Interview with Neville Parker Wildgust

British private and NCO served with 70th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) in GB, 10/1940-1/1942; officer cadet trained with Pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit, Brancepeth Castle and No 161 Officer Cadet Training Unit, Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1/1942-10/1942; officer served with 16th and 1st Bns Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) in GB, 10/1942-1/1943; served with 6th Bn Lincolnshire Regt, 138th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Tunisia, 2/1943-3/1943; hospitalisation for wounds in 5th British General Hospital, Bône and 94th British General Hospital in Algiers, French Algeria and Winterton Emergency Hospital, Sedgefield, Botleys Park Hospital, Chertsey and Park Prewett Hospital, Basingstoke in GB, 5/1943-10/1944; served with 11th Bn York and Lancaster Regt in GB, 10/1944-10/1945; staff officer served with War Office in GB, 1946-1947

REEL 1 Background in Nottinghamshire, GB, 1922-1940: family; memories of father; family moves; childhood; family members' employment; education and employment opportunities in area; obtaining employment after school; politics in family; awareness of events in Europe; ongoing friendship with schoolmates; involvement with local groups; story of German exchange student; attitude toward approaching war; attempt to join Royal Navy; effects of military service on friends and family. REEL 2 Continues: memories of Munich Agreement and issue of gas masks, 9/1938; visits to cinema; recreational activities; clothing; cycling; smoking, drinking and pay; further details of issue gas masks, 9/1938; civilian attitude to gas masks; memories of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and father's attitude to Soviet Union; opinion of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; employment; Phoney War, 1939-1940; formation of Local Defence Volunteers and attempt to join local unit. Aspects of enlistment in British Army in GB, 10/1940: enlistment; pay; reason for joining British Army and reaction of parents. REEL 3 Continues: attempt to get friend to join up with him; background of fellow recruits. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 70th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) in GB, 10/1940-1/1942: march to school in Nottingham; first meal; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; visits home; memories of NCO and army language; issue of uniform; drill; piquet duty; weapons training; move to and accommodation at Bulwell; march to breakfast; inoculations; sleeping arrangements; relations with fellow recruits; methods used by some recruits to get out of British Army; discipline; opinion of rations; recreational activities; opinion of rifle and Boys Anti-Tank Rifle; route marches; attending physical training course; preparations for posting as physical training instructor; move to RAF Grimsby at Waltham; accommodation; nature defences constructed at RAF Grimsby; work as physical training instructor; problems with rations; week long duties as company clerk; story of being put forward for commission; attending NCO course. REEL 4 Continues: results of course; memories of Noel Selby and German Air Force raid in Nottingham; posting to RAF Woodhall Spa and accommodation; fitness training; air activity; fitness of troops; story of conman masquerading as an officer; opinion of officers and NCOs in battalion; attitude toward possibility of action; weapons situation and training; proficiency with rifle; opinion of Bren Gun; grenade training; field craft training; battalion deployment; anti-aircraft training at RAF Binbrook; winter conditions and journey to RAF Kirton in Lindsey; details of RAF Kirton in Lindsey; story of falling asleep during guard duty; selection interview for commission at Lincoln and of reasons for success; contact with Royal Air Force; further details of NCO course attended; promotion to lance corporal. Aspects of period with pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit at Brancepeth Castle, GB, 1/1942-3/1942: accommodation; reception and meeting with commanding officer; night manoeuvres. REEL 5 Continues: weather; motorised exercises; opinion of course; fellow cadets; reasons for returning candidates to unit; exams; contact with officers and NCOs; length of course; talk received upon leaving; recreational activities. Recollections of period as officer cadet with No 161 Officer Cadet Training Unit at Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 3/1942-10/1942: reaction to posting to unit; pride in uniform; examples of officer cadets being returned to unit; results of attending pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit; rank and pay; background of potential cadets from Guards Brigade; visits of high-ranking officers; arrival at Officer Cadet Training Unit; first impressions of Royal Military College Sandhurst; interview with Captain Foster; NCOs and drill; batman; rations and meals; opinion of time at Royal Military College Sandhurst; memories of