Burini, Eric Basil (Oral history)

British private trained with Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1944; officer cadet with OCTU in GB and India, 1944-1945; officer served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, Malaya, Singapore, Burma and GB, 1945-1948; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and Germany, 1947-1951; served with 4th Bn King's African Rifles in Kenya and Uganda, 1951-1952; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1952-1953; served as staff officer served as GIII in Kenya, 1954; served with 3rd Bn King's African Rifles in Kenya, 1954-1957; served as staff officer served in Cyprus, 1957-1960; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and Germany, 1960-1964; served with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1965-1965; served with 6/8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1966-1968

REEL 1 Background in India and GB, 1922-1944: father's service in army including with Durham Light Infantry; family; childhood and education in India; servants with family; life of mother in India; background of parents; family background in army; climate; relationship with Indian children; racecourse in Lebong; leisure activities; contact with Indian Army; memories of India; superiority felt over Indians; discipline in home and at school; move to Fenham in 1933; education; effect of move on mother; School Certificate exams; life and education at Ushaw College in Durham. REEL 2 Continues: opinion of education at Ushaw College; make-up of academic year; sports played; contact with troops at Brancepeth Castle; discipline; memories from time at Ushaw College; left college to join army; reaction of mother; signs of approaching war; recruitment of students from Ushaw; outbreak of war; air raids and fire watching; rationing; feasts at school; impromptu school holidays during war; arrival of troops from Dunkirk; attitude towards Dunkirk; process of joining army including initial failure; medical. Aspects of period as recruit with Durham Light Infantry, 1/1944-8/1944: description of camp at Brancepeth Castle; sleeping arrangements; accommodation; relationship with fellow recruits; uniform and equipment issued; storage of equipment; kit inspections; loss and theft of items; cleaning of accommodation; morning procedures; rations and breakfast. REEL 3 Continues: details of service; lunch and dinner; details of pay; daily routine; drills; weapons training; tactical training; pace of drills; period of convalescence following a sporting injury; return to unit; opinions of weapons trained with; route marches; standard of recruits; breaks during marches; foot inspections; bayonet training; gas and ambush drills; involvement in football team; fitness tests; guard duties; rivalry between squads and units; seniority in hut; culture shock in hut; army attitude towards gambling; presence of Duke of Wellington's Regiment; leave and leisure activities; visits to Ushaw College and Durham; officers and NCOs at depot; boxing; common examples of ill discipline. REEL 4 Continues: punishments given out; final route march and drill; tests given by War Office Selection Board. Aspects of period as officer cadet in GB, 8/1944- 10/1944: posting in Wrotham for pre-OCTU training; troops present; news of posting to OCTU in India; story of 2" mortar demonstration; troops who had been in action; visits to Meopham; problems with assault courses; memories of Australians and Canadians. Aspects of journey from Glasgow, GB, to Bombay, India, in 1944: route taken; seasickness; accommodation; women onboard ship; weapons practice; other passengers on ship; activities on voyage; fatigues; ship inspections; boat drills; submarine alerts; final parts of journey; arrival in Bombay. Aspects of period as officer cadet with OCTU in India, 10/1944-8/1945: joining of 2nd Battalion; training at OCTU including firing of rifle grenade; leisure activities including passing out dance; civilian workers in camp; dropping of atomic bombs; enjoyment of time in jungle; boxing; standards expected of an officer cadet; treatment of civilian workers; OCTU instructors; sport played; teaching of responsibility; training with mules; mess etiquette. REEL 5 Continues: teaching from Indian Regiments; attitude towards Indian troops; unrest among civilians; accommodation; rations; length of course; leave in Bombay following course; arrival with 2nd Battalion in Uruli. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 8/1945-10/1945: details of pay; payment of batman; background of troops; reception from battalion; knowledge of battalion's war service; lack of experience among troops; Australian officers; platoon commanded; troops awaiting demobilisation; beer received shortly before departure; journey to Singapore aboard Subajax. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Malaya and Singapore, 10/1945-2/1946: scenes on arrival in Singapore; accommodation in Johore Bahru; Operation Zipper; washing facilities; health problems; mepacrine and salt tablets; training; ceremonial duties; Japanese troops working in camp; attitude towards Japanese; relationship with civilians. REEL 6 Continues: organisation and etiquette of officers' mess; make-up of platoon; guarding of arms depots; duties on posting up country; social activities and sports; Chinese communists in Malaya; posting as mortar officer; problems with 3" mortars misfiring; story of carrier setting on fire; make-up of mortar platoon; memories of different batmen; story of using mortars; demonstration given later in Germany; opinion of mortars and carriers in Malaya; change in role on posting in Surandon; promotion to Lieutenant; unrest in battalion and mutiny of troops; similar problems in other units; continuing problems in Burma; knowledge of platoon; work of duty officer in brothels; health of battalion; punishments for catching VD; meals with local planter; leave; return to battalion in Mandalay. REEL 7 Continues: details of leave; Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Burma, 1946-1948: posting above Mandalay; leisure activities; involvement with Dakoit problems; turnaround of personnel in battalion; differences in terrain in Burma compared to Malaya; health of battalion; relationship with civilians; accommodation and search for King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry silver; freedom of movement; return to GB for disbandment. