutcliffe; background of reinforcements recreational activities; casualties; knowledge of war's progress; posting in Whitstable; coastal defence duties; fitness training; question of prospect of invasion. REEL 2 Continues: training and exercises; character of Universal Carrier; composition of Universal Carrier Section; further details of Universal Carrier; waterproofing of Universal Carriers; degree of knowledge of D-Day landings; exercises; details of Wasp Flame-Throwing Carrier; question of attitude to war; troops dropping out of training; fitness; leisure activities; relations with United States Army troops; journey to Tilbury Docks. voyage from Tilbury to Normandy, France. Aspects of operations as NCO with 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: voyage to Normandy; scenes on beach; movement inland; first night in France; attendance at Officer 'O' Groups; details of attack on and period at Château de Fontaine; contact with German prisoners of war; memories and opinion of officers; casualties; capture of Caen; activities and sights witnessed in Falaise Gap. REEL 3 Continues: troops suffering from psychological strains; problems with Sten Gun; crossing of River Seine. Recollections of operations as NCO with 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 8/1944-5/1945: comradeship; rations; relations with civilians; advance to Nijmegen, Netherlands; crossing of Nijmegen Bridge and subsequent events; relief by American airborne troops; nature of American rations; opinion of United States Army troops; promotion to sergeant; attachment of Canadian Army officers under Canloan scheme; details of defensive positions taken in Netherlands; hospitalisation with pneumonia in Nijmegen, Netherlands; draw for leave in GB; period in Ardennes, Belgium, 12/1944; rum ration; prior recollections of drinking Calvados in Normandy France; comradeship; opinion of training including physical conditions. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of post-war life and employment: civilian employment including period as policeman; reflections on war service; demobilisation in Guildford; opinion of gratuity; details of pay in civilian life; question of missing military service. Reflections on military service in Second World War: psychological and physical effects of service; period on British Army Reserve; opinion of officers' conditions; degree of knowledge of concentration camps during war; duties guarding Irma Grese; opinion of treatment of veterans; lessons learnt in army; memories of comrades; washing facilities in North West Europe and Deal; story of journey to Brussels, Belgium; discussion of Nazi Germany; opinion of German forces.