Flavell, Thomas (Oral history)

British apprentice artificer at Royal Military College of Science at Woolwich, GB, 1938-1941; NCO artificer at School of Royal Artillery Mechanical Traction at Rhyl, GB, 1941-1942; NCO served 304 East African Anti-Tank Regt in Kenya, India and Burma, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Southend area, 1923-1938: family; education. Aspects of period as apprentice artificer at Royal Military College of Science, Woolwich, 1938-1941: background to enlistment; character of education; accommodation; entry system; food; type of uniform worn; discipline; trade testing; length of apprenticeship; sporting activities; daily routine; social activities in Woolwich; degree of contact with civilians in Woolwich; relations between officers and apprentices; weapons drill; effects of outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; move of college to Lydd then Rhyl. REEL 2 Continues: introduction of guard duties; facilities at Lydd, 1939-1940; German bombing of camp at Lydd, 1940; move to Rhyl. Period as bombardier artificer with Royal Artillery Mechanical Traction School at Rhyl, 1941- 1942: posting to school; learning to drive; driving techniques; types of vehicles driven; lack of effects of war on Rhyl; reasons for applying for overseas service. Memories of voyage from GB to South Africa aboard John Erickson, 1943. Period on draft in South Africa and Kenya, 1943: escorting German civilian orchestra aboard Polish ship to Kenya; opinion of South African Armoured Car Corps; Polish seamen's treatment of German civilian orchestra. REEL 3 Continues: arrival in Mombasa. Aspects of period as sergeant with 304 East African Anti-Tank Regt in Kenya, 1943: move to Gil Gil; promotion to sergeant; role training drivers; learning Swahili; attitude to service in Kenya; character of training given to African troops; move to Ceylon. Recollections of operations as sergeant with 304 East African Anti-Tank Regt in India and Burma, 1944-1945: move to Imphal; visit from Lord Louis Mountbatten; advance along track into the Kabaw Valley; use of night-time perimeter defence; use of three inch mortars. REEL 4 Continues: character of Kabaw Valley; memories of 'Copper' Canning; daily distance covered on track; story of finding booby trapped Japanese 75mm Field Gun; crossing River Chindwin; Japanese Air Force presence in Kabaw Valley; unit casualties from tick typhus; glider re-supply by US Air Force; return to India, for refitting, 1945. Attitude to having served with East Africans in Burma.