Oral history

British civilian in GB and Egypt, 1921-1939; served as private with Hampshire Regt and Intelligence Corps in GB, 1939-1941; served as officer with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq and Italy, 1941-1946, and with Force 401, Signal Regt, Indian Army in India and Iraq, 1946-1947

REEL 1: Aspects of family background in Egypt, Sudan, India, Ireland and GB, 1917-1925: story of father’s service as officer with King’s (Liverpool Regt) in Cairo, Khartoum and on North West Frontier; marriage of parents, 1917; riots in Cairo, 1919; reason for father resigning commission and returning to GB; father discharged from Army and moved to Dublin; story of father receiving death threats from IRA and moving to Liverpool; born in Liverpool, 9/Mar/1921; father’s employment in passport office; family life and childhood; father transferred to work at fire station in Cairo; recreational activities; attitude to religion; education; story of contracting scarlet fever and problem with ear. REEL 2 Continues: description of medical treatment and operation on ear; contracted jaundice; further memories of childhood and education; problem of nightmares; story of medical examination at Tilbury; description of voyage to Port Said, Egypt; reunited with father; opinion of house and garden in Heliopolis; description of education at English school. REELS 3-9: Recollections of family life, childhood and education in Egypt, 1925-1934. REEL 10 continues: Aspects of period in GB, 1934-1939: description of voyage back to GB, 1934; family life; story about death of father from cancer; education. REEL 11 Continues: further comments on education; description of employment at Crittalls; story of taking part in nationwide census, 1939; issued with respirator; role of employer building air raid shelters. REEL 12 : Continues: story of joining Territorial Army in Essex, 1939; passed medical A1 despite being deaf in one ear; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939; problem of enlisting in Army due to medical condition; attitude to being in reserved occupation; story of joining Intelligence Corps in London, 1939. Aspects of training with Hampshire Regt in GB, 1939-1940: posted to Isle of Wight for 16 weeks basic infantry training; opinion of NCO instructors; issued with kit and equipment; haircut; description of training including pistol shooting; story of being advised to put hot water in boots on route marches; story about homosexual sergeant; motor cycle training; daily routine; bedding; washing and shaving; physical training; messing arrangements; story of receiving 3 days CB for having dirty rifle; description of fatigues and support from friends; story of volunteering to peel potatoes for Christmas dinner, 1939; officers served men dinner on Christmas Day; opinion of food; new recruits not accepted if illiterate. REEL 13 Continues: duties building sea defences and training for possible German invasion; various memories of other soldiers in Intelligence Corps and Hampshire Regt; description of duties on Interior Economy days; inspections; regulations including not being allowed to walk over parade square; all ranks dances; bugle calls; opinion of accommodation and sanitary facilities; Church parades; reason for carrying all equipment and weapons while on leave; lights out; accompanied on marches by Regt band; pay; breaks on route marches; problem of changing rifle from shoulder to shoulder while marching; weapons training with Webley .45 revolver; gas warfare training; story about signing bath book; amusing story about Irish old soldier; sick parades; description of attacks by German aircraft on camp; story of family home in Braintree being bombed; posted to Intelligence Corps in Winchester on completion of basic training, 1940. Aspects of period with Intelligence Corps in GB, 1940-1941: opinion of accommodation in King Alfred College, Winchester; opinion of straw filled paillasses; story of paillasses being burned following outbreak of polio; description of further training including lectures, motorcycle training and IQ tests; problem of chest complaint caused by bad weather; issued with .45 Webley revolver and motorbike; use of paniers on motorbike to store civilian clothes; issued with ID card granting access to any military establishment. REEL 14 Continues: reaction to bombing of London; role in assessing effect of air raids on civilian morale; story of volunteering for service with Indian Army; interviewed in Winchester and posted to barracks at Aldershot as part of 1st Indian Army Cadet Bn; uniform and insignia; social life; question of officers receiving better treatment than other ranks; issued with tropical kit; posted to Maryhill Barracks, Scotland; opinion of Scottish hospitality. Aspects of voyage aboard RMS Empress of Japan to Bombay, India, 1941: sailed in convoy; opinion of accommodation; refuelled at Freetown; various memories of shore leave in Cape Town, South Africa; disembarked at Bombay. Aspects of operations with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, 1941-1942: first impressions of India; entrained to Bangalore; accommodation; daily routine and duties; opinion of food; tactical exercises; driving training; reason for being transferred into Royal Indian Army Service Corps; role in training and operating group convoys from India to Persian Gulf; problem of using Indian pattern vehicles and Indian drivers freezing to death; reason for operation being abandoned. REEL 15 Continues: story of consuming spiked drink at party and charge of being drunk on duty; description