officer cadet from Grenadier Guards; reasons for cadets for being Returned To Unit; opinion of Ordnance SBML 2 Inch Mortar; story of answering a question from Captain Foster's and his reaction to answer; exercise firing Ordnance SBML 2 Inch Mortar; story of reporting sick to Captain Foster; illnesses during course; memories of Sergeant-Major Ronald Brittain and other instructor NCOs; inspections from members of Royal Family. REEL 6 Continues: opinions of Captain Foster and instructor NCOs; opinion of training; growing sense of pride; standard of turnout; story of inspection from Captain Foster during guard duty; punishment for not wearing braces; pattern of training; story of a Ordnance 3 Inch Mortar demonstration; memories of civilian worker Dennis Knight and his funeral; activities on Sundays; involvement with concerts; changes in weapons; firing of Thompson Submachine gun; methods of hiding rank in field; pistol firing; opinion on use of pistol and bayonet; bayonet training and drill; Tactical Exercises Without Troops; leadership of platoon; story of a river crossing exercise; composition of groups on exercises; selection of regiment; initial attachment to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and later transfer to Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment); opinion of training with live ammunition; money after commission; visits into London; uniform worn. REEL 7 Continues: sporting activities; route marches; cleaning of uniform; reprimand for not wearing braces on parade; punishments; age and fitness of cadets; further details of Grenadier Guards officer cadet; weapons training; anti-invasion schemes; leadership practice; later attempt to lead by the book; nature of exercises; briefings; opinion of training; expectation of Allied victory; morale; attitude toward possibility of facing action; background of officer cadets; training with Vickers Machine Gun; use of Vickers Machine Gun and other machine guns in field; firing of Vickers and Bren Machine Guns; issue of meals and etiquette; further details of background of officer cadets; relations with fellow cadets; passing out parade and selection of regiment; uniform fitting and financial grant received for purchase of uniform. REEL 8 Continues: buying uniform; story of being saluted for the first time; saluting protocol and action when not saluted; visits to cinema. Aspects of period as officer with 16th and 1st Bns Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) in GB, 10/1942-1/1943: posting with 16th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) at Kessingham; troops and officers in platoon; attitude of former 70th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) troops toward him; story of John Burgess's mistress; newsreels and films of war; attitude of British Army soldier; army language; dressing down of troops; selection of batman; discipline; story of radar pylon; beach defences; German Air Force raids; march to Great Yarmouth; accommodation; story of shot down bomber aircraft; story of woman rescued from house; reformation as 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt); Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1942. REEL 9 Continues: details of pay; socialising with fellow officers; opinion of posting to battalion; second hand story of German Air Force bombing of Auxiliary Territorial Service accommodation at Great Yarmouth, 11/5/1943; marking minefields in Great Yarmouth area; story of Private Herbert Thorpe's death, 2/12/1942; composition of battalion and average age of platoon; stories of sergeant jailed for bigamy and sergeants going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL); invasion alerts; details of invasion plan; daily routine including firing practice; realisation of powers; opinion of schemes; examples of disgruntled troops, ill discipline and punishments; attending court martials; quality of troops. REEL 10 Continues: details of platoon roll book; loss of troops on draft; story of Second Lieutenant Frank Cox; receiving news of being placed on draft, knowledge of destination and other draftees from battalion; relations with Auxiliary Territorial Service female personnel; segregation of ranks; relations with Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel; duties and opinion of batman; embarkation leave; New Year's Eve; opinion of overseas posting; train journey to Greenock. