Description
Object description
British signaller served with Royal Corps of Signals in GB, 1943-1944; served with Royal Corps of Signals attached to 116 Regt Royal Armoured Corps in Burma, 1945-1946; served with Royal Corps of Signals in India, 1946-1947
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London and Evesham, GB, 1923-1943: father's work and service in army; early interest in signals and radio; family including further details of father's service in army; education; moves of family; technical training including description of experimental vending machine; story of interviews with BBC and gaining of post with Emergency Repair Section in Evesham, 1941; location and work of section; call-up to army and reaction; war service of brothers; news of war; further details of work with BBC including in Bristol and Glasgow; train journey to and arrival in Gravesend; events during posting; details of interview and posting to signals. Aspects of period as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals in GB, 1943-1944: opinion of basic training including physical state; proficiency with rifle; training to become instrument mechanic at Catterick.
REEL 2 Continues: details of radio set used in tanks; advantages and disadvantages of Sherman tanks; relationship with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; background of recruits; training for and use of teleprinters; high powered amplifiers; reflections on service; story of test undertaken at Lincoln; field craft training; posting in Morpeth; question of desire to serve overseas; reaction to brother's capture in Singapore; sets used in Morpeth; knowledge of later postings and preparation for embarkation in Huddersfield; story of item issued at Liverpool; boarding of ship. Aspects of period in transit from Liverpool, GB, to Burma, 1944-1945: details of SS Otranto; accommodation; route taken to Aden; conditions and rations onboard; duties; washing facilities; attacks on convoy; seasickness; 21st birthday in Aden; first impressions of India; details of train journey across India including rations.
REEL 3 Continues: details of train journey across India including Christmas 1944; voyage across Bay of Bengal; details of period in camp; flight to Northern Burma; journey to unit. Aspects of period as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals attached to 116 Regt Royal Armoured Corps (Gordons) in Burma, 1945-1946: layout of Sherman interior; posting with headquarters and role; make-up of headquarters; relationship with troopers; coping with climate; Hogmanay party; background of troopers; presence of band; crossing of Irrawaddy River; capture of Manadalay; duties; transport in headquarters; common problems with radio sets; homemade fuses; supplies; rations; sleeping arrangements; health including anti-malaria precautions; duties; problems with tanks; recovery transportation of tanks; casualties; infantry support including story of crucifixes made.
REEL 4 Continues: church services; background and impressions of regiment members; father's service in army; discovery of Japanese activities in Burma; attitude to situation; advance from Meiktila to Rangoon including actions against Japanese; activities in Rangoon and liberated areas; burial of brother; contact with Allied POWs; posting to India; further details of activities in Rangoon; living conditions; preparations for posting in Indonesia; end of war; reactions to atomic bombs; posting to Meiktila; rations; details of tank training camp and hospital; leisure activities; ex-Allied POWs in hospital.
REEL 5 Continues: leave in GB. Aspects of period as signaller with Royal Corps of Signals in India, 1946-1947: details of Secunderabad; reception from civilians on arrival in Calcutta; duties; wiring of camp for electricity; need for care in Secunderabad; visits from Lord Mountbatten and General Slim; relationship with Indian troops; story of contact with European civilian in Burma; contact with officers; relationship with and opinion of troops from other nations; reaction to demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1947: settling into civilian life including civilian work and education; civilian work in Baghdad, 1988-1990.