Description
Object description
British NCO served with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in GB, Middle East and Italy, 1940-1945; served with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Greece, 1945-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Oxford, GB, 1917-1939: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in GB, 1940: call up to Cowley Barracks, 2/1940; adjustment to army life; pattern of basic training; posting to 50th Holding Bn at Fleet and Crookham. Aspects of period as NCO with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in GB, 1941-1942: posting to Devon; move to Kent; effect of arrival of new commanding officer; role as Motor Transport Corporal; route march with new boots at Colchester; move to Clacton on Sea; move to Rendlesham Park. Aspects of period as NCO with Headquarters Coy, 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Middle East and North Africa, 1942-1943: voyage from GB to Egypt via South Africa; collecting vehicles for move to Iraq, 10/1942.
REEL 2 Continues: stealing oranges in Palestine; arrival in Iraq; joining Paiforce in Iraq; drive from Iraq to Tunisia; role of battalion in Tunisia; role during battalion during amphibious training. Aspects of operations as NCO with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Italy, 1943-1945: landings at Salerno, 9/9/1943; unit casualties; HMS Warspite firing inland; pattern of advance northwards; casualties at Monte Camino.
REEL 3 Continues: Christmas celebrations, 12/1943; landing at Anzio, 2/1944; reads extract from regimental journal; move to Taranto; move to Egypt; return to Italy; sketch of operations; leaving battalion, 1/1945; relations with Italian civilians; opinion of German defences. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in Greece, 1945-1946: joining battalion in Greece after end of war; leave from Greece; work on service newspaper 'The Quadrant' in Athens.
REEL 4 Continues: demobilisation in Woking, 2/1946; return to civilian life. Reflections on military service, 1940-1946: attitude towards military service; medical treatment received in army; opinion of commanding officer; opinion of padre; attempt to join RAF at start of war.