Interview with L W A Lyons

British private trained with Hampshire Regiment in GB, 1939-1940; NCO served with Intelligence Corps in GB, 1940-1941; officer served with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, 1941-1942; served with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq and Italy, 6/1942-2/1944; hospitalisation in 2nd British General Hospital, Castera and 67th Britsh General Hospital in Naples, Italy and in Essex County Hospital, Colchester, GB, 2/1944-11/1944; officer served with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, 1945-1946; staff officer served with Force 401, British Indian Army in India and Iraq, 1946-1947; served as officer with Pakistan Army in Pakistan, 1947-1948

REEL 1 Aspects of family background in Egypt, Sudan, India, Ireland and GB, 1917-1925: father's military service as officer with King's Regiment (Liverpool) in Cairo, Egypt, Khartoum, Sudan and on North West Frontier, India; marriage of parents, 1917; riots in Cairo, Egypt, 1919; reason for father resigning commission and returning to GB; father's discharge from British Army and move to Dublin, Ireland; story of father receiving death threats from Irish Republican Army and moving to Liverpool, GB; birth in Liverpool, 9/3/1921; father's employment in passport office; family life and childhood; father employment at fire station in Cairo, Egypt; recreational activities; attitude to religion; education; contracting scarlet fever and problem with ear. REEL 2 Continues: description of medical treatment and operation on ear; contracting jaundice; further memories of childhood and education; problem of nightmares; story of medical examination at Tilbury, GB; voyage from GB to Port Said, Egypt; reunion with father; opinion of house and garden in Heliopolis, Egypt; description of education at English school. REELS 3-9: Account of family life, childhood and education in Egypt, 1925-1934. REEL 10 Continues: Recollections of period as civilian 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; employment with Crittall Manufacturing Company; story of taking part in nationwide census, 1939; issue with gas respirator; role of employer building air raid shelters. REEL 12 Continues: story of joining Territorial Army in Braintree, 1939; passing medical A1 despite being deaf in one ear; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; problem of enlisting in British Army due to medical condition; attitude to being in Reserved Occupation. Recollections of training as private with Hampshire Regiment in GB, 1939-1940: enlistment in Intelligence Corps in London, 1939; basic training on Isle of Wight, 1939-1940; opinion of NCO instructors; issue of 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; motorcycle training; daily routine; bedding; washing and shaving; physical training; messing arrangements; story of receiving three days Confined to Barracks for having dirty rifle; fatigues and support received from friends; volunteering to peel potatoes for Christmas dinner, 25/12/1939; British Army tradition of officers serving 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; 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 Parade; reason for carrying all equipment and weapons while on leave; lights out; accompanied on marches by regimental band; pay; breaks on route marches; problem of changing rifle from shoulder to shoulder while marching; weapons training with Webley Revolver; gas warfare training; signing bath book; amusing story about old Irish soldier; sick parades; German Air Force attacks on camp and bombing of family home in Braintree. Recollections of period as NCO with Intelligence Corps in GB, 1940-1941: posting to Intelligence Corps at Winchester on completion of basic training; opinion of accommodation in King Alfred's College, Winchester; opinion of straw filled paillasses and their being burned following outbreak of polio; training, including lectures, motorcycle training and intelligence tests; problem of chest complaint caused by bad weather; issued with Webley Revolver and motorcycle; use of paniers on motorcycle to store civilian clothes; issued with identification card granting access to any military establishment. REEL 14 Continues: reaction to German Air Force bombing of London; role in assessing effect of German Air Force raids on civilian morale. Aspects of period as officer cadet with 1st Indian Army Cadet Battalion in GB, 1941: volunteering for service with British Indian Army; selection interview at Winchester and posting to barracks in Aldershot Garrison; uniform and insignia; social life; question of officers receiving better treatment than Other Ranks; issue with tropical kit; move to Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow; opinion of Scottish hospitality. