Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with Essex Regt in GB, 1940- 1941; officer served with 1st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers in GB, India and Burma, 1941-1944; served with 6th Infantry Bde Headquarters in India, 1944; served with 1st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers in India and Burma, 1944- 1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in India and GB, 1920-1940: family background; childhood in India and London; education including at Radley and membership of Officer Training Corps; joining of Territorial Army; introduction of conscription and National Service; memories of childhood in India; release from army service; armourer and guard duties with Local Defence Volunteers; call-up to army. Aspects of period as private and NCO with Essex Regt in GB, 8/1940-1/1941: details of camp at Brentwood; background of recruits; sleeping arrangements; kit inspections; mistake putting names in kit; memories of sergeant; reason for delay to officer training; period as lance corporal; pattern of training with 167 Officer Cadet Training Unit in Malvern; choice of regiment; service of family members with Royal Welch Fusiliers. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers in GB, 1941-1942: duties and courses undertaken at Depot in Wrexham; activities of 1st Battalion in unit; accommodation in Morthen; story of live round in fire; memories of intelligence officer; opinion of posting to mortar course.
REEL 2 Continues: story of journey to exercise; story of being saluted by fusilier at Wrexham; issue of tropical kit; posting in Cheltenham; posting to Reinforcement Company; actors in battalion; accommodation of troops on racecourse; intelligence course undertaken; concealing of tropical gear upon leaving. Aspects of voyage from Gourock, GB, to Bombay, India, aboard the Empress of Canada, 1942: details of ship; accommodation including memories of David Graves; activities during voyage; canteen organised by fusiliers; submarine watching duties; arrival at Cape Town; latrines in retreat camp; loss of transport; knowledge of destination; voyage to Bombay. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers in India, 1942-1943: posting in Ahmednagar; invasion and swimming training including story of accident; journey to Chittagong; plans for invasion of Akyab; story of bugler; injury to foot; changes to plans; attitude of Indian officials and civilians to British Army; situation in Arakan; make-up of 6th Brigade; celebrations for St David's Day, 1/3/1943, including message received; introduction of mules. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers in Burma, 1943: details of Mayu Peninsular; plans for attack at Donbaik including details of Japanese positions and rehearsals for action at Sugar 5; problems with attack on Sugar 5; opposition faced; story of trying to help Captain Peter Fitch; actions and death of David Graves.
REEL 3 Continues: reasons Graves was not awarded the Victoria Cross; story of instructions given to John Rostrum during battle at Sugar 5; attacks by 1st Battalion Royal Scots and 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry; casualties; problems with reinforcements; wounding from Japanese grenade; evacuation to Chittagong with malaria; morale; opinion of Japanese troops; evacuation of wounded; hospitalisation; events at Indin in absence; support from Royal Air Force; details of khaki shorts issued on leaving GB and uniform worn in Burma; issue of malaria precautions and salt tablets; types of headgear worn in Asia; details of propaganda unit led by Major George Steer; return to India. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers in India, 1943-1944: recuperation; meetings with 2nd Battalion; background of officers in battalion; resignation and memories of Colonel Humphrey Williams; memories of new commanding officer Colonel Braithwaite; activities in Karachi during intelligence course; posting to brigade; details of intelligence training; communications. Aspects of operations as officer with 6th Bde Headquarters in Burma, 1944: duties in Dimapur.
REEL 4 Continues: posting to and situation at Kohima; duties including details of supplies; details and scenes of 1st Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers defeat at Aradura Spur including casualties; change of commanding officer and posting to 1st Battalion; evacuation of wounded Brigadier Shapland; morale. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers in India and Burma, 1944-1945: memories of Colonel Jack Stocker; period at Milestone 82 including problems with reinforcements; methods of re- building morale; memories of Women's Auxiliary Service Burma canteen staff including leave in India; details of other women in Burma; medical situation at Kohima.
REEL 5 Continues: description of Battle of the Tennis Court at Kohima; description of position held during battle; problems with leeches; opinion about type of action faced; importance of battles at Imphal and Kohima; attitude to and of Japanese troops; story of Japanese soldier shot; state of Japanese troops; opinion of Indian National Army; question of being a forgotten army; story of testing life jackets and other details of invasion training; capture of Kabo Weir; crossings of Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers; 19th Division attack on Mandalay; story of attack on railway line; opposition faced during movement south; flight to Calcutta; voyage to and landing at Rangoon; details of activities south of Rangoon before end of war; posting gained with 6th Brigade Headquarters in Rangoon; gaining of post in Malaya; knowledge of atomic bomb; attitude of Japanese troops; relationship with civilians in Burma; roads created in Burma.
REEL 6 Continues: visits from Louis Mountbatten; concert parties; memories of Major David Wilson; knowledge of Chindits; details of mules in battalion; contact with American troops; details of duties with 4th Brigade in Malaya, 1945-1946; joining of Territorial Army on return; period at Radley College; leadership of troops; reaction to 1945 General Election result and visits from Labour Party representatives; discussion of war correspondents in Burma; opinion of books on Burma Campaign; opinion of Generals Grover and Slim; question of dud ammunition during Arakan Campaign; opinion of weapons held by battalion; pride in regiment; crossing of Irrawaddy River including use of flame throwers and action of Captain Steele.
REEL 7 Continues: details of Japanese night operations; opinion of Japanese troops; story of scenes on one Christmas Day; details of box positions; memories of Padre Ken Parkhurst; details of burials; further memories of Colonel Jack Stocker; description of work writing citations; discussion of award system including amendments made to citations; period as ADC to Queen Elizabeth II.