of punishment sleeping naked and without mosquito net; problem of mosquito bites over face and body and description of medical treatment in prison; commissioned as 2nd-Lt. and posted to North West Frontier; further motor transport training; posted to 60 GPG Coy at Faisalabad; story about Sikh CO Maj. Guriwal and attitude to British; description of repairs to cantonment 3 miles outside city; story of wild animals drinking from water tank; problem of crocodiles and snapper turtles in River Ghagra; number of British and Indian officers; problem of Indian recruits speaking different dialects and having to learn Urdu; role as treasurer of officers’ mess; story about being falsely accused of misappropriating mess funds; story about officer being threatened with court martial; story of affair with officer’s wife. REEL 16 Continued: conclusion of story about affair with officer’s wife; problem of dogs in camp and methods of disposal; returned to Lucknow; description of inspecting regimental brothels with medical officer; role surveying bridges; opinion of Lt-Gen. Fitzgerald; story of contracting malaria and medical treatment; use of Italian POWs in hospital; story of relationship with Lt-Gen. Fitzgerald’s daughter; REEL 17 Continues: story of recruiting troops for Indian Army from local Dacoits; description of journey into Rajputana hills accompanied by band and two panthers; type of equipment carried; provided free food and tea for local villagers as part of recruitment drive; ; problem of recruits not being able to sign names; returned to Lucknow with new recruits for medical examination and allocation to platoons; collected personal details and issued uniforms; story of persuading recruits to remove amulets fixed to big toes; reaction of recruits to military life and discipline; problem of guinea worm among recruits and method of treatment; 1942; changes in treatment of sunstroke including wearing shorts and taking saline tablets; reason for Indian troops not being affected by sunstroke; problem of prickly heat and move to cooler climate in Kashmir; opinion of accommodation in cedar wood house boat on Dal Lake; description of terrain and scenery; social life and recreational activities; story of relationship with English girl named Joan; entrained to transit camp in Bombay. Aspects of voyage aboard the Ethiopia from Bombay to Egypt: description of passengers and crew; problem of seasickness among Indian troops. REEL 18: story of murdered Indian soldier being buried at sea. Aspects of operations with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in North Africa, 1942: attached to 4th Indian Div in camp at Geneifa; story about elderly camp follower; role of camp followers as non-combatants; story of incident involving Australian soldiers at Shepheard’s Hotel, Cairo;; amusing story of taking Colonel’s dog into bar; amusing story about Italian girl named Anna; arrival of supplies of rum and Nescafe; story about Petromax lamp and stove; method of dispersing troops away from trucks; description of conditions in slit trenches; problem of tanks running over slit trenches and casualties; description of desert terrain; story of using compass bearing to find officers’ mess in the dark; summary of military situation in North Africa; daily life in Cairo and civilian morale; story about King Farouk refusing to re-sign treaty of occupation; attitude to arrival of reinforcements and new Sherman tanks; description of terrain and strategic points around El Alamein; location of Montgomery’s HQ reaction to arrival of Montgomery and opinion of strategy. Aspects of operations with Royal Indian Army Service Corps during Second Battle of El Alamein, 10-11/1942: description of opening barrage, 23-24/Oct/1942; advanced with 8th Army; problem of heavy rain; RAF support; tank traps; summary of movements and engagements; story of being wounded in leg when truck hit Teller mine. REEL 19 Continues: Aspects of operations with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in Egypt, Palestine and Iraq, 1942-1943: story of journey to Baghdad to collect 56th London Div; problem of theft in camp and method of chaining rifles; story of visit to Hotel Zia in Baghdad; opinion of Baghdad; description of journey back to Western Desert via Palestine; attitude to new troops carrying out reliefs during daylight; story of leading advance with Col. Wood along ‘mad mile’ in daylight and casualties; description of attempting to replace entrails of dispatch rider on road and journey to casualty clearing station; question of Germans not observing Geneva Convention and respecting Red Cross; attached to 1st Army; description of night drive along salt lake and damage to vehicles; story of passing German convoy unnoticed; opinion of cigarette and tobacco ration. Aspects of operations with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in Italy, 1943-1944: story about station master’s wife at Potenza; weather conditions; problem of bronchitis; duties guarding mountain pass and problem of boots freezing on feet; reason for bronchitis and improvement in cold mountain air; moved to Lanciano and took over positions from Canadian Army; problem with incompatible artillery and shells; story of taking shortcut along ‘mad mile’ driving lorry load of explosives; story of riding motorbike along ‘mad mile’ under heavy fire. REEL 20 Continues: description of setting up Divisional Casualty Clearing Station next to tobacco factory in Lanciano; location of observation post on factory roof; story of seeing buckets of brown and white amputated legs; description