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Durban Castle from Greenock, GB, to Algiers, French Algeria, 1/1943: train journey to Greenock and embarkation aboard troopship; accommodation including officers he shared with; nature of troopship; troops' accommodation; issue of rations; memories of stewards; seasickness; troopship's population; conditions for troops; nature of voyage; censorship of mail. REEL 11 Continues: background of troops; field postcards sent home; arrival in Algiers, French. Aspects of period as officer with Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) on draft in North Africa, 1/1943-2/1943: story of officer who didn't know where North Africa was; situation in North Africa including report written on situation; advice given about sunglasses; French treatment of Arab civilians; contact with French Foreign Legion troops; journey to Maison Carrée, French Algeria; description of camp at Maison Carrée, French Algeria; memories of Dick Stevenson; details of route marches; story of airborne officers under open arrest; rationing of alcohol; story of night out with American paratrooper Marshall Mitcham; arrival of United States Army troops at train station and equipment exchange; American military presence in North Africa; American harbour defences; obtaining lift from United States Army driver; opinion of American military personnel; story of Royal Army Service Corps truck being fixed in American run workshops; contact with French Army troops; contact with Arab and French civilians; German Air Force raid in Algiers, French Algeria. REEL 12 Continues: impressions of Algiers; visits to cinema; recreational activities of troops; rations including warnings given; theft of kit; laundry; cleaning of blankets; health problems and treatments; daily number of troops reporting sick; troops faking illness and going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL); relations with civilians; posting; nature of train journey; leaving batman behind; memories of Lieutenant Stead; stopover at Souk-el-Arba, Tunisia; nature of train journey towards front line; terrain on arrival and march to regiment. Recollections of operations as officer with 6th Bn Lincolnshire Regt, 138th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Tunisia, 2/1943-3/1943: cover taken on first night; reactions to situation; interview with company commander; organisation of a reconnaissance patrol; differences between reconnaissance and fighting patrols; conditions for patrol; nature of patrol including bodies seen, crossing of river, patrol formation of patrol, problems with Private Walter Starbuck and march up hill. REEL 13 Continues: decision to return to British lines including return crossing of river and arrival in own lines; fate of Private Holmes following river experience; reaction following patrol; composition of patrol; posting in reserve and accommodation; German artillery shelling of area; rumours of munitions sabotage; opinion of reason why headquarters was not shelled; character of Sultana Farm and surrounding terrain; positions and importance of road held; presence of civilians; story of surrendering German airborne troops; patrol sent to capture village and return to civilians to village; state of German prisoners of war; description of 2/5th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt) attack on Tamera; role as platoon officer; story of corporal falling asleep; problems with dysentery; daily moaning time and subsequent changes to issue of rations; withdrawal from positions; attitude of troops to promotion; climb up Sugarloaf Hill and conditions; supply of rations; rum ration and effect of drinking it; relief by British airborne troops; issue of tea from pocket; story of tea made and civilian seen before withdrawal; rest period and air activity; arrival of reinforcements. REEL 14 Continues: contents of Compo rations; description of Tommy Cooker; tea ration; additional rations; complaints about issue of rations; memories of fellow officers including story request for his Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) cap badge; interest in troops of regiment; morale of troops; experience among officers; memories of Major Francis Bell; opinion of training received after facing first action; incident of forcing troops with revolver; weapon situation; issue of rifle; weapon carried by Lieutenant Stead; briefing; posting in A Coy; plan for attack on Sedjenane; talk with French Army North African troops at forming up point; sound of guns; advance to start line; problem with tanks and maps; German mortaring of start line; advance into mountains; halt and digging positions, including Allied artillery shells falling short; protection from rain. REEL 15 Continues: wet night spent in wood; activity following morning; receiving of orders; initial contact made with to York and Lancaster Regiment; story of wounded soldier; Lieutenant Stead's appearance; position taken by platoon; orders for withdrawal; talk with brigadier; return to company; story of wounded Germans; plan for attack on mine of Sedjenane; meal eaten before attack; method of keeping together during advance; disappearance of C Coy and messages received from Major Francis Bell about it; briefing from Major Francis Bell; reaction on arrival in wood; sight of Deutsches Afrika Korps soldiers sunbathing; search of wood and reports received from platoon members; activities of platoon sergeant; problems with Bren Gun and filling of magazines; shooting as Deutsches Afrika Korps soldier; nature of advance toward German lines and decision to fire shots into wood; nature of wounding of arm; reaction to wounding; orders given to troops and wounding in face; unwritten rule concerning removal of helmet; arrival of