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empress of Japan from GB to Bombay, India, 1941: sailing in convoy; opinion of accommodation; refuelling at Freetown, Sierra Leone; shore leave in Cape Town, South Africa; disembarkation at Bombay, India. Recollections as period as officer cadet with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, 1941-1942: initial impressions of India; train journey from Bombay to Bangalore; accommodation; daily routine and duties; opinion of rations; 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 being charged with being drunk on duty; nature of punishment sleeping naked and without mosquito net; problem of mosquito bites over face and body and medical treatment received in prison. Recollections of period as officer with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, 1941-1942: commissioning as second lieutenant and posting to North West Frontier; further motor transport training; posting to No 60 General Purpose Transport Coy at Faisalabad; story about Sikh commanding officer Major Guriwal and his attitude towards British; description of repairs to cantonment three miles outside Faisalabad; incidents of wild animals drinking from water tank; problem of crocodiles and snapper turtles in River Ghaghara; number of British and Indian officers; problem of Indian recruits speaking different dialects and having to learn Urdu language; role as treasurer of officers' mess; stories about being falsely accused of misappropriating mess funds; an officer being threatened with court martial and affair with fellow officer's wife. REEL 16 Continued: conclusion of story about affair with officer's wife; problem of dogs in camp and methods of disposal; return to Lucknow; description of inspecting regimental brothels with medical officer; role surveying bridges; opinion of Major-General Gerald Fitzgerald; story of contracting malaria and medical treatment; use of Italian prisoners of war in hospital; story of relationship with Major-General Gerald Fitzgerald's daughter; REEL 17 Continues: story of recruiting troops for British Indian Army from local Dacoits; story of recruitment drive into hills in Rajputana Agency accompanied by band and two panthers; type of equipment carried; provision of free food and tea for local villagers as part of recruitment drive; problem of recruits not being able to sign names; return to Lucknow with new recruits for medical examination and allocation to platoons; collecting personal details and issue of 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; changes in treatment of sunstroke, including wearing shorts and taking saline tablets; reason for British 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 Lake Dal; description of terrain and scenery; social life and recreational activities; story of relationship with English girl; entraining to transit camp in Bombay. Aspects of voyage from Bombay, India to Egypt: description of passengers and crew; problem of seasickness among British Indian Army troops. REEL 18 Continues: story of murdered British Indian Army soldier being buried at sea. Aspects of operations as officer with Royal Indian Army Service Corps, 4th Indian Infantry Div in Egypt, 6/1942-10/1942: attachment to 4th Indian Infantry Div in camp at Geneifa Camp, Egypt; story about elderly camp follower; role of camp followers as non-combatants; story of incident involving Australian military personnel at Shepherd's Hotel, Cairo; amusing story of taking commanding officer'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 in Western Desert; conditions in slit trenches in Western Desert; problem of tanks running over slit trenches and casualties; description of desert terrain; use of compass bearing to find officers' mess in the dark; military situation in North Africa, 1942; daily life in Cairo and civilian morale; story about King Farouk I's refusal to re-sign treaty of occupation; attitude to arrival of reinforcements and new M4 Sherman Tanks; description of terrain and strategic points on El Alamein Line; reaction to arrival of General Bernard Montgomery and opinion of strategy, 8/1942. Aspects of operations as officer with Royal Indian Army Service Corps, 4th Indian Infantry Div during Second Battle of El Alamein, Egypt, 10/1942-11/1942: description of opening artillery barrage, 23/10/1942-24/10/1942; advancing with Eighth Army, 11/1942; problem of heavy rain, 11/1942; support from Royal Air Force; tank traps; summary of movements and engagements; story of being slightly wounded in leg when truck ran over Teller Mine. REEL 19 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with Royal Indian Army Service Corps, 4th Indian Infantry Div in Egypt, Palestine and Iraq, 1942-1943: story of journey to Baghdad, Iraq to collect 56th (London) Infantry Div; problem of theft in camp and method of chaining rifles; story of visit to Hotel Zia in Baghdad, Iraq; opinion of Baghdad, Iraq; journey from Iraq to Tunisia, via Palestine. Aspects of operations as officer with Royal Indian Army Service Corps, 4th Indian Infantry Div in Tunisia, 3/1943-5/1943: attitude to new troops carrying out reliefs during daylight; story of leading advance with commanding officer during daylight and casualties; attempt to replace entrails of despatch rider on road and journey to Casualty Clearing Station; question of Germans not observing Geneva Convention and respecting Red Cross; attachment to First Army; night drive along salt lake and damage to vehicles; incident of passing German convoy unnoticed; opinion of cigarette and tobacco ration. Recollections of operations with Royal Indian Army Service Corps, 4th Indian Infantry Div in Italy, 12/1943-2/1944: 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 taking 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: 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; story of driving Route 6 to north of Potenza in deep snow and stopping at