Description
Object description
British wireless operator served with 112th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, North West Europe, Egypt and Palestine, 1943-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Bristol, 1924-1942: father's military career; review of family history; social circumstances; education; PT activities as youth club; work as clerk and labourer at cardboard mill, 1938-1940; father's call up as territorial, 1938 and 1939; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; shift work as machine operator at cardboard mill, 1940-1942; following progress of war; question of effects of war; father's demobilisation, 1940; Anders shelter; air raid shelter provision at cardboard mill.
REEL 2 Continues: stories illustrating effect of German air raids; recruitment, training and service with Bishopworth Home Guard, 10/1940-10/1942; rationing; call up procedure, 10/1942. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during period at at Primary Training Centre, Warley Barracks, Brentwood, 10/1942-11/1942: reception; hut accommodation; kitting out; food rations; pay; PT; drill; weapons training including hand grenades, rifle, bayonet and Bren gun; proficiency tests; assault course.
REEL 3 Continues: fieldcraft; slit trenches; relationship with recruits, instructors and officers; VD warnings; vaccinations; recreations. Recollections of training as driver/wireless operator with 52nd Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery at Whitby, 11/1942-2/1943: story of train journey via London from Brentwood; billets; story of stealing coal; signal training in Morse code, 19 wireless set and wireless procedure; driving training on 15 cwt lorry; PT and boxing; lorry maintenance; passing test; gas training; guard duties; relationship with civilians. Recollections of period as wireless operator with Regimental Headquarters, 112 Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 2/1943-6/1944: joining unit at Battle School at Featherstone Camp, Haltwhistle, 2/1943-3/1943; hut accommodation; story of soldier singing; latrines; battle training under Regimental Sergeant Major Coward.
REEL 4 Continues: battle training under RSM; move to Hove, 3/1943; billets; lack of wireless equipment; parades and inspections; story of soldier complaining to orderly officer over quality of food; German air raid; story of being disciplined by RSM Coward; switchboard duties; story of fire piquet duty; move to Rustington area, 4/1943; signal course; superior conditions of service of RAF; move to Southend on Sea, 5/1943; move to RAF Wakes Colne, 6/1943; wireless trucks; attachment of unit to XII Corps; embarkation exercise; move to Great Bounds Camp, Southborough, 8/1943; posting as colonel's wireless operator and role running wireless control station; status on promotion to lance bombardier; 22 wireless set; exercises and role as Bren gunner in RHQ defence squad; firing camp at Clacton on Sea; hospitalisation and medical treatment for 'barber's rash'; lectures on wireless to gunners.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of Colonels Iliff and Faithful; convoy driving and night exercises; wireless course; laying telephone lines; leave; firing camp in Cumbria; laying lines; story of meeting future wife; move to Northbourne, 3/1944-4/1944; map reading exercise; failed application to join airborne services; return to Great Bounds Camp, 4/1944; opinion of Colonel Robin Eden; fitness tests; regimental sports day; commando style exercise; courses in driving half-tracks and mine clearance;. Recollections of assignment to special duties squad to establish concentration camp in Croelle sector, Normandy, France, 6/1944-7/1944: move to West Ham Football Club ground, London, 6/1944; conditions during crossing of English Channel in US LST, 11/6/1944-12/6/1944.
REEL 6 Continues: conditions during crossing of English Channel in US LST, 11/6/1944-12/6/1944; manning Bofors gun; running aground on Goodwin Sands; German shellfire from Le Havre; corpses in sea; disembarkation in Courcelles sector; move inland; role of concentration area; German air attack; fatigue; return to rejoin unit in GB. Recollections of operations in France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, 7/1944-6/1945: lack of contact with French civilians; temporary role as reserve infantry; dental treatment; attending George Formby concert; role as reserve infantry; casualties; food rations; situation briefings; return to AA role; story of checking for mines while laying lines; story of German corpse in mined building; partial equipment of unit with self-propelled Bofors guns; opinion of jeeps; story of accompanying Colonel Robin Eden on reconnaissance and reception from French civilians.
REEL 7 Continues: story of accompanying Colonel Robin Eden on reconnaissance, reception from French civilians and carrying wounded children back for medical treatment; laying lines across roads; story of reconnaissance in Thierry Harcourt sector; movements; collection of unit mail; battlefield scene in Falaise sector, 8/1944; unit role during advance into Belgium, 9/1944; compo food rations; reception form French civilians; septic hand; reception form Belgian civilians; movements and role providing AA protection for bridges in Eindhoven, Grave and Nijmegen sectors, ca 10/1944-12/1944; duties manning signals command post near Nijmegen bridge; problems with wireless reception and dispute with officer; German shell fire and jet aircraft; case of shell shock; move to Roermont and Venlo sector, 12/1944; cold conditions; billets; German jet aircraft bombing attack on RHQ.
REEL 8 Continues: German jet aircraft bombing attack on RHQ; move to Sittard; story of tuning in to US wireless; use of Bofors SP guns against German mortar positions; prior reduction in strength of unit; use of Auster air observation aircraft; air superiority; question of leaving unit with Colonel Robin Eden on arrival of Colonel Teacher, 1/1945; refusal of promotion; rest period in Belgium, 2/1945; GB leave, 2/1945; move into Xanten sector, 3/1945; bronchitis attack; firing rocket barrage; view of Dakota crash landing carrying paratroopers; story of being photographed whilst crossing Rhine, 3/1945; story of laying line across Rhine bailey bridge; stories of advance into Germany; discovery of mass grave; VE Day in Hamburg area, 8/5/1945; lack of recreational facilities and conditions of service; role collecting Russian POWs and displaced persons for return to Soviet Union, 6/1945; effects of demobilisation; transfer of unit to 3rd Div in Padderborn area. Period administering German POW camp in Sennelager sector, 7/1945-8/1945: question of US guards prior treatment of German POWs.
REEL 9 Continues: question of US guards prior treatment of German POWs; condemned cell; story illustrating hunger of German POWs; story of accepting food bribes to smuggle extra food to German POW; sick parades. Period in Belgium, 8/1945-10/1945: question of Far East posting; billets; opinion of Colonel Edmedes. Recollections of period in Egypt, 10/1945-12/1945: flight with advance party via Tripoli to Cairo; period at El Quassasim Camp; German working party; arrival of main body of unit; role driving Colonel Edmeades; acclimatisation; move to EL Ballah, ca 11/1945; story of swimming in Suez Canal; anti-riot course; visit to Port Said. Recollections of period at Camp 71, Hadera, Palestine, 12/1945-4/1946: nature of camp; internal security role including guard duties, road patrols and roadblocks; Jewish insurgent activities; including train robbery and bomb detonated at coastguard station; routine duties.
REEL 10 Continues: latrines; local orange grove; guard duties as coastguard station; visits to Hadera; relationship with Jewish and Arab civilians; visits to Palestine Police station; conditions of service and recreations; early demobilisation. Review of journey back to GB, 4/1946. Demobilisation, 4/1946. Post-war career: return to work at cardboard mill; difficulties acclimatising to civilian lifestyle; call up as Z Reserve with 365 Anti-Aircraft Regt, RA at Bude, 1952; contacts with old comrades; effects of war service.