stretcher-bearer and treatment received; wounding of stretcher-bearer; crawling to wounded NCO; problems with wounded arm; aid received from NCO; further wounding in arm and of NCO. REEL 16 Continues: reaction to wounding in abdomen; communication with and aid received from runner; work of stretcher-bearer; awaiting medical evacuation; further wounding by gunfire in thigh and shin; attempt to run; end of action and medical evacuation; treatment received from medical officer; pain from drinking tea. Aspects of period of hospitalisation in period of hospitalisation in 5th British General Hospital, Bône and 94th British General Hospital in Algiers, French Algeria, 3/1943-4/1943: evacuation to dressing station and treatment received; evacuation by mule and reaction to destruction of equipment; talk with nursing orderly and reading of medical notes; visits from medical officers; hearing sounds of guns during hospitalisation at Tabarka; fellow patients; problems with eye; evacuation to 5th British General Hospital, Bône, French Algeria; treatment of wounds in abdomen and arm; problems with pain; hallucinations while unconscious; German casualty in next bed at hospital at Tabarka; knowledge of attack's success and platoon casualties. REEL 17 Continues: Recollections of operations as officer with 6th Bn Lincolnshire Regt, 138th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Tunisia, 3/1943: details of final entries in note book and platoon casualties; distribution of weapons and ammunition in platoon; reaction to hearing No 2 on Bren Gun had disappeared; breakdown of command during action; sight of platoon sergeant advancing during attack; presence of medical staff; reflections on German wounded; difference between field and shell dressings; rule concerning removal of helmet when wounded; photograph in helmet and adjustments made by troops to helmet; opinion of how he came to be wounded; kit and weapons carried into action; training on and firing of Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank Gun (PIAT); description of entrenching tool used; reason for not digging in personally; weather conditions; issue of rum ration; damage to weapons; supply of rations; regularity of mail; degree of knowledge of Axis opposition; opinion of German manufactured equipment; German use of mines; reaction of Deutsches Afrika Korps to attack; problems with dysentery. REEL 18 Continues: order about Arab civilians wearing uniform; attitude of civilians to war; presence of Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) in Tunisia. Recollections of period of hospitalisation in 5th British General Hospital, Bône and 94th British General Hospital in Algiers, French Algeria, 3/1943-4/1943: reaction to wounding; later fear of German Air Force raids and submarines; memories of Charles Rossman and other patients at 5th British General Hospital, Bône; organisation for flight to GB and news of voyage to Algiers; journey to Bône Harbour; reception on board hospital ship; medical treatment given to member of Royal Armoured Corps; rations; morale; reception on arrival at 94th General Hospital in Algiers; memories of pain and smell of wounds; accommodation with wounded chaplain; memories of army chaplains; incident of shouting out in pain; movement onto hospital ward; problems with pneumonia and neuralgia; story of being moved onto side; problems applying anaesthetic and waking up during a medical operation; final medical operation and aftermath; removal of dressings and description of wounds; standing up for first time; opinion of medical treatment received; dressing of wounds; further memories of Charles Rossman; presence of American Red Cross nurses. REEL 19 Continues: memories of matron and other patients; superior treatment received by officers; officer mortality rate; notification of family of wounding; attempted visit from cousin; problems sending letters home; cases of shell shock and self-inflicted wounds; prior recollection of German Air Force raids on Algiers, French Algeria; reaction to end of North African Campaign, 5/1943; story of councillors in North Africa; reflections on wounding; religion; reading; game played by fellow patient visit of General Harold Alexander. Aspects of voyage aboard hospital ship HMHS Oxfordshire from French Algeria to GB, 1943: embarkation at Algiers, French Algeria; nature of voyage; arrival at Avonmouth, GB; complaints from stretcher-bearers; further details of voyage. Recollections of period of hospitalisation in Winterton Emergency Hospital, Sedgefield, Botleys Park Hospital, Chertsey and Park Prewett Hospital, Basingstoke, GB, 5/1943-10/1944: journey to Winterton Emergency Hospital, Sedgefield, including reception at Bishop Auckland Railway Station; details of hospital; changing of plaster; population of ward. REEL 20 Continues: relations with fellow patients; learning to walk again; visit to Middlesbrough; advice given on release; memories of 21st Birthday; return to smoking; visits to Newcastle upon Tyne; uniform worn; hospital activities including tapestry work; journey to