Description
Object description
British private served with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 8/1939-12/1939; sapper served with 394th Anti-Aircraft Coy, 48th (Hampshire) Anti-Aircraft Bn, Royal Engineers, Anti-Aircraft Command in GB, 3/1940-8/1940; gunner served with 394th Searchlight Bty, 48th (Hampshire) Searchlight Regt, 35th Anti-Aircraft Bde, 5th Anti-Aircraft Div in GB, 8/1940-2/1941; private served with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 2/1941-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Shrewton, GB, 1921-1939: family; education; employment; joining Territorial Army, 15/5/1939; reaction of parents to his joining Territorial Army; father's military service during First World War; payment; uniform and kit issued; natureo of commitment made to Territorial Army service; training received prior to mobilisation; requisition of father's vehicles; mobilisation and journey to Salisbury, 29/8/1939. Aspects of period as private with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 8/1939-12/1939: processing on arrival at Salisbury, 8/1939; opinion of NCOs and officers; reaction to situation; march with band through Salisbury; first night of military service in British Army; move to RAF Boscombe Down; news of posting as sapper to Royal Engineers. Aspects of period as sapper with Royal Engineers Searchlight School at Westbourne, GB, 12/1939-3/1940: posting to Westbourne Camp; reaction to posting to Royal Engineers; nature of Wesbourne camp and population; relations with regular boy soldiers; discipline.
REEL 2 Continues: cap badge worn; duties as driver; uses of pay; opinion of rations; visits to Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); recreational activities; training to operate searchlight engine; background to posting in Lower Exbury. Aspects of period as sapper with 394th Anti-Aircraft Coy, 48th (Hampshire) Anti-Aircraft Bn, Royal Engineers, Anti-Aircraft Command and gunner with 394th Searchlight Bty, 48th (Hampshire) Searchlight Regt, 35th Anti-Aircraft Bde, 5th Anti-Aircraft Div in GB, 3/1940-2/1941: accommodation; routine; memories of sergeant; communications; operation of engine; health problems; degree of air activity prior to and after Dunkirk Evacuation; opinion of searchlights; posting to section headquarters at Beaulieu; period as Sergeant-Major Grist's driver; duties as ration driver at Lyndhurst; accommodation; story of lardy cake theft; attachment to Royal Naval Air Station Eastleigh during invasion scare including removal by Lieutenant Commander Ralph Richardson.
REEL 3 Continues: interview and punishment received on return from Royal Naval Air Station Eastleigh; story of German Air Force raid whilst collecting coal from Southampton; aiding rescue parties during later German Air Force raid during visit to Southampton; search for German airborne troops; German Air Force raid on searchlight site during leave. Recollections of period as private with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 2/1941-6/1944: reaction to return to battalion; reception on arrival at Folkestone; presence of friends made during earlier service; posting with motor transport section; battalion provision of infantry refresher course; duties with quartermaster's stores and pioneer platoon; exercises; details of pioneer course undertaken, 3/1944.
REEL 4 Continues: waterproofing of vehicles; story of problems with Willys Jeep engine in Rye, subsequent charge and posting to B Company at Icklesham; argument over orders to drive truck whilst still on charge; reaction to prospect of overseas posting; arrival of reinforcements for battalion; drive to Tilbury Docks, 6/1944; loading of landing ship at Tilbury Docks, 6/1944. Aspects of voyage from Tilbury, GB across English Channel to Normandy, France, 6/1944: visit to barber; seasickness and loss of troops during approach to beach; boarding of landing craft. Recollections of operations as private with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: nature of beach landing; movement inland and concentration at Sommervieu; opinion of officers; rations and cooking of meals; personal proximity to front line as driver; German Air Force raids.
REEL 5 Continues: terrain and climate in Normandy; church service in Sommervieu including memories of chaplain; deployment in front line at Saint-Manvieu-Norrey; presence of troops with previous battle experience; reaction to German artillery fire; casualties; psychological stress suffered by commanding officer; opinion of reinforcements; story of dealing with deceased Corporal Robert 'Bob' Smith's personal effects; posting as Willys Jeep driver; duties; opinion of degree of safety; reconnaissance patrols including instance of problem with map; participation in attacks; story of first attack including chase after and capture of German prisoner of war; treatment of German prisoners of war and wounded; story of German patrol; German opposition faced at Hill 112; withdrawal in Willys Jeep from Hill 112; casualties including problems with use of Universal Carrier for their medical evacuation; role during action at Hill 112; treatment given to casualties.