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1948-1949: transfer to 1st Battalion at Monkton Farleigh; duties in camp. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Germany, 1949-1951: posting of battalion in Dortmund; background of troops; 3" mortar course at Warminster; arrival of Michael Hanmer as commanding officer; journey to Dortmund including bomb damage seen; state of civilians; accommodation; car bought by officers from black market; marriage and move into marriage quarters; civilian workers; relationship with civilians; rate of exchange and army money; exercises; sports; continuing support for Hitler and disbelief of holocaust among civilians; details of manoeuvres; rank. REEL 8 Continues: weapons in battalion; training accommodation in Vogelsang; stories from training in Germany; memories of Peter Jeffreys; officers in battalion; memories of mortar platoon 2nd in command Peter Gadstone; opinion of National Servicemen; length of time in Dortmund; effects of Berlin Airlift; memories of Tony Berkis and decision to join King's African Rifles; reason for delay in making application; journey to Berlin; state of Berlin; accommodation; contact with civilians; guard and ceremonial duties; sports; opinion of American troops; leave; posting in Borden; journey aboard Empire Ken to Mombasa. Aspects of period as officer with 4th Bn King's African Rifles in Kenya, 1951-1952: duties on posting in Nanyuki; death of King George VI and preparations for the entertaining of Princess Elizabeth; saluting of new Queen; background and recruitment of troops; integration of troops from different tribes; tribes did not recruit from. REEL 9 Continues: make-up of battalion; European and African troops in unit; equipment situation; state of troops feet; end of use of whip for discipline; uniform; battalion dances; sports; recruiting area; quality of troops; languages spoken in battalion; relationship with troops; activities of regiment in Kenya; posting and accommodation in Jinja; treatment of African troops; application to rejoin Durham Light Infantry; return of family to GB after stay in Port Said. Aspects of journey from Port Said, Egypt, to Pusan, Korea, 1952: experience in 1st Battalion; rank held; opinion of National Service officers and troops; activities on voyage; women on ship; conditions for other ranks; onboard; briefings for Korea; canteen; accommodation; route marches at stops; time in Hong Kong; stop in Singapore. REEL 10 Continues: Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in Korea, 1952-1953: first impressions of Korea; reception on arrival in Pusan; train journey to Seoul; description of Britannia Camp including latrines; rations; accommodation; contact with King's Shropshire Light Infantry and other Commonwealth and American troops; fitness training; reconnaissance of line; use of bofar gun; description of positions taken at Naechon; position of Chinese troops; improvements made to accommodation; activities at day and night; mortar positions; hootchy accommodation; proximity to forward companies and opposing troops; disposition of mortars; problems with accuracy; smokescreen set-up; protection of ears; mortar crew; preparations for laying of smokescreen; description of bombs; organisation of platoon; communications; range of mortar and speed of fire; inaccuracy of mortars; mortar accident in Germany; disposal of duds; tidying of area; relief after first ten days; time in reserve; wounding of Sean Kelly; posting as 2nd in command of A Company; activities in first tour; opinion of National Servicemen in first blooding. REEL 11 Continues: shelling from Chinese; problems with mortar accuracy; background and opinion of mortar platoon troops; climate; supply and preparation of rations; 24 hour ration packs; self-heating cans; organisation of rations; Koreans porters working in lines; winter clothing issued; sleeping arrangements; heaters made; command hootchy; presence of rats; washing facilities; health of battalion; discipline of troops; details of brigade and division; visits from high ranking officers; memories of Peter Jeffreys and experience in battalion; nature of war and tidying of trenches; standard of trench discipline; activities in reserve behind Kansas Line; importance of patrols; responsibilities of standing patrols; role and make-up of fighting patrols; movement of patrol; descriptions of ambush and reconnaissance patrols; memories of Corporal Moody; leisure activities while at rest. REEL 12 Continues: parades; American and Australian troops in reserve; length of time in reserve; return to line; positions taken up with A Company; duties as 2nd in command and story of shortages in rations; canteen; reserve position; role of Operation Blaydon; reconnaissance before operation; terrain of area; rousing of troops for start; routes put and in from raid; march to start line; request for delay of operation; misunderstanding and start of firing; proximity of start line from Chinese positions; practices for operation; assault on Chinese positions; return from operation; actions of Corporal Moore; success of operation; description of Chinese positions; medals and mentions in dispatches earned in company; morale of company; state