Description
Object description
British officer served with 1st Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), 2nd Armoured Bde, 1st Armoured Div in North Africa, 3/1942-6/1942; served with 1st Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), 22nd Armoured Bde, 7th Armoured Div in North Africa and Italy, 6/1942-10/1943; served with with Military Intelligence (Liaison) and School of Small Arms, Hythe in GB, 1944-1945; medical officer served with Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, GB, 1982-1989
Content description
REEL 1 Background in São Paulo, Brazil and GB, 1920-1941: childhood in São Paulo, Brazil; father's employment; education at Marlborough College, Marlborough, GB; period in Brazil prior to attending University of Cambridge; period as student at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. Aspects of enlistment and training as rifleman, NCO and officer with Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) in GB, 1941: reaction to call-up for military service; desire to join Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own); background of fellow recruits; first night in military; memories of NCOs; opinion of training; story of first church parade; route marches; background to making application for officer training; training received with 2nd Motor Training Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own); motor transport officer training at Bulford Camp; concerns over potential German invasion; period at Tidworth Camp; story of earlier punishment received for late return to camp; background to posting to 1st Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) in North Africa.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of voyage from GB to Egypt, via South Africa, 1942: role during voyage; night out in Glasgow, GB prior to embarkation; character of voyage including activities in Cape Town, South Africa. Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), 2nd Armoured Bde, 1st Armoured Div and 22nd Armoured Bde, 7th Armoured Div in North Africa, 3/1942-5/1943: desert training outside Alexandria, Egypt; clothing and footwear worn; knowledge of situation in North Africa including liaison with 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own); memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Turner VC; nature of advance and withdrawal across Libya including reaction to first action; actions of Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Turner VC; composition of platoon; description of action seen in Knightsbridge Box on Gazala Line, Libya; wounding and hospitalisation in Tobruk. Libya; medical evacuation to Cairo, Egypt; convalescence in Middle East; story of illicit return to unit; interview with commanding officer on return; battalion deployment on El Alamein Line, Egypt, 8/1942; attack by Deutsches Afrika Korps armour during Battle of Alam el Halfa, Egypt, 30/8/1942-5/9/1942; withdrawal and wounding.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of wounds; German recovery of tanks from battlefield; approach of Deutsches Afrika Korps attack during Battle of Alam el Halfa, Egypt; visits from General Bernard Montgomery; increase in morale; reaction to plans for Battle of El Alamein and of Alam el Halfa, Egypt; prior military experience; composition of platoon; role of 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) Ordnance QF 6 Pounder Anti-Tank Guns and Anzac troops; noise of battle; attack across minefields at south of El Alamein Line including prior briefing; attitude to leadership; reaction to Deutsches Afrika Korps artillery barrage; reliability of supplies; memories of cousin, Alan Biddell serving as tank commander.
REEL 4 Continues: withdrawal from line; sleep; move to north of El Alamein Line; reflections on attack across minefield; reorganisation of battalion; advance through and beyond El Alamein Line; memories of Captain Geoffrey Fletcher; story of fighting patrol on Mareth Line, Tunisia; selection of troops for patrols; story of talk about lighter during a patrol; nature of troops suffering from psychological stress; story of soldier refusing to go on patrol; character of troops; joining of First Army; advance to and arrival in Tunis, Tunisia, 5/1943; nature of German opposition faced in Tunis, Tunisia; dealing with Italian prisoners of war in Tunisia; German surrender in Tunisia, 5/1943.
REEL 5 Continues: coping with heat; sunset and aftermath Battle of Mareth, Tunisia, 28/3/1943; story of passing through 51st (Highland) Infantry Div lines; background of troops; visit to Tripoli, Libya; attending course in Tel Aviv including weekend leaves in Jerusalem, Palestine; attitude to military service; story of cousin Alan Biddell's car; story of pet dog and voyage to Salerno. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), 22nd Armoured Bde, 7th Armoured Div in Italy, 9/1943-10/1943: story of pet dog and voyage to Salerno, 9/1943; landing and movement inland at Salerno, 9/1943; state of area; impressions of Italian Army troops; advance on Naples including visit to Pompeii; description of action at Cardito, near Naples; contact with Italian civilians; liaison with Royal Artillery; problems with snipers and action taken.
REEL 6 Continues: award of Military Cross; nature of reconnaissance patrol including wounding; reaction to wounding; medical evacuation and treatment received. Aspects of hospitalisation in Italy, North Africa and GB, 1943-1944: anti-infection treatment received in hospital in Naples, Italy, 11/1943; visits from cousin, Alan Biddell and chaplain; Christmas 25/12/1943 in Algiers, French Algeria; return to GB; medical treatment including operation on chest unit at Epsom, GB; visits to public house; occupational therapy; reaction to wounding and hospitalisation; period in London; background to gaining post with Military Intelligence. Aspects of period as officer with Military Intelligence (Liaison) and with School of Small Arms, Hythe in GB, 1944-1945: memories of Anthony Powell; duties escorting neutral civilians; posting to School of Small Arms at Hythe; duties; reaction to medical grading; opinion of medical treatment received; promotion to captain; demobilisation; reaction to leaving British Army; post-war contact with former comrades.
REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period as medical officer at Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, GB, 1982-1989: impressions of Chelsea Pensioners and staff; changes at hospital during service there; medical care; question of alcohol use. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Rifles Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), 2nd Armoured Bde, 1st Armoured Div and 22nd Armoured Bde, 7th Armoured Div in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1943: opinion of military training; hygiene in front line; method of roasting meat; story of suspected German Army deserter; eruption of Mount Vesuvius; censorship of mail; stand to; discipline of troops; story of Evelyn Waugh's wounding; reflections on pay and conditions; story of prisoner of war chaplain in Germany; opinion of Anzac troops; comparison of German and British armed forces; comparison of British and American rations.
REEL 8 Continues: knowledge of concentration camps; internment and war service of family members; later VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; relations between officers in battalion. Post-war life and employment in GB: background of students at university; psychological effects of war; prior recollection of grenade training at School of Small Arms, Hythe, 1944-1945; physical effects of war service; opinion of British Government's treatment of veterans; reflections on service including choice of post-war civilian employment; impressions of modern British Army troops.