REEL 6 Continues: 129th Infantry Bde and supporting units' casualties; story of blinded tank crew member; bandage and chocolate supplies; wounded Universal Carrier driver; nature of advance to Mont Pinçon and duties, 8/1944; positions taken at Mont Pinçon; nature of slit trenches; briefing for attack; advance in Willys Jeep with infantry; German Tiger Tank attack and loss of Willys Jeep; arguments over with troops reached the summit of Mont Pinçon first, 8/1944; return to battalion headquarters under German multi-barrelled mortar fire; arrival of wounded members of B Coy and help given to them; wait for return of Willys Jeep; end of action at Mont Pinçon, 8/1944; issue of new Willys Jeep and items lost in old one; story of Corporal Ackland's disappearance; coping with situation.
REEL 7 Continues: description of new Willys Jeep; story of lifting mines and unexpected arrival of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; advance to and reconnaissance patrol undertaken in Vernon; reception from civilians; preparations for crossing of River Seine; problems faced by 5th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) during crossing of River Seine; nature of German opposition faced on River Seine; construction of Bailey bridge and crossing of River Seine. Recollections of operations as private with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 8/1944-5/1945: capture of Giverny, France including obtaining nickname; rest period at Giverny, France, 9/1944 including relations with French civilians; advance to Bourg-Leopold, Belgium; story of German forces attack on advancing column and clearance of road.
REEL 8 Continues: split of column and advance into Netherlands; bypassing of Eindhoven, Netherlands, 9/1944; German Air Force raid on Eindhoven, Netherlands; nature of advance into Nijmegen, Netherlands; awaiting arrival of battalion; crossing of bridge to Lent, Netherlands; story of attack by German Army officer and wounding; withdrawal to Nijmegen Bridge, Netherlands; medical treatment received for wound; return to front; nature of German opposition and casualties; communications; activities prior to evacuation; situation at battalion headquarters; story of period spent in factory.
REEL 9 Continues: move to Elst, Netherlands; theft from civilian safe; German artillery fire received from Velp, Netherlands; nature of observation post in Elst, Netherlands; move to positions in Driel, Netherlands, 9/1944; delivering rations; story of collecting stranded wounded soldier and stretcher-bearers on The Island, Netherlands; aiding wounded Private Jim Wicks and reaction to his death in Netherlands, 7/10/1944; events leading to capture; march to German lines including artillery barrage and surrender of captors; return to British lines and handover of German prisoners of war; nature of contact with American airborne troops; return to company headquarters; activities at Driel, Netherlands; forming-up of rescue force and advance to River Nederrijn, Netherland; airborne troops driven back.
REEL 10 Continues: wider evacuation of airborne forces from Oosterbeek Perimeter; return to battalion at Oosterhout, Netherlands; story of fire in barn whilst sleeping; rest period; move to Liège in Ardennes, Belgium, 12/1944; climate; Christmas, 25/12/1944; move to Groesbeek, Netherlands; leave in GB including flight in Douglas Dakota, 1/1945; attitude to return to North West Europe and talking about experiences on leave; return journey to battalion; advance to Kleve, Germany, 2/1945; capture of German Army barracks; setting up of gun emplacement set up; discovery of puppy; story of surrendering German airborne troops; story of attack on unaware tank crew; attack on Moyland, Germany including rescue of wounded members of A Coy; story of German paratrooper prisoner of war.
REEL 11 Continues: arrival of reinforcements after action at Moyland, Germany; loss of Military Medal application; casualties; crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; advance beyond River Rhine, Germany, 4/1945; capture of Lochem, Netherlands and Bremen, Germany, 4/1945; nature of action in woods at Geilenkirchen, Germany; question of psychological stress; memories of Sergeant Dredge; story of leave in Antwerp, Belgium; other periods of leave; looting in Geilenkirchen, Germany; opposition faced during advance to Bremen, Germany, 4/1945; civilian casualties from artillery fire; story of German Army soldier hit with phosphorous grenade; story of accident with Luger Pistol; opinion of German Army troops; accommodation made for and memories of pet dog, Chips; advance to Bremerhaven, Germany, 5/1945. Aspects of period as private with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in Germany, 5/1945-5/1946: reason for move to Hanover area; attitude of civilians; story of last reconnaissance patrol; events following arrival in Fallingbostel including meeting future wife.
REEL 12 Continues: accommodation in Winsen; problems with Displaced Persons; story of dispute on border with Soviet Zone of Occupation; story of mutiny over orders to send Soviet Cossacks who had served with German forces to Soviet Union; involvement in sports in Winsen; story of killing of blacksmith; marriage and demobilisation. Post-war life and employment: state and running of family business; opinion of treatment of veterans; details of pension and reflections on military service; prior recollection of officer's death on mine.
