Interview with Francis Leonard Vaux

British private trained with General Service Corps in GB, 1944; officer cadet with No 123 Officer Cadet Training Unit, Royal Artillery at Catterick Camp, in GB, 1945; officer served with Royal Corps of Signals in India and Singapore, Malaya, 1946-1947

REEL 1 Background in Doncaster and Birmingham, GB, 1923-1944: family; education; education at University of Birmingham. Aspects of enlistment with British Army in GB, 1944: decision to join armed forces; membership of Senior Training Unit at University of Birmingham; interview with Intelligence Corps; waiting for call-up. Aspects of period as private with General Service Corps in GB, 1944: posting to Carlisle; musical relationship with regimental sergeant-major; medical grading; activities at No1 Physical Development Centre, Bradbury Lines Camp, Hereford; venereal disease lectures; problems with feet and treatment including drawings made for medical officer; nature of Bradbury Lines Camp, Hereford; return to Carlisle; description of aptitude tests; wait for War Office Selection Board interview. Aspects of period as gunner with Royal Artillery in GB, 1944: changes to training; proficiency in Morse Code; wireless training. Aspects of training with No 148 Pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit, Wrotham, GB, 1944: posting to Wrotham; driving lessons; drill; field craft training; story of prune feast. REEL 2 Continues: degree of knowledge of wider war. Aspects of period as officer cadet with No 123 Officers Cadet Training Unit, Royal Artillery at Catterick Camp, GB, 1945: discipline; pattern of training including learning structure of British Army; signals training; nature of final fortnight of course; reaction to end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; father's military service; passing out parade and posting to Royal Corps of Signals; officers' mess at Catterick Camp; recreational activities including VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; story of early reprimand from commanding officer in Royal Corps of Signals in Kent; background to posting to India, 1/1946. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Corps of Signals in India and Singapore, Malaya, 1946-1947: voyage aboard HMT Duchess of Richmond from GB to Bombay, India; impressions of Bombay, India; train journey to Maur; training undertaken; desire to go further east; relations with Indian civilians; activities in Calcutta, India; opinion of Singapore, Malaya; hospitalisation on arrival in Singapore, Malaya. REEL 3 Continues: details of officers' mess in Singapore, Malaya; involvement in accounting; rank; story of party organised including booking of comedian Tommy Trinder and local civilian talent; theatre in barracks; duties as entertainment officer; promotion to adjutant; relationship with Japanese prisoners of war in camp; attempted attendance at hanging of Japanese war criminals and reaction to cancellation; application to join Civil Service in London, GB; period at Thirsk, GB awaiting posting back to Singapore, Malaya; nature of return journey to Singapore, Malaya; military presence on Singapore, Malaya; memories of fellow officers; story of large show at barracks theatre; contact with civilians. REEL 4 Continues: story of drinking gin in the morning; hospitalisation with fever including subsequent bouts experienced in GB; opinion of Singapore, Malaya; further details of return trip; question of continuing service in British Army; opinion of military service; departure from Singapore, Malaya, 1947. Aspects of post-service life and reflections on military service: obtaining civilian employment; employment in brewing industry; discussion of leadership roles during life; lessons learned from military service; opinion of National Service; comradeship; memories of colleagues and civilian workers; opinion of chaplains. REEL 5 Continues: story of motorcycle rally; membership of 44th (Doncaster) West Riding Home Guard in Doncaster including bicycle patrols; question of psychological stress among British Army troops.