Description
Object description
British NCO served with Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) in India and Burma, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB and India, 1918-1944: family; family's return to India, 1919; nature of family life in India; description of education in Winchester, GB; visiting Winchester Cathedral; return to India after end of schooling in GB; return to GB to attend Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. Aspects of period as civilian in India, 1939-1944: reasons for return to India on outbreak of Second World War, 1939.
REEL 2 Continues: employment in bank in Bombay; social activities; work in censor's office in Bombay. Recollections of period as NCO with Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) in India and Burma, 1944-1946: meeting with Lois St John; joining Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); journey from Bombay to Shillong via Calcutta, India; period in unit half way house; flight in Douglas Dakota to Kathar, India; reaction of troops towards presence of Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) personnel; unit headquarters; attending ENSA concert; making fudge and sausage rolls for canteen; variety of troops visiting canteen; move to Meiktila, Burma, 1945; illness and evacuation to Bombay, India.
REEL 3 Continues: difficulties of returning to unit in Burma after recuperation in Bombay, India; night spent in US Army Air Force camp; flight onto Meiktila, Burma; burying Japanese dead; issue of revolvers to unit; work in canteen at Mingaladon airfield, Burma; move to Rangoon, Burma; accommodation in Rangoon, Burma; story of post-war work with former Dutch internees in Singapore, Malaya, 1945; participation in Victory Parade in Rangoon, Burma, 15/6/1945; further details of work with former Dutch internees in Singapore, Malaya, 1945; obtaining turkey for Christmas, 12/1944; value of parachute silk; memories of Lois St James and Nin Taylor.
REEL 4 Continues: types of women who joined Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); arrival of contingent from Australia; contact with Allied former POWs; visits by General William Slim and Lady Edwina Mountbatten; use of temporary airstrips; degree of awareness of Chindit Expeditions; uniform worn; attitude towards living conditions; opinion of role of Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma); adapting to post-war life; question of recognition of Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma).
REEL 5 Continues: memories of uncle Reverend Philip 'Tubby' Clayton and working for him post-war; initial work in static canteens; living and working conditions in canteens; description of mobile canteens; amusing story of coming across British troops' bathing; setting up mobile canteen on arrival at location; food supplies; burying unsold canned food; other supplies sold by mobile canteens; attitude towards accountancy; operating mobile canteens; food available; witnessing soldier killed by mishandling of his weapon; degree of contact with Burmese; celebrating birthday.
REEL 6 Continues: informal nature of organisation; relations with army personnel; contrast between American and ENSA concerts; question of term 'Forgotten Army'; prior recollection of attending event with Field Marshal Archibald Wavell; VIP visits; crossing River Irrawaddy.