Interview with Harry Minards

British private served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in Free Territory of Trieste, 12/1950-6/1951; NCO with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 10/1951-9/1952

REEL 1 Background in Cranfield, GB, 1932-1950: family; social circumstances; education; German Air Force raids and use of air raid shelter; contacts with United States Army Air Force personnel; VE and VJ Day celebrations, 1945; training as welder, 1947-1950. Recollections of training as private with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment at East Anglian Bde, Meeanee Barracks, Colchester Garrison, 9/1950-11/1950: call-up for National Service, 9/1950; reception and kitting out; barrack room; food rations; drill; physical training; weapons training including rifle, Bren Gun, bayonet and hand grenades; relations with fellow recruits and instructors; preparation for kit inspections; passing out parade. Recollections of period as private with A Coy, 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in Free Territory of Trieste, 12/1950-6/1951: journey out with draft; living conditions; exercises in hills; cross-country runs. REEL 2 Continues: Sten Gun training; route marches; relations with NCOs and officers; recreational visits to Free Territory of Trieste; training in Austria. Aspects of period as NCO with C Coy, 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt at Crowborough Camp, GB, 7/1951-8/1951: reaction to posting to South Korea; posting to 9 Platoon; training including camouflage and field craft; vaccinations; embarkation leave. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Orwell from GB to Pusan, South Korea, 8/1952-9/1952: concert party activities and hypnotist act of Private David Jobb; promotion to corporal; training; visits ashore; opinion of Privates Peter Bartram and Keith Nutter; arrival at Pusan, South Korea. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 10/1951-9/1952: slit trenches and barbed wire; nature of Chinese People's Volunteer artillery fire on Hill 355; personal morale under artillery fire, 4/11/1951-5/11/1951; participation in patrol looking for wounded, 5/11/1951; situation on move to Samichon Valley, 11/1951; posting to 8 Platoon; relations with Lieutenant Anthony Towell; opinion of Company Sergeant-Major H Bell and Major Hubert Holden; defensive positions; dugouts; cold conditions; listening patrols in snow; stand to; cleaning weapons; relevance of training; use of American rations; burial service; letter contact with GB; relations with Other Ranks; latrines; washing and shaving; foot inspections; patrol with Corporal Stollery through Korean village; attending course on patrolling in Japan, 3/1952; rest periods in reserve, 3/1952-4/1952; football competition; leave in Tokyo, Japan; rejoining battalion at Hill 355 and reaction to leaving battalion. REEL 4 Continues: voyage aboard HMT Empire Pride from South Korea to GB, 9/1952. Aspects of period as private at Britannia Barracks, Norwich, GB, 9/1952: fight with American military personnel; demobilisation. Post-service life and employment: employment as welder; effects of military service; membership of British Korean War Veterans Association and role in organising reunions.