Interview with Percy Matthews

British NCO served as signaller with 4th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 9/1939-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Blandford Forum, GB, 1920-1934: family; education; sporting activities. Aspects of training with 4th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, Territorial Army in GB, 1934-1939: reason for joining signals section of 4th Bn Dorsetshire Regt in Territorial Army, 6/1934; induction procedure and basic training; signals training including Morse Code and Mk V Telephone; signals examinations; annual camp at Wareham, 8/1939. Recollections of period as NCO with Signals Platoon, 4th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 9/1939-1944: mobilisation at Radipole, 3/9/1939; billets; further training; posting to Verne Citadel, Portland; daily routine and training; accommodation; recreational activities; signals course at Catterick Camp; opinion of food; duties as signals sergeant; issued with BSA 500 Motorcycle; posting to Cucklington; posting to Berkhamstead, 12/1939; civilian billets; training on common; memories of other NCOs; under canvas in Waldershare Park near Dover; tactical exercises. REEL 2 Continues: move to Herne Bay; German Air Force raids; posting to Haig Camp, Canterbury; first unit casualties from German Air Force bombing; move to Dover Castle; duties laying and repairing telephone lines; discipline; background of recruits; posting to Bexhill-on-Sea. Recollections of operations with 4th Dorsetshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: voyage aboard SS Ocean Swell from East India Dock, London, GB to Normandy, 16/6/1944, anchoring off Normandy coast for five days; description of beach; briefing; duties as sergeant with carrier platoon; opinion of commanding officer; description of attack on village; casualties and prisoners; signals equipment; use of carrier for cover. REEL 3 Continues: treatment of casualties; leave; weather; sleeping arrangements; rations; relations with French civilians; description of attack on Hill 112; comparison of British and German tanks; description of crossing River Seine over pontoon bridge at Vernon, France; communications; casualties and replacements; attitude to shell shock cases; description of attack on Tilly-sur-Seulles; weapon and mortars; patrols. Aspects of operations with 4th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 8/1944-1945: actions at Grave and Nijmegen Bridge, Netherlands, 9/1944; opinion of General Bernard Montgomery. REEL 4 Continues: role in operations at Oosterbeek, Netherlands, 9/1944; location behind bank; assault boats coming under fire and casualties; crossing Netherlands border into Germany; description of Dorset Wood; reaction of German civilians; role in operations at Kleve, Germany; reception from Dutch civilians; rest periods; post-war visits to Netherlands; billets in former German Army camp; religious services; conditions in Ardennes, Belgium, 12/1944; description of Lüneburg Heath, Germany; reaction to signing of surrender, 5/1945; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; ten days home leave; duties as garrison troops at Bari, Italy; demobilisation procedure; attitude to remaining in British Army. Post-war life and employment: life and employment in Tarrant Hinton; reception on return; marriage, 1941; adjustment to civilian life; demobilisation in Aldershot Garrison. Reflections on military service in Second World War: opinion of German forces; opinion of American forces; comradeship. REEL 5 Continues: reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; attitude towards military service.