Potts, Gordon Lawrence (Oral history)

British NCO served with 1st Bn Devonshire Regt in Malaya, 1948-1950; officer served with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea and Hong Kong, 1951-1953; served with 1st Bn Inniskilling Fusiliers attached to Kenya Police and with 7th Bn King's Africa Rifles in Kenya, 1953-1955; served with 1st Bn Inniskilling Fusiliers in Germany, 1957-1959; served as Forward Air Controller with Headquarters, 3 Commando Bde in Malta, North Africa, Aden, Singapore and Australia, 1960-1962; served with 1st Bn Inniskilling Fusiliers in GB and Cyprus, 1963-1965; served on various instructing duties in GB, 1965-1975; served as Carrier-Bourne Liaison Officer aboard HMS Ark Royal, 1975-1977

REEL 1 Recollections of enlistment and training with 28th Training Bn, General Service Corps and OCTU in GB, 1946-1948: degree of family military service reasons for volunteering for army; OTC training at school; joining unit in Northern Ireland; officer training at OCTU after basic training; degree of tactical training at OCTU; attempt to join Gordon Highlanders; move to Wessex Bde Training Centre. Recollections of period as corporal with 1st Bn Devonshire Regt in Malaya, 1948-1950: drafting to unit in Singapore; initial duties with regimental police; dealing with Ceylonese Pioneer Corps personnel; relations with civilians; transfer to rifle company; size of battalion area around Kluang; opinion of equipment and rations; move from Singapore to Johore; opinion of platoon commander; duties escorting vehicles; terrain and distances covered on patrol. REEL 2 Continues: two month attachment to Ferret Force; disbandment of Ferret Force; return to unit at Labis; character of first contact including capture of female insurgent; reaction to platoon commander's proposal to ambush insurgent camp; character of insurgents and their activities; opinion of police; opinion of Sakai trackers; second contact with insurgent; method of patrolling; field modifications of equipment; weapons used; improvement in clothing; problems with leeches; movement in jungle; technique used to improve troop's alertness; need to acquire knowledge for jungle operations; question of using wrong methods during jungle operations; move to Pahang; selection of ambush sites; scale of ambushes. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of insurgents; operation to clear squatter area and discovery of insurgent camp; move to Pahang on armoured train; improvement in supply of intelligence; character of armoured train; accommodation at Temerloh; use of Char Wallah; duties escorting survey team; question of usefulness of information gained from Malays; move to Kuala Krow; attachment of armoured cars to unit; discovery of insurgent camp; character of briefings prior to operations; appearance of insurgent dead; search for missing wounded soldier; discovery of insurgent camp, it's character and contents; opinion of wireless sets. REEL 4 Continues: move to Karak; incident when escorted ration truck was abandoned; character of insurgent ambushes; insurgent attacks on police station; effectiveness of scheme to collect rice; move to Bentong; question of effectiveness of company patrols; return to Selarang Barracks, Singapore; conditions during eighteen month period on operations; guarding newly constructed camp; lessons learnt on operations in Malaya; re-equipping in Singapore; training cadres in jungle warfare; applying for short service commission. Period of training as officer cadet in GB, 1950: attending OCTU at Eaton Hall; attitude to training at Eaton Hall; preparations for platoon command; importance of leadership over command; choice of regiment. REEL 5 Continues: reaction to posting to 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles at Ballykinlar. Period as officer with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in Japan, 1951: memories of Corporal 'Red' Cushing; arrival in Kure; character of training; lack of information about Korea prior to posting; move to Korea. Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in Korea, 2/1951-10/1951: initial impressions of Korea; conditions at Suwon; reception on arrival at unit; allocation to 1 Platoon; character, composition and strength of 1 Platoon; relations with platoon sergeant; digging defensive positions whilst in reserve; terrain in first positions. REEL 6 Continues: layout of defensive positions; use of slit trenches; supply of alcohol; character of advance towards River Imjin; incident of shooting of British officer by US troops; move to new positions on high ground near River Imjin; crossing River Imjin; wounding of soldier by sniper; night attack by D Coy; attempt to obtain POW; opinion of Belgian Battalion; encounter with Belgian medical officer Pat O'Leary; re-supplied by carriers across Ulster Crossing; attitude of troops to US compo rations; supply of water and sanitiary arrangements; Greek troops ablutionary habits; mobile bath units; alcohol rations; start of Chinese attack on River Imjin; ambush of battle platoon in carriers at Ulster Crossing; redeployment in stopping position; move up road and