Interview with Kenneth Sidney Browning

British private and NCO served with 7th Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Northern Ireland and GB, 1940-1944; NCO served with 5th Bn Royal Berkshire Regt (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) in GB and North West Europe, 6/1944-3/1945

REEL 1 Background in Gloucester, GB, 1917-1940: family; education; civilian work; involvement with British Legion and military bands; siblings; work of mother; employment prior to leaving school; reactions to being called-up. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Gloucestershire Regiment in GB, 1940: reaction to call-up for military service; pay; posting to Horfield Barracks in Bristol; journey to barracks; details of camp; first physical training sessions; issue of kit and rifle; learning to salute; memories of NCOs; weapons training; selection of recruits for NCO courses; gas training; proficiency pay; posting to Eastville Park in Bristol; accommodation; problems with dust; duties helping returning troops from Dunkirk Evacuation; processing at Newbury Racecourse. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 7th Bn Gloucestershire Regt in GB and Northern Ireland, 1940-1944: journey to Belfast; initial accommodation; postings in Northern Ireland. REEL 2 Continues: details of lorry driven; accommodation in Castledawson; journey to work; driving and maintenance training; postings in Northern Ireland including duties on border and at Belfast Docks; moves in Colchester and Dover; changes to unit; promotion to lance corporal; contact with and impressions of Home Guard at Sandwich; duties as driving instructor; posting to Overstrand. Recollections of operations as NCO with 5th Bn Royal Berkshire Regt (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) in GB and North West Europe, 6/1944-3/1945: posting to battalion on Salisbury Plain, GB, 6/1944; reception on arrival; practice gained with Universal Carrier; move at Tilbury Docks; voyage from GB to Normandy, France; composition of section; movement inland; story of empty village; crossing of River Maas, Netherlands; reaction to situation; period in during siege of Dunkirk, France, 1944; details of support company; story of night in village in Germany; sleeping arrangements; rations; prior recollection of washing facilities in Belfast, Northern Ireland; sleep; eating vegetables. REEL 3 Continues: prior recollections of commanding officer in Northern Ireland; story of march along canal near Dunkirk, France, 1944; reorganisation of battalion; naming of Universal Carrier; hospitalisation with diphtheria; convalescence including visit to dentist; leave in GB. Aspects of period as NCO with British Army in Germany, 1945-1946: resuming military service in Düsseldorf; state of Kiel and Eindhoven, Netherlands; contact with civilians including bartering; winter conditions; duties in Hamburg including souvenirs acquired; posting in Duisburg; relations with German civilians; story of charge received and interview with commanding officer; posting to workshop and offer of permanent post; duties; story of changing cap badge. REEL 4 Continues: demobilisation at Aldershot Garrison; journey home and reception on arrival. Reflections on military service in Second World War: post-war call-up to Z Army Reserve; marriage, 1941; Christmas celebrations in military; memories of officers; opinion of opposition during war; contact with Canadian Army troops; further details of hospitalisation; story of duties acting as driver for chaplain during post-war Z Army Reserve service; opinion of chaplains in North West Europe; opinion of Salvation Army; memories of NCOs; story of being placed on charge and punishment in Belfast, Northern Ireland; memories of Alan Payne; near postings to Far East and North West Europe; story of neighbour who did not join up. REEL 5 Continues: civilian employment of leaving military; post-war black market; opinion of treatment received from British Army and help gained from associations; reflections on military service; physical and psychological effects of war; further details of civilian employment; settling into civilian life; comradeship in British Army; military service of friends; reaction to casualties and active service; opinion of and relations with officers; battalion casualties in GB; story of visit to dentist in Amersham; story of getting stuck in snow; postings in Kent including accident.