Interview with Frederick John Ridout

British private served with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-5/1945; served with 4th and 2nd Bns Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in Germany, 1945-1947

REEL 1 Background in Rudge, GB, 1925-1939: family; childhood. Aspects of period as civilian in Rudge, GB, 1939-1945: employment in petrol distribution; air activity and German Air Force raids; possibility of serving in mines; membership of Home Guard. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with General Service Corps in GB, 2/1944-7/1944: reaction of parents to his enlistment in British Army; journey to and reception on arrival at Colchester Garrison; nature Hyderabad Barracks; relations with fellow recruits and NCOs; pattern of training; physical training; route marches; field craft training; aptitude tests; pattern of training; memories of fellow recruits; leave; shelter taken from German Air Force raids; memories of D-Day, 6/6/1944; knowledge of destination; training in Warley; embarkation leave; moves to Sheringham and Aldershot Garrison; removal from draft; collection of deserters for draft; posting in Eastleigh; voyage on draft to Normandy, France; nature of journey on draft to Giverny, France. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections operations as private with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-5/1945: arrival with battalion at Giverny, France, 9/1944; river crossing training; settling into battalion; advance in DUKWs to Nijmegen, Netherlands; crossing of Nijmegen Bridge, Netherlands; friendly fire received; nature of advance beyond Nijmegen Bridge, Netherlands; period pinned down by tank; German attack on 4th Bn Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) and assistance given to wounded; sheltering in culvert; period in reserve on farm; duties with burial party; memories of chaplain; posting to and state of Elst, Netherlands, 9/1944-10/1944; supply of rations; movement of troops around battalion; period on farm and in reserve including night patrols; relief from United States Army troops; river patrols at Nijmegen, Netherlands; rest period; change of platoon and allocation as runner; duties; period in Reichswald Forest, Germany, 2/1945. REEL 3 Continues: battalion duties in Netherlands, 10/1944-11/1944 including uses made of parachutes; move to Brunssum, Netherlands, 11/1944; advance into Germany and positions taken up; duties each night; casualties; work of pioneers; supply of rations; relief of positions; rest period in Brunssum, Netherlands; relations with Dutch civilians; reaction to being on German soil; contact with civilians; pig received from 5th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's); support given to United States Army troops in Ardennes, Belgium, 12/1944-1/1944; nature of operations in Geilenkirchen area, Germany; patrols at Gillrath, Germany; advance using Kangaroo Armoured Personnel Carriers; memories of Lieutenant Smith; troops suffering from stress; capture of Kleve, Germany, 2/1945; story of attack by German Tiger Tank. REEL 4 Continues: casualties; battalion Military Medal recipient; clearance work prior to crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; memories of Major A D Parsons; crossing River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; duties as wireless operator; advance into Germany, 3/1945-4/1945, including opposition faced and transport used; capture of Bremen, Germany, 4/1945; receiving news of end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945; physical state at end of Second World War. leave in Brussels, Belgium; rations including food gained from civilian homes and farms. Aspects of period as private with 4th and 2nd Bns Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in Germany, 1945-1947: leave in Brussels, Belgium, 5/1945; work with Displaced Persons at Bergen-Belsen Displaced Persons Camp; duties in sergeants' mess; dealing with psychological stress of battle; deserting troops; duties at Fallingbostel Displaced Persons Camp and on trains; posting to 2nd Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in Hanover; accommodation; duties; details of period with School of Infantry Demonstration Platoon. REEL 5 Continues: demonstrations undertaken; return to battalion; visit from Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery; court and guard duties; forestry work at Luneburg; interview for Royal Corps of Military Police; question of continuing service with British Army; process of demobilisation at Kingston upon Hull, GB, 1947. Post-war life and employment: settling into civilian life; employment; reflections on military service; physical effects from military service; opinion of treatment of veterans; service Z Army Reserve; return visits to Netherlands and joining of veteran's association; talking about experiences; comradeship in British Army.