Interview with Harold Norman Stanley Dore

British private served with 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 1940-1945

REEL 1 Background in Poole, GB, 1918-1940: family; education; civilian work; brothers' service in armed forces; enlistment in British Army in Andover. Aspects of period as private with 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 1/1940-6/1944: accommodation in Frome; first night in army; background of recruits; equipment situation; pattern of training; recruits with problems and relations with NCOs; opinion of training; gas training; posting to and composition of Carrier Platoon; exercises including description of flame-thrower; communications; method of boarding Universal Carrier, opinion of Bren Gun and composition of crew; accommodation in St Albans; route marches; exercises; war news; knowledge of future proposed role; accommodation in Whitstable; memories of chaplain; story of near miss from German shelling at Dover; accommodation at Dover; nature of German long-range artillery fire received from Calais; guard duties; nature of flame-thrower practice on South Downs; discipline and opinion of training; knowledge of overseas posting; journey to Tilbury; awareness of D-Day landings, 6/6/1944 and reaction to situation; mail; complaints from dock workers at Tilbury Docks. REEL 2 Continues: voyage from Tilbury to Normandy, France; waterproofing of Universal Carriers. Recollections of operations as private with 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: nature of beach landing and move inland; period in camp; description of advance from Éterville near Hill 112; digging of positions in potato field; action at Hill 112, German prisoners of war and casualties; attachment to C Coy; battlefield clearance duties; memories of Captain George Hartwell; treatment of German snipers and evacuation casualties under fire; opinion of German forces; capture of Hill 112; rest period; reaction to battalion casualties; state of Bayeux; contact with French civilians and attack on Cheux; duties during attack on Château de Fontaine; story of minefield and cover taken from artillery fire; sights in Falaise Gap; French treatment of collaborators in Vernon; crossing of River Seine. REEL 3 Continues: relations with French civilians in Vernonnet; reaction to crossing River Seine; Recollection of operation as private with 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 130th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 8/1944-5/1944: nature of aerial activity at start of Operation Market Garden in Netherlands, 9/1944; situation at Nijmegen, Netherlands, 9/1944; position taken and story of German Army soldier's blood; rations; role in unit; commanding officers; nature of situation at Arnhem, Netherlands, 9/1944; arrival at Driel, Netherlands, 9/1944; state of troops evacuated from Oosterbeek Perimeter; crossing of River Rhine at Rees, Germany, 3/1945; degree of contact with United States Army troops; use of flame-throwers; relationship with commanding officer; conditions and events in Dorset Wood, Germany; rest periods; nature of actions in Germany; further change of commanding officer; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Bredin; troops suffering from psychological stress; story of Kangaroo Armoured Personnel Carrier destroyed in minefield; problems created by mines. REEL 4 Continues: memories of Ted Furie; reaction to end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945; story of Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Bredin addressing German prisoners of war. Aspects of period as private with 5th Bn Dorsetshire Regt in Germany, 5/1945-6/1946: period in Tostedt; posting to Berlin; duties and reputation of Soviet Army troops; black market and relations with German civilians; question of continuing service with British Army; nature of visit to GB including tour of Normandy battlefields on route; reaction to demobilisation; civilian employment and settling back into civilian life. Reflections on military service: troops suffering from psychological stress; stories of accidents with weapons in GB; reinforcements; contact with Canadian Army troops; extra rations obtained during North West Europe Campaign; relations with civilians. REEL 5 Continues: question of contact with Displaced Persons; opinion of army dental treatment; details of journey to GB and demobilisation, 6/1946; physical effects of war service including broken finger; comradeship; post-war search for former comrades; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan; involvement with 43rd Wessex Division Association; reflections on military service; attitude to promotion; mail and leave in GB, Christmas 12/1944; cleanliness in North West Europe; humour amongst troops including story of Browning Machine Gun; background of and relations amongst troops.