Interview with Frank William Whitehead

British gunner served with 55th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1923-1942: family; education; war work in Royal Ordnance Factory, Hayes; German Air Force bombing of Brighton; membership of Home Guard in Brighton. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, 1942-1943: volunteering for British Army; attitude towards basic training in Beverley; reasons for wanting to join Royal Armoured Corps; morale crisis in 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry, 1943. Aspects of period as gunner with G Troop, 55th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Div in GB, 1943-1944: transfer to unit; role as gun fitter; opinion of Ordnance QF 6 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun; use of Sabot Ammunition; problems encountered as a fitter; loss of guns to 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div, 1944. Recollections of operations as gunner with 55th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: reaction to embarkation; voyage from Tilbury, GB to Normandy including German Air Force radio-controlled bomb attack; delay in landing and encounter with beach-master; sight of dead German Army soldier; presence in advanced party. REEL 2 Continues: character of action at Tessel Wood; supporting Royal Scots Fusiliers at Tessel Wood; firing Sten Gun at German Army sniper; nickname given to 49th (West Riding) Infantry Div by William Joyce 'Lord Haw Haw'; entry in Fontenay-le-Pesnel; reasons why as a fitter he ended up in front line; casualties amongst 11th Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers; move to Caen area; opinion of Archer Self-Propelled Gun; organising crew for Archer Self-Propelled Gun; fate of Archer Self-Propelled Gun during advance, 8/1944; narrow escape from German artillery shell, near Caen, Normandy, France; morale in slit trenches under artillery fire; Recollections of operations as gunner with 55th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-1/1945: attachment to I Troop on Albert Canal, Belgium; driving duties; duties at Elst, Netherlands, winter, 1944-1945; story of wounding at Elst, Netherlands, 1/1945. REEL 3 Continues: nature of wounds, 1/1945. Reflection on military service: attitude to having served with Suffolk Hussars during Second World War; memories of service with Headquarters, Royal Artillery, 2nd Infantry Div in India, 1945-1946; story of narrow escape from artillery fire near Caen, Normandy, France, 1944; story of strike at Royal Ordnance Factory, Hayes, 1941; story of dealing with dock workers at Tilbury Docks, 6/1944.