Minards, Harry (Oral history)

British private served with 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt in Italy, 1951; served as NCO with 1st Bn, Royal Norfolk Regt in GB and Korea, 1951-1952

REEL 1 Background in Cranfield, 1932-1950: social circumstances; education; German air raids and air raid shelter; contacts with US Air Force personnel; VE and VJ Day celebrations, 1945; training as welder, 1947-1950; call up, 9/1950. Recollections of basic training with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt at East Anglian Bde, Primary Training Centre, Meanee Barracks, Colchester, 9/1950-11/1950: reception and kitting out; barrack room; food rations; drill; PT; weapons training including rifle, Bren gun, bayonet and hand grenades; relationship with ORs and instructors; preparing for kit inspections; passing out parade. Recollections of period with A Coy, 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt at Trieste, Italy, 12/1950-6/1951: journey out with draft; conditions of service; exercises in hills; cross country runs. REEL 2 Continues: Sten gun training; route marches; relationship with NCOs and officers; recreational visits to Trieste; training in Austria. Period with C Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Norfolk Regt at Crowborough Camp, 7/1951-8/1951: reactions to posting to Korea; posting to 9 Platoon; training including camouflage and field craft; vaccinations; embarkation leave. Voyage aboard Empire Orwell to Pusan, 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. Recollections of periods in Kowang San and Sami Chon Valley sectors, 10/1951-11/1951: slit trenches and barbed wire; Chinese shell fire on Hill 355. Chinese shell fire and personal morale, 4/11/1951-5/11/1951; patrol looking for wounded, ca 5/11/1951; situation on move to Sami Chon valley, 11/1951; posting to 8 Platoon; relationship with Lieutenant Tony Towell; opinion of Company Sergeant Major H Bell and Major H Holden; defensive positions; dugouts; cold conditions; listening patrols in snow; stand to; cleaning weapons; relevance of training; US food rations; burial service; letter contact with GB; relationship with ORs; latrines; washing and shaving; foot inspections; patrol with Corporal Stollery through Korean village; patrol course in Japan, ca 3/1952; rest periods in Paekhok Hills, ca 3/1952-4/1952; football competition; leave in Tokyo, Japan; rejoining unit in Hill 355 sector and reaction to leaving unit. REEL 4 Voyage back aboard Empire Pride to GB, 9/1952. Period at Britannia Barracks, Norwich, 9/1951: fight with US soldiers; demobilisation. Post-service career: work as welder; effects of service; membership of Korean Veterans Assoc and role in organising reunions.