Chertsey; staff at hospital; removal of plaster; talks with psychiatrist; suggestion of face graft; memories of Jimmy Hanley; story of air raid; physiotherapy and treatment; problems with thigh bandages; transfer to Park Prewett Hospital, Basingstoke; details and memories of Sir Harold Gillies; description of face wounds and treatment suggested; fellow patients; memories of nurses; skin graft operation; clearance of ward for D-Day landings, 6/1944. REEL 21 Continues: help given to prepare for D-Day; memories of Phil Branson; signs of approaching D-Day; socialising with men he had never met; experiences with prostitutes in London; air activity in London; methods of fiddling travelling arrangements; memories of Jimmy Hanley's wife Dinah Sheridan; further details of skin graft; interview with War Office; posting and to Nunnykirk Hall. Aspects of period as officer with 11th Bn York and Lancaster Regt in GB, 10/1944-10/1945: character of battalion; atmosphere in battalion; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Reubens. REEL 22 Continues: medals issued; medical classification; training of battalion; composition of battalion; duties; problems with arm and hospitalisation; destination of troops leaving on draft; turnover of troops; selection of troops for draft; background of troops; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Imgrams; officers' mess including own duties; relationships among ranks; morale; troops going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL); court martials; reaction to Battle of the Bulge, 12/1944-1/1945; details of film 'Tunisian Victory' (1944); pay; discussions about what to do after war and how much pay would be needed; reason for continuing service with British Army. REEL 23 Continues: promotion to acting adjutant; return to RAF Woodhall Spa; posting to Headquarters, North Midland District; marriage including collections made by battalion; wife's employment and accommodation; VE and VJ Day celebrations, 1945; concert parties; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1944; brief posting to 2nd Bn Green Howards (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regt), 11/1945-12/1945; contact with Italian prisoner of wars; abortive posting to British Army of the Rhine and embarkation leave. Recollections of period as staff officer with War Office in GB, 1/1946-5/1947: posting to War Office in London. REEL 24 Continues: training received in Hyde Park, London; promotion to captain; posting to King's Royal Rifle Corps at Ranby; further details of training; intakes of recruits; details of recruitment process and tests; nature of computer used to sort results; earlier use for selection of tank drivers after D-Day; newspaper report about men receiving jobs they did not want; story of a public school applicant; application of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's son David and other special cases; categories applicants were sorted into; posting at Brancepeth Castle; story of changing details on form of applicants and subsequent trip to psychiatrist; posting at Derby; story of man wanting to be a parachute officer; other stories of applicants; application of brother-in-law; differences in test results around country. REEL 25 Continues: degree of illiteracy in British Army; visit of Deputy Director of Infantry Major-General Percival White and subsequent reprimand; later talk before visit of a senior officer; story of visit; lecture about work; changes in relationship with commanding officer; extensions to army service; reaction on return to Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) at Derby; memories of Major Carter; refusal to allow staff to clear snow; staff in selection team; checking forms for accuracy; reasons for extention to military service; problems obtaining employment after leaving military service; final medical and application for war pension; reaction following demobilisation; advice received from from social worker; leave; civilian work and pay; process of demobilisation at Lingfield; prior recollection of party held upon leaving 11th Bn York and Lancaster Regt; selection of troops for MBEs; reflections on decoration awards; issue of campaign medals; story of Les Brooks and his Air Crew Europe Medal; discussion about medal awards. REEL 26 Continues: Aspects of post-war life and employment: details of family home and furnishings; rationing and conditions during winter of 1947; memories of following spring; details of pay and money problems; reflections on period 1947-1953; memories of General Election, 7/1945; civilian employment including initial search for work after demobilisation; post-war food parcels received from United States of America. REEL 27 Continues: further details of civilian employment; keeping contact with former Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham and Derbyshire Regiment) comrades; involvement with Royal British Legion and SSAFA; post-war visits to Tunisia; reflections after return to site of wounding and on films made at Sedjenane; contact with Lincolnshire Regiment comrades.