orders to occupy Point 398; conditions during digging in on Point 398; burial of dead Chinese on Point 398. REEL 7 Continues: problems with maps and map reading; lack of sightings of Communist armour; use of Korean porters; use of barbed wire; clearance of scrub in front of slit trenches; use of grenades; deployment of unit at River Imjin; question of number of picks and shovels available; communications; booby trapping gullies; dealing with Chinese attacks on positions; reaction of troops under fire; behaviour of two reservists during action and retreat; character of Chinese attack; method of withdrawing from positions; order of withdrawal; advise from NCO to avoid tanks; behaviour of commanding officer of C Coy; decision to push on through C Coy; NCO's clearing of house; disorganisation of withdrawal; fate of troops and porters during withdrawal. REEL 8 Continues: character of withdrawal; move through Belgian Battalion positions onto Main Supply Route; arrival at rear echelon; unit losses; taking over command of his company; taking up positions to block Chinese advance; move by to Yong Dong Po; move into defensive positions south of River Han; unit losses during year tour of operations; opinion of role of 8th Hussars; effect of combat stress on one soldier; length of time to recover unit readiness; training with US Amtracs; effects of physical exhaustion on morale during action; opinion of quality of positions held by 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt and Greek troops; improving positions; patrolling across River Imjin. REEL 9 Continues: lack of engineering support for defences positions; purpose of patrols on River Imjin; character of listening patrols; incident of losing patrol member; discovery of Chinese propaganda leaflets; equipment taken on patrols; incident of patrol caught out over River Imjin; lack of Chinese patrol activity; rest and recreation in Japan; posting to B Coy; memories of various unit officers; time taken to get to know new platoon; deployment of unit in advance of River Imjin; opinion of Belgian and Australian troops; character of positions near Samichon River; formation of Commonwealth Division; incident of self inflicted wound; patrol towards Point 179; discovery of Chinese slit trenches on Point 179 after brief action; discovery of minor wound; terrain around Point 179. REEL 10 Continues: opening fire on Chinese party from Point 179; sight of 1st Bn King's Own Scottish Borderers battle patrol attacking Chinese positions; return to own lines; advance to adjust front-line; move into reserve at Uijongbu; move to Pusan and leaving Korea; support for advance to contact; deployment of platoon for advance to contact; character of 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt on arrival; attitude to serving in Korea; lessons learnt during service in Korea; importance of knowing personal circumstances of troops. Period as Assistant Adjutant with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in Hong Kong, 1951- 1953: role as Assistant Adjutant including attending court martial; high rate of traffic accidents and VD; reasons for mass brawl between unit and 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; aftermath of brawl; applying for regular commission; attending courses at Far Eastern Training Centre in Johore in Malaya; background to obtaining regular commission into 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in GB. REEL 11 Continues: Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Kenya, 1953-1954: briefing for move with advance party to Kenya; duties on arrival in Kenya; setting up of camp at Hell's Gate; character of patrol in bush; move to Nairobi; situation in Nairobi; patrols with Kenya Police; dealing with suspected Mau Mau supporters; character of vehicle check points; guard duties and house searches; return to Nawasha; attachment to Kenya Police at Gil Gil; character of Kenya Police Reservists; duties training recruits; tribal composition of police units. REEL 12 Continues: training of policemen; relations between Asians and Africans; problems with obtaining Asian recruits; character of six month training programme; character of emergency; relations with police officers; contrast between police officers who had served in Malaya and Palestine; degree of intelligence; character of Mau Mau oathing ceremonies; memories of Dr L.S.B. Leakey and his information on Mau Mau. Recollections of operations as officer with 7th Bn King's Africa Rifles in Kenya, 1954-1955: posting to unit at Nanyuke; promotion to captain; effects of negotiations with General China on operations; character of 'sweep' operation; killing and capture of Mau Mau; decision to sweep swamp area; platoon operation to clear caves; move to Square's Farm; operations from Square's Farm. REEL 13 Continues: Mau Mau cattle rustling; use of anti-aircraft guns for harassing fire; security duties; relations with European farmers; memories of ex-British general; setting up platoon post in abandoned house; investigation into loss cattle from boma; wildlife encountered; accidental ambush on Royal Engineers party and subsequent