Description
Object description
British NCO served with Intelligence Section, Headquarters Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regt (Prince Charlotte of Wales's), 98th Indian Infantry Bde, 19th Indian Infantry in India and Burma, 11/1943-8/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Tiverton, GB, 1923-1942: family; education including university; membership of Officer Training Corp Aspects of enlistment and training as private with General Service Corps at No 11 Primary Training Centre at Bodmin in GB, 8/1942-10/1942: call-up for military service; pattern of training; journey to Bodmin; attitude towards military service; reception at No 11 Primary Training Centre, Bodmin; memories of NCOs; learning of drill; daily routine; rifle training; aptitude tests; posting to pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit, 10/1942, period with Holding Unit in Inverness including accommodation. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 8th Bn Suffolk Regt in GB, 1943: exercises on North York Moors; visit to Scarborough; discipline including story of return journey from an exercise; activities around Spilsby; journeys home for leave. Aspect of voyage from GB to Bombay, India, 1943: duties as regimental policeman during voyage.
REEL 2 Continues: arrival in Bombay; train journey to Deolali; period of acclimatisation including health problems. Aspects of period as NCO with Intelligence Section, Headquarters Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regt (Prince Charlotte of Wales's), 98th Indian Infantry Bde, 19th Indian Infantry Div in India, 11/1943-12/1944: battalion role at Nilambur; jungle training; attitude to war against Japanese; attempt at conversation with a Japanese prisoner of war; reaction to posting with regiment; leave in Himalayas; comrades; return to unit in Madras; exercise on airfield; visit to dentist at Madras; background to posting at Kohima; train journey to Dimapur; positions taken outside Imphal; visit to 2nd Bn Suffolk Regt; building of road; memories of NCOs; navigation exercise in jungle; punishment following rifle inspection; visit of Lord Louis Mountbatten. Aspects of operations as NCO with Intelligence Section, Headquarters Coy, 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regt (Prince Charlotte of Wales's), 98th Indian Infantry Bde, 19th Indian Infantry Div in Burma, 12/1944-8/1945: advance into action including air activity, 25/12/1944.
REEL 3 Continues: casualties on railway line during advance; halt to advance await for orders and Imperial Japanese Army patrol activities; turnover of officers; lack of counter-attacks; supply of rations; nature of actions and terrain during advance southwards; rest period at Shwebo; nature of Japanese forces near River Irrawaddy; nature of action at Kabwet; brief posting to Admin Box; character of slit trench; story of contact with A Coy; air support; knowledge of Japanese forces' atrocities; mapping of Imperial Japanese Army positions after battle; evacuation of casualties; medical equipment carried; description of River Irrawaddy; noise of battle; action across the river; crossing of River Irrawaddy, 13/2/1945; presence of Imperial Japanese Army snipers during capture of Shwedaung; advance to Mandalay; story of supplying rations to B Coy.
REEL 4 Continues: observation positions at Mandalay; interception of Japanese forces withdrawal from Mandalay area; period with advance party; nature of advance to and occupation of Toungoo including VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945 and arrival of reinforcements; character of Toungoo; nature of advance along Toungoo-Mawchi Road; receiving news of end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; use of weapon during campaign; communications; climate; story of an observation officer's near miss; civilian interpreter; terrain covered during campaign and role of battalion; maps; contact with old comrades; air supply drops; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Finch; weapons used by regiment; details of attack on Mandalay Hill; knowledge of wider war; journey to GB on leave; reception on arrival.
REEL 5 Continues: contact with and opinion of Indian and Gurhka troops; artillery support; characteristics of Bren Gun; story of first slit trench dug under fire; story of mistake made by Major-General Thomas Rees; details of War Office Selection Board; question of being a Forgotten Army; actions of Captain John Randle; nature of actions at Mandalay and Meiktila. Aspects of period as private with 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regt (Prince Charlotte of Wales's) in Burma, 1945-1946: activities following VJ Day, 15/8/1945; posting to orderly room; church services; duties; story of reunion; contact with chaplain; posting to Kalaw; story of soldier suffering from malaria; precautions against malaria; health problems in India and since; visits to Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); money; booby-traps; mail received and sent; listening to 1946 FA Cup Final on radio, 27/4/1946.
REEL 6 Continues: question of fatigue and stress; casualties; knowledge of troops; memories of section and company members; mules with battalion; question of self-inflicted wounds; attitude towards officers; reinforcements received during Burma Campaign; contact with British Indian Army and United States Army troops; casualties; treatment of wounded. Aspects of return from Burma to GB via India, 1946: voyage from India to GB; return home and news of demobilisation, 10/1946; being placed on charge during period in transit camp at Dum Dum, India; voyage from Rangoon, Burma to Calcutta, India; duties during final period in Burma; question of continuing service with British Army; demobilisation in Woking, GB, 9/10/1946. Post-war life and employment: continuing university education; employment; health problems and retirement; psychological effects of military service.
REEL 7 Continues: physical effects of military service; period on Army Reserve; question right to pension; details of pay during military service; contact with fellow Burma Campaign veterans. Reflections on military service: degree of knowledge of concentration camps in Germany; gas precaution training.
