Description
Object description
British private and NCO with Royal Army Service Corps in GB and North Africa, 1941-1944; NCO served with General Headquarters, 3rd District in Italy, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Barking and Netteswell, GB, 1921-1941: memoires of childhood in Barking and Netteswell; civilian work including reactions to outbreak of war; enlistment in army; opinion of service; details of journey to Bulford. Aspects of training as private with Royal Army Service Corps at Bulford Camp in GB, 1941: reception on arrival; desire to join navy; first vehicles driven; events on first day at Bulford; background of troops; treatment from NCOs; pattern of training and fitness; story of struggling soldier; attitude to service; weapons training; innoculations; visit to dentist; memories of Sergeant Strutt and Major Freeman; details of driver training at Sutton Veny; story of later drive to Middlesbrough when corporal. Aspects of period as private with Depot Coy, Royal Army Service Corps in Guildford, GB, 1941: posting to company at Guildford; story of football match against Guildford; clerical training; location of unit in Guildford; duties; short posting in and journey to Halifax. Aspects of period as NCO with 635 Divisional Composite Coy, Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 1941-1943: details of unit; promotion to corporal; pay duties; accommodation in Old Horton; leisure activities and relationship with civilians in Bradford.
REEL 2 Continues: posting in Driffield; duties as corporal including relationship with troops and discipline; attitude to service; accommodation in Northallerton; dealing with late returning troops; duties; posting in Bishop Auckland; train journey to Gourock; knowledge of overseas posting. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Leopoldville from Gourock, GB, to Port Said, Egypt, 1943: embarkation; sleeping arrangements; route taken; composition of convoy; activities during voyage; alerts; voyage through Mediterranean. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Army Service Corps in North Africa, 1943-1944: supply of meals and rations; details of camp and uniform worn; duties; latrines; climate; visits to Stanley Bay; cigarette rations; posting to Headquarters Aegean; description of journey to Leros including sinking of ship and story of later talk with sailor; events on return to Alexandria; reactions to surviving sinking; posting as clerk. Aspects of period as NCO with General Headquarters, 3rd District in Italy, 1944-1946: voyage to Taranto aboard SS Princess Kathleen; scenes on docks; train journey to Castellammare di Stabia; location of unit; eruption of Vesuvius during hospitalisation; visit to crater of Vesuvius.
REEL 3 Continues: story of air raid on hospital in Bari and involvement in clear-up work; visits from concert parties; homesickness among troops; leave in GB; meetings future wife; attitude to working with women; story of making latrine arrangements for women during a long journey; posting and duties in Ostia; accommodation in Siena; story of arrival in Milan; further details of posting in Ostia including end of war and memories of Major Freeman; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; promotions to staff sergeant; posting to Siena; visit to Lake Como; wait for demobilisation; journey to GB including meal issued in Munich; leave and demobilisation in Woking. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: problems settling into civilian life.
REEL 4 Continues: civilian work and further education. Reflections on service with Royal Army Service Corps, 1941-1946: elements missed from army life; contact with and opinion of troops from other nations; contact with German POWs; relationship with civilians in Italy; knowledge of Holocaust; contact with displaced persons; opinion of Royal Army Medical Corps.