investigation; successful of bodies; subsequent investigation by Special Branch; treatment of ambush on Mau Mau group and disposal POWs by Mau Mau; incident when North American Havards crashed during air strikes; opinion of use of air photographs; character of maps; qualifying as tracker. REEL 14 Continues: skills obtained on tracker course; methods employed to avoid detection when tracking; patrolling including follow up patrols; question of quality of intelligence; askaris attitude towards Mau Mau; reasons for not using vehicle patrols; relations with police force; opinion of Special Branch; protective measures taken by farmers; question of Mau Mau's aggressive spirit; camp's defenses; story of his court martial for hitting policeman at Outspan Hotel; outcome of his court martial; character of military service in with unit in Kenya; move to Murega; opinion of Kenya Police Reserve Air Force; Mau Mau activity in coffee plantations; move of British battalions to Nairobi for Operation Anvil; ten day forest sweep. REEL 15 Continues: winding down of emergency; guarding airfield at Murega and providing security for Europeans; lessons learnt from service in Kenya; story of Mau Mau encounter in camp. Period as officer with 1st Bn Inniskilling Fusiliers in GB, 1955-1957: attending anti-tank course at Netheravon; role as tracking instructor with Air Portable Bde at Barnard Castle; problems of discipline in unit; effects of army reductions. Recollections of period as officer with 1st Bn Inniskilling Fusiliers in Berlin and Germany, 1957-1959: role in moving families to Berlin; guard duties in Berlin; visits to Russian Zone; impressions of Russians, Americans, French and Germans; unit defence plan for Berlin; posting to Wuppertal; character of exercises; degree of contact with German civilians; question of quality of radio sets; opinion of army boots; reasons for volunteering as Air Ground Liaison Officer. REEL 16 Continues: Recollections of period as Forward Air Controller with Headquarters, 3 Commando Bde in Malta, North Africa, Aden, Singapore and Australia, 1960-1962: attending Air Support Course at Joint Warfare Establishment at Old Sarum; battle test with 3 Commando Bde in Malta; practise exercises; flights in aircraft; method of indicating targets; safety margins; perambulations of various aircraft types and minimum altitude necessary to arm bombs on descent; patrolling exercise in North Africa; secret preparations to go to Rhodesia; conditions in camp in Aden; return to Malta; forward air controller work in Aden; relations with RAF; live firing exercises in Singapore; opinion of Australian Special Air Service during exercises in Australia; organisation of Royal Marine troops. REEL 17 Continues: reasons for declining transfer to Royal Marines. Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Bn Inniskilling Fusiliers in Cyprus, c1963: return to unit in GB; commanding company in north Larnaca area; dealing with Greek Cypriot clergy; dealing with Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Eiyos Theodoris; opinion of United Nations' Swedish Police; dealing with Greek policeman; shooting incidents Larnaca and Eiyos Theodoris; dealing with threat to mail run to Dekhelia; patrols in Larnaca; transformation into Untied Nations troops; move to Limassol area; relations with civilians near Limassol; character of Greek Police; reaction of troops to being part of United Nations; stories illustrating relations with Turkish civilians; reasons why quota system did not work; relations with Irish United Nations; battalion; return to GB; opinion of General Michael Carver. Aspects of period as instructor with Royal Marine Officers School, with Junior Leaders Regt and Joint Warfare Establishment in GB, 1965-1973: counter insurgency training instruction; character of training exercises. REEL 18 Continues: content of counter insurgency course; role with Junior Leaders Regt; opinion of calibre of junior leaders; causes of failure with Junior Leaders Regt; posting as Forward Air Controller instructor with Joint Warfare Establishment; changes in Forward Air Controller techniques and technology; methods of marking targets; use of smoke and lasers; selection of targets by helicopter pilots; use of smoke parties; need to practise in inhabited landscape; demonstration on Salisbury Plain; brief posting to Oman and flying operational flights. Recollections of period as Carrier Bourne Liaison Officer aboard HMS Ark Royal from 1975-1977: background to posting; size of map store. REEL 19 Continues: amusing story of finding 1879 map of Denmark; composition of his unit on board; sighting of Russian submarine; production of ship's newspaper; exercises on range near Puerto Rico; shooting down of US seaplane; story of effects of accidental bombing of Aga Khan's beach at Spartivento; record as Forward Air Controller; opinion of US personnel; basic Forward Air Controller procedure same throughout NATO; character of HMS Ark Royal. Story of accidentally opening fire on patrol of 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 1951. Adjusting to civilian life and advantages of military career.