of Lieutenant Perrett; mention in dispatches; use of propaganda; Chinese POWs taken; details of Operation Willington; Chinese shelling; state of troops during shelling; minefields. REEL 13 Continues: Christmas 1952 including parcels received from Mayor of Durham and isolation of companies; system of rest and recuperation in Tokyo; move into line at Point 210; proximity of Chinese troops and terrain of area; use of tanks; trouble faced by Royal Fusiliers in positions; improvement of positions and problems from cold; arrival of pre-fab hootches; digging-in; role of Company at Point 210; story of a Royal Fusilier's body brought in from No Man's Land; death and memories of Major Donaghue; recognition panels installed in front of Chinese positions and minefields; story of visit to platoon; events while company commander; takeover of company by Jim Loveridge; description of work building wire defences in front of positions; explosions of self-heating soup cans; cigarettes and beer rations; evacuation of casualties; proximity of Regimental Aid Post; memories of Father Petrie; visit to Australian chapel; visits from padres. REEL 14 Continues: help with men's welfare; bear seen by Sawbridge; dealing with cold; state of feet; standards of hygiene and turnout; visit to Seoul with Jack Lloyd; trouble over felt; move out of Point 210; posting to Camp Casey; opinion and description of camp including problems with latrines; entertainment in camp and sports; stories of exercises; memories of Australian troops; reasons for not enjoying stay at Camp Casey; rest and recuperation in Japan; relationship with civilians; activities in Tokyo; return to battalion at Camp Casey; routine; visit from Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool; weather; story of driver disappearing to visit a brothel; problems with VD; contact with civilians. REEL 15 Continues: relief of American troops at "Little Gibraltar" Point 355; condition of positions and American troops; aims on arrival in position; telephone cables in No Man's Land; story of "Tubby" Hall tripping over cables; false minefield warnings; description and history of Point 355; Chinese position; terrain in area; improvements made to positions; Chinese activities; Chinese prisoner taken; American bombing of Point 227; Chinese reaction to air raid; differences between US and British forms of defence; method of patrolling in groups; story of such a patrol; communications on patrol; command of patrol; dangers of patrol; role of patrol; death of Johnny Trasano; importance of collecting bodies; memories of Peter de la Billiers; disappearance of a reconnaissance patrol; relieved by Australian troops. REEL 16 Continues: activities in reserve; morale of battalion; pride in Point 355 tour; railway used to supply Point 355; washing facilities; reserve rations; weather and clothing worn; routine; cookhouses; canteen and restrictions on drinking; report of Commanding Officer's bugler refusing to patrol; soldier who shot himself in foot; mail; return to Point 355 in reserve; patrols; celebrations for coronation; Chinese attack on D Company positions; fighting patrol following attack; casualties and awards; Chinese method of attack; clearing of dead bodies; activities of A Company; opinion of battalion's conduct; discussion of medals awarded; move to Yongdong area; position taken up; shelling of A Company's positions; refusal of posting in Japan; posted as platoon commander; description of shelling received; napalm booby traps left by Americans; problems with patrolling; attack seen from position; nature of shelling; opinion of Chinese burp gun; American artillery. REEL 17 Continues: time in Divisional reserve; celebrations in anticipation of the war's end during approaching Chinese attack; call-out and move to front; story of punching Gates; arrival behind Americans; wounding of Savage in minefield and rescue by Royal Engineers officer; anti-personnel mines; holding of attack and return to reserve; end of hostilities; total casualties and medal awards; relief at end of war; duties at Britannia Camp; condition of returning POWs; search around Point 355 for clues of missing men; withdrawal of both sides after ceasefire; exit from Britannia Camp; ENSA visitors at Britannia Camp; organisation of the release of POWs; treatment given to POWs; opinion of Chinese troops; opinion of American; visits from American Generals; opinion of Australian and New Zealand troops; opinion of Canadian troops; opinion of medical staff; claim for repatriation; time in Pusan; journey to Kure; stay in Kure including visit to Hiroshima; journey to GB; opinions and memories of Jim Loveridge. REEL 18 Continues: discussion of National Servicemen in Korea; appointed as G3 on staff in Kenya; troubles in job and posting to 3rd Battalion King's African Rifles. Aspects of operations as officer with 3rd Bn King's African Rifles in Kenya, 1954-1957: opinion of opposing troops in Mau Mau uprising; attempts to dissuade civilians from joining Mau Mau; separation from unit; clashes with opposing forces; length of time with unit; return to GB as Captain; commendation given. Aspects of period as Staff Officer for Physical Training in Cyprus, 1957-1960: posting as Officer for Physical Training in Cyprus; promotion to cover Middle East; visits to Durham Light Infantry; return to 1st Battalion. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and Germany, 1960-1962: period in Honiton; posting to Berlin; patrols along newly built wall; attempts to recruit leaving National Servicemen; visit of Teddy Kennedy; problems of soldiers getting lost; emergency call-outs; posting as recruiting officer in Durham; medical downgrading and leaving of army; joining of 8th Bn as 2nd in command; command of 6/8th Battalion; dole gained for soldiers on camp; retirement.