Italian family's dwelling; return to camp but missing Christmas dinner, 25/12/1943; move to Monte Cassino area, 1/1944; description of Monte Cassino Monastery; story of being given 120,000 United States Army K-rations; description of carrying ammunition supplies during advance to Gustav Line; problem of snow and mud; reason for using American GMC 10x10 Truck; opinion of Italian drivers; sight of Corps of Military Police officer directing traffic from hole in the road; story of collecting mules with black United States Army troops and death of Veterinary Officer; advising United States Army troops to put windscreens on jeeps down to avoid reflection; story about Free French Forces officer killed by sniper while lighting cigarette; incident of mule convoy under German forces' artillery fire and shooting wounded mules; problem of smell from dead mules; opinion of mutual agreement with German forces not to shoot down reconnaissance aircraft; opinion of decision to destroy Monte Cassino Monastery, 15/2/1944; problem of casualties from United States Artillery shells; comparison of German and Allied shells; incident of shell blast blowing off cap into minefield and question of wearing new cap being a bad omen. REEL 21 Continues: Recollections of hospitalisation for wounds in 2nd British General Hospital, Castera and 67th British General Hospital, Naples, Italy, 2/1944-3/1944: wounding in leg and shoulder following explosion at ammunition dump; evacuation to United States Army Medical Corps Advanced Dressing Station for medical treatment; reason for not feeling pain; removal of piece of shrapnel from shoulder; story of dying Gurkha officer dripping blood over face during ambulance ride to Casualty Clearing Station; being laid on stretcher in snow; story of being mistakenly prioritised for treatment due to head being covered in blood; left arm and leg set in Plaster of Paris; ambulance journey to 2nd British General Hospital, Caserta; opinion of conditions and staff in officers' ward; story of soldier becoming hysterical following amputation of legs; drugs used and treatment for leg wound; problem of wounds smelling; visited by fellow officers; reaction to death of friend Captain Peter Rick, 15/2/1944; transfer to 'dying room' following deterioration in condition; presence of officer in next bed with self-inflicted wound; return 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, 9/3/1944; nurses rubbed Eau de Cologne onto patients' bottoms; memories of fellow patients; transfer to 67th British General Hospital, Naples; driver coming to say goodbye; loading onto hospital ship during German Air Force raid on Naples; stories of shell-shocked Scottish officer and patient with lower jaw shot away; penicillin treatment; arrival in Algiers, French Algeria. Aspects of voyage from Algiers, French Algeria to Bristol, GB, 3/1944-4/1944: description of hospital ship and facilities; patients appearing on deck wearing hospital blue uniform; question of hospital ship being shadowed by German submarine to Bristol. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 4/1944-11/1944: hospital train journey from Bristol to Cambridge and admission to hospital; visits from relatives. REEL 23 Continues: in ward with other British Indian Army officers; receiving legless doll by Scottish nurse; transfer to Essex County Hospital in Colchester; description of ward; being placed on half pay after two months; attitude to conscientious objector working as hospital porter; reunion with girlfriend; further medical treatment, including physiotherapy; advice from surgeon to walk home every night; attending medical examination at India Office in London; amusing story about Irish nursing sister; being passed fit for service and posting to London Assembly Centre, Marylebone, London; German V1 Flying Bomb and V2 Rocket attacks; train journey from London to Liverpool, 12/1944; sleeping in warehouse. Recollections of period as officer with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, 1945-1946: voyage from Liverpool, GB to Bombay, India via Port Said, Egypt, 12/1944-1/1945; story of organising transport for Indian clerks in office. REEL 24 Continues: taking command of training battalion; description of terrain, camp and officers mess; story about old man in long white robe; opinion of rations; visits to village; allocated Indian orderly and driver; description of preparations for monsoon; playing cricket; obtained supplies from Royal Engineers; story about party of Indian National Army troops captured while serving with Imperial Japanese Army and subsequent board of enquiry following escape; presence 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; shooting 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 motorcycle; visit by troop of Indian travelling players; story about heavy drinking old soldier; making recreational room out of tents for British Army Indian soldiers; wedding of friend John Sutton; close of camp and subsequent move; problem of high rainfall; use of charcoal brazier to dry clothes in tent; story of volunteering for animal management course; problem with balance; admission to military hospital following riding accident; posting 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: provision references for workers and lodging formal complaint over treatment of Indian workers; story of arranging