Interview with George Pratt

British signaller served with 212th Bty, 64th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery, London District, IV Corps and British Troops in Egypt in GB and Egypt, 3/1939-2/1941; served with 7th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery with I Anzac Corps in Greece and Creforce on Crete, 4/1941-5/1941; served with 211th Bty, 64th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery, Eighth Army in Middle East, Egypt and Sicily, Italy, 6/1941-10/1943; served with Royal Artillery attached to unit administering prisoner of war camps in Belgium, 9/1944-9/1945

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Muswell Hill, GB, 1918-1939: education at Highgate School, London; approach of war; employment as bank clerk. Recollections of enlistment and training with 212th Bty, 64th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery, London District and IV Corps in GB, 3/1939-11/1940: enlistment in Territorial Army; selection for training as specialist gunner and studying mathematics of gunnery; mobilisation, 1/9/1939; rations; role guarding railways; accommodation in Edgware; move to Berkhamsted; use of Ordnance BL 6 Inch Howitzer; firing camp at Redesdale; role as specialist assistant; false alarm of German invasion; preparations for overseas service. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Otranto from GB to Port Said, Egypt, 11/1940-1/1941: sailing in convoy; conditions on board; visit to Freetown, Sierra Leone and Durban, South Africa. Aspects of period as signaller with 212th Bty, 64th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery, British Troops in Egypt at Mena Camp, Egypt, 1/1941-2/1941: visits to Pyramids and Cairo; hospitalisation with elephantitis. Recollections of operations as signaller with 7th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery, I Anzac Corps in Greece, 4/1941: joining regiment in Egypt, 3/1941; opinion of regular Royal Artillery personnel; move to Greece, 4/1941; taking up positions near Mount Olympus; shortage of ammunition; German Air Force Junkers Ju Stuka 87 dive-bombing attacks; story of digging slit trenches for officers; withdrawal south; German Air Force attacks on convoy; losing touch with unit; period at Argos awaiting evaucation. REEL 2 Continues: evacuation by Greek fishing boat out to destroyer. Recollections of operations as signaller with 7th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery, Creforce on Crete, Greece, 4/1941-5/1941: voyage aboard destroyer to Suda Bay; move by destroyer to Heraklion; receiving ammunition unloaded from submarines; German reconnaissance of shore line; German Air Force attacks; rations; further German Air Forces attacks; firing small arms at German airborne troops dropping on Heraklion; strafing received from German Air Force aircraft; failure of German attack; evacuation by HMS Imperial; sinking of HMS Imperial after German Air Force attack; rescue by HMS Orion; firing Bren Gun during German Air Force attacks; bomb damage to HMS Orion; fatigue; reception on arrival at Alexandria, Egypt; refusal to act as officer's servant and question of being charged with disobeying order; hospitalisation with effects of insect bites; story of being asked to write report on conduct of operations in Greece and Crete and subsequent monetary payment to avoid repeating charges. Recollections of operations with 211th Bty, 64th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery in Middle East, 1941-1943: operations in French Syria, 1941; hospitalisation after injury on leave in Cairo, Egypt; convalescent leave in Valley of Kings; rejoining regiment; move to Iraq; move to Egypt/Libya border; role guarding ammunition dump; firing along coastal road; retreat to Mersa Matruh, Egypt, 6/1942; breakout and retreat through desert. REEL 3 Continues: success in reaching British lines; briefing from General Bernard Montgomery; gun programme for preliminary bombardment for Battle of El Alamein, Egypt, 10/1942; observation post duty; commencement of artillery barrage, 23/10/1942; hospitalisation with hepatitis in Cairo, 11/1942; period at Base Depot, Royal Artillery at Almaza, Egypt, 12/1942-7/1943. Recollections of operations as signaller with 211th Bty, 64th Medium Regt, Eighth Army in Sicily, Italy, 7/1943-10/1943: background to rejoining unit at Mount Etna; firing across Messina Straits; unopposed landing at Reggio di Calabria on mainland Italy, 9/1943; return to Mount Etna. Aspects of period as signaller with Royal Artillery in GB, 11/1943-9/1944: voyage from Italy via French Algeria to GB, 10/1943-11/1943; period in Felixstowe, 12/1943-9/1944 including leave, meeting future wife and marriage; medical downgrading. Aspects of period with Royal Artillery attached to unit administering prisoner of war camps in Belgium, 9/1944-9/1945: initial minimal duties; establishment of prisoner of war camp near Brussels; use of German prisoners of war as clerks recording details of prisoners of war held; treatment of German prisoners of war; question of escapes; VE Day, 8/5/1945; demobilisation, 9/1945. Post-war life and employment: return to work in bank; effects of war service; question of contacts with former comrades.