of driving over Route 6 to north of Potenza in deep snow; story of stopping at Italian family’s cottage; returned to camp but missed Christmas dinner; moved into Cassino valley, 1/1944; description of monastery; story of being given 120,000 US Army K Rations; description of carrying ammunition supplies during advance to Gustav Line; problem of snow and mud; reason for using US 10 x10 GMC trucks; opinion of Italian drivers; description of Military Policeman directing traffic from hole in the road; story of collecting mules with black US soldiers and death of Veterinary Officer; advised US soldiers to put windscreens on jeeps down to avoid reflection; story about Free French officer killed by sniper while lighting cigarette; description of mule convoy being shelled on arrival at HQ and shooting wounded mules; problem of smell from dead mules; opinion of mutual agreement with Germans not to shoot down spotter planes; opinion of decision to destroy monastery at Monte Cassino, 15/Feb/1944; problem of casualties from US shells; comparison of German and Allied shells; story of shell blast blowing off cap into minefield and question of wearing new cap being a bad omen. REEL 21 Continues: Story of being wounded in leg and shoulder following explosion at ammunition dump; taken to US Advanced Dressing Station for medical treatment; reason for not feeling pain; description of piece of shrapnel being removed from shoulder; story of dying Gurkha officer Jim Showers dripping blood over face during ambulance ride to New Zealand Casualty Clearing Post; laid on stretcher in snow; story of being mistakenly prioritised for treatment due to head covered in blood; left arm and leg set in plaster of Paris; description of ambulance journey to No 2 General Hospital, Caserta; opinion of conditions and staff in officers’ ward; story of soldier becoming hysterical following amputation of legs; description of drugs and treatment for leg wound; problem of wounds smelling; visited by fellow officers; reaction to death of friend Peter Rick; transferred to ‘dying room’ following deterioration in condition; story about young officer in next bed with self-inflicted wound; returned to officers’ ward; description of hospital; story of Italian waiters bringing round menus; description of treatment for shoulder wound. REEL 22 Continues: further description of treatment for shoulder and leg wounds; story of birthday party, 9/Mar/1944; nurses rubbed Eau de Cologne onto patients’ bottoms; various memories of other patients; transferred to 67th General Hospital, Naples; story of driver coming to say goodbye; loaded onto hospital ship during air raid; story of shell-shocked Scottish officer; story of patient with lower jaw shot away; treated with penicillin; transferred villa in Algiers. Aspects of voyage from Algiers to Bristol, GB, 1944: description of hospital ship and facilities; story of patients appearing on deck wearing hospital blue uniform and being trailed by U-boat back to Bristol. Aspects of period in GB, 1944: description of journey on hospital train to Cambridge and admission to hospital; visited by relatives. REEL 23 Continues: in ward with other Indian Army officers; story of being given legless golliwog by Scottish nurse; transferred to county hospital in Colchester; description of ward; put on half pay after two months; attitude to conscientious objector working as hospital porter; story of reunion with girlfriend ‘Tishy’ Reynolds; further treatment including physiotherapy; story of being told by surgeon to walk home every night; attended medical examination at India Office in London; amusing story about Irish Sister Duggan; passed fit for service and posted to London Assembly Centre, Marylebone; various memories of V1 and V2 raids; entrained to Liverpool; slept in warehouse; description of voyage aboard HMT Malaysia from Liverpool to Bombay via Port Said, Egypt, 12/1944-1/1945. Aspects of operations with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, 1945-1946: entrained to camp at Kalyan; story of organising transport for Indian clerks in office. REEL 24 Continues: posted to command training battalion at Chandor; description of terrain, camp and officers mess; story about old man in long white robe; opinion of food; visits to village; allocated Indian orderly and driver; description of preparations for monsoon; played cricket; obtained supplies from Royal Engineers; story about party of Indian soldiers captured while serving with Japanese and subsequent board of enquiry following escape; description of civil engineers constructing dam and swimming pool at camp; story about cobra; description of monsoon. REEL 25 Continues: story of shooting leopard following visit from village headman; shot peacock, peahen and deer for food; story about wounded tiger in cave; amusing story about langur monkey coming into tent; story of giving Marathi girl ride on motorbike; story of visit by troop of Indian travelling players; story about heavy drinking old soldier; description of making recreation room out of tents for Indian soldiers; story about wedding of friend John Sutton; camp closed and moved to camp at Igatpuri; problem of high rainfall; description of using charcoal brazier to dry clothes in tent; story of volunteering for animal management course at Lansdowne; problem with balance; admitted to British Military Hospital following riding accident; posted to base camp in preparation for invasion of Japan; role in supervising closure of camp and returning equipment to ordnance store, 5/1946; attitude to Indian workers having to