special train to take Indian workers home; train journey to Lucknow; stay at Royal Hotel, Lucknow. Aspects of period as Deputy Assistant Director of Transport with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in Bangalore, India, 1946: posting to Headquarters, Southern Army; accommodation; daily routine and duty as staff officer; story about taking young nun to collect money from Bangalore Club; flight in Short Sunderland Flying Boat; duties annotating files for commanding officer; use of staff car to tour Southern India for two weeks and deal with queries; amusing story about Royal Air Force pilot falling off partition in mess. Aspects of period as Assistant Deputy Quarter-Master General to Force 401, British Indian Army in India and Iraq, 1946-1947: posting to force at Poona, India. REEL 27 Continues: duties in Bombay, India; story of being placed in charged for organising special train for British Indian Army troops; voyage from India to Iraq; reaction on being posted back to Basra, Iraq; posted to RAF Shaibah, Iraq; problem of Kurds stealing equipment from camp; reason for posting to Iraq; recreational and sporting activities; nature of red light district in Basra, Iraq; opinion of food at Anglo-Iranian Oil Company Club; attitude towards Kurds; role in organising laying of mine field around camp; attitude to shooting Kurds attacking camp; officers' club at RAF Shaibah; story of officer ordering German prisoner of war band to stop playing 'Lili Marlene'; problem of Scottish medical officer's broad Glasgow accent; story of talking to German former Deutsches Afrika Korps prisoners of war; story of visit by female welfare officer and provision of radios and food for Christmas; inviting German prisoners of war to Christmas Dinner, 25/12/1946; story of Scottish medical officer hitting German prisoner of war and court of enquiry; repatriation of German prisoners of war; hearing of problem of rioting in India. REEL 28 Continues: voyage from Iraq to Karachi, India. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Indian Army Service Corps in India, 1947: role administering system for giving free land to British Indian Army soldiers after discharge; posting to Lahore; opinion of barracks and officers' mess. Aspects of period as officer with Pakistan Army in Pakistan, 1947-1948: reaction to being appointed major in Pakistan Army; exchange with Bengali Muslim unit; story of relationship with Russian wife of British officer; description of Christmas in Rawalpindi, 25/12/1947; problem of intercommunal violence worsening prior to Partition; use of Prime Minister Mohammad Jinnah's bungalow in Lahore as officers' mess; description of events following partition of India, 15/8/1947; increase in attacks on military personnel and intercommunal violence; role in protecting trains from attack and organising convoys of lorries for military families; recurring problem with loss of balance; conditions at staging posts; story of finding mound of corpses at bridge and vultures flying away with body. REEL 29: Continues: story about three Muslim girls in car; organised bulldozing of bodies into pit; calling conference 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; story of organising care for mutilated women and girls; liaison role between Indian Army and Pakistan Army officers; story of refusing to collect armour for Pakistan Army; reason for shooting pet dog before going on leave. Recollections of period as civilian in Southern Rhodesia and South Africa, 1948: voyage aboard cargo ship from Pakistan to South Africa; problem of being taken ill during voyage and medical treatment. REEL 30 Continues: welcome on arrival in Salisbury, South Rhodesia; joined the 1820 Association; opinion of lifestyle in Southern Rhodesia; accommodation in bungalow and problem of high rent; moved into the Highlands Hotel, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia; move into bungalow; story of police offering to beat up black servants if went on strike; opinion of apartheid system operating in Southern Rhodesia; problem of deteriorating health and further medical examinations; medical operation to drain abscess in ear; story about white Afrikaans in hospital; problem of intertribal violence; further details of medical treatment; problem of curvature of spine and difficulty walking. REEL 31 Continues: visit by eminent surgeon; further comments on apartheid system and comparison to India; train journey from Salisbury to Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia; opinion of Durban, South Africa; passing South African driving test; accommodation in Durban, South Africa; story of job selling radios to Afrikaans; social life and personal relationships; reaction to Field Marshal Jan 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: Reflections on periods in GB and India: voyage from Durban to Southampton and return to home in Braintree, GB; story of homosexual activity at prep school in GB; attitude to homosexuality; story about homosexual commanding officer in India; question of homosexuality among British Indian Army troops. REEL 33 Continues: story about Sikh renouncing faith; memories of Gurkha driver; officers' issue of five morphia tablets; reason for keeping morphia tablet in lapel of jacket; issue of with salt and vitamin tablets; 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.