pay for own journey home. REEL 26 Continues: further comments on lack of compensation for Indian workers at camp; provided references for workers and lodged formal complaint at GHQ; story of arranging special train to take Indian workers home; description of train journey to Lucknow; stayed at Royal Hotel. Aspects of period as Deputy Assistant Director of Transport in Bangalore, India, 1946: posted to HQ Southern Army; accommodation; daily routine and duty as staff officer; story about taking young nun to collect money from Bangalore Club; story of flying in Short Sunderland with RAF friends; duties annotating files for colonel; story of using staff car to tour Southern India for two weeks and deal with queries; amusing story about RAF pilot falling off partition in mess; posted as Assistant Deputy Quarter-Master General to Force 401, Signal Regt, Indian Army at Poona. REEL 27 Continues: Aspects of operations as Assistant Deputy Quarter-Master General to Force 401, Signal Regt, Indian Army in India and Iraq, 1946-1947: description of duties in Bombay; story of being charged for organising special train for Indian soldiers; description of voyage to Iraq; reaction on being posted back to Basra; posted to RAF Shaibah; problem of Kurds stealing equipment from camp; reason for posting to Iraq; recreational and sporting activities; description of red light district in Basra; opinion of food at Anglo-Iranian Oil Company Club; attitude to Kurds; role in organising laying of mine field around camp; attitude to shooting Kurds attacking camp; description of officers’ club at RAF Shaibah; story of officer ordering German POW to band to stop playing ‘Lili Marlene’; problem of Scottish Medical Officer’s broad Glasgow accent; story of talking to German POWs from Afrika Corps; story of visit by female Welfare Officer and provision of radios and food for Christmas; story of inviting German POWs to Christmas Dinner; story of Scottish Medical Officer hitting German POW and court of enquiry; repatriation of German POWs; problem of rioting in India. REEL 28 Continues: sailed to Karachi; role administering system for giving free land to Indian soldiers after discharge; posted to Lahore; opinion of barracks and officers’ mess; reaction to being appointed Major in Pakistan Army; story of exchange with Bengali Muslim unit; story of relationship with Russian wife of British officer; description of Christmas in Rawalpindi; problem of intercommunal violence worsening prior to partition; use of Jinnah’s bungalow in Lahore as officers’ mess; description of events following partition of India, 15/Aug/1947; increase in attacks on army and intercommunal violence; role in protecting trains from attack and organising convoys of lorries for army families; recurring problem with loss of balance; description of conditions at staging posts; story of finding mound of corpses at bridge and vultures flying away with body. REEL 29: story about three Muslim girls in car; organised bulldozing of bodies into pit; called conference at HQ in Lahore to plan safer route for convoys; problem of damage caused by monsoon; attended court of enquiry about organising special train; opinion of Bengali Muslims in unit; criticism of British office in Pakistan; story of organising care for mutilated women and girls; liaison role between Indian and Pakistan Army officers; story of refusing to collect armour for Pakistan Army; reason for shooting pet dog before going on leave; description of voyage aboard cargo ship to Rhodesia; problem of being taken ill during voyage and medical treatment. REEL 30 Continues: Aspects of period in South Africa, 1947-1948: description of welcome on arrival in Salisbury, Rhodesia; joined the 1820 Association; opinion of lifestyle in Rhodesia; description of accommodation in bungalow and problem of high rent; moved into the Highlands Hotel; moved into bungalow at Bishop’s Palace; story of police offering to beat up black servants if went on strike; opinion of apartheid system in Rhodesia; problem of deteriorating health and further medical examinations; description of operation to drain abscess in ear; story about white Afrikaans in hospital; problem of intertribal violence; further description of medical treatment; problem of curvature of spine and difficulty walking. REEL 31 Continues: story of visit by eminent Oxford surgeon; further comments on apartheid system and comparison to India; description of train journey to Bulawayo; opinion of Durban; passed South African driving test; description of accommodation in Durban; story of job selling radios to Afrikaans; social life and personal relationships; reaction to Smuts losing election and new pro-apartheid government, 6/1948; amusing story about Zulu rickshaw driver; story of visit to black pub; story of Russian girlfriend’s husband returning. REEL 32 Continues: Various recollections of periods in GB and India: description of voyage to Southampton, GB and return to home in Braintree; story of homosexual activity at prep school in GB; attitude to homosexuality; story about homosexual CO in India; question of homosexuality among Indian troops. REEL 33 Continues: story about Sikh renouncing faith; various memories of Gurkha driver; officers issued with five morphia tablets; reason for keeping morphia tablet in lapel of jacket; issued with salt and vitamin tablets; description of duties assisting civil powers in India; liaison role between local police and magistrates; method of policing riots and use of lethal force; story of seeing own photograph in Indian newspaper following riot.