Seyburn, Ralph Burnett "Bernard (Oral history)

British private trained with General Service Corps in Northern Ireland, 1944; NCO served with Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1944-1945; NCO served with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, Singapore, Malaya and Sumatra, 1945-1947

REEL 1 Background in Fence Houses and Billingham, GB, 1926-1944: family; service of father in First World War; family home and memories of childhood; service of his uncles during First World War; community; attendance at church; leisure activities; discipline; education; opinion of education; work as apprentice motor mechanic; working week and details of pay; move to Billingham; holidays as child; leisure activities as teenager; more on holidays; outbreak of war including reactions of parents; signs of approaching war; return of local man from Dunkirk; rationing; attendance of night school; reactions to Dunkirk; rifle and rank issued to father by Home Guard; keenness to be involved in war effort; contact with troops in area; interest in artillery; air activity; blackout; effects of rationing; respect for police; fire watch at work; air raid shelter and air raids over Teeside; smoke machines in Billingham; description of Anderson shelters. REEL 2 Continues: nearest bombs fell to him; rumours about ICI; bombed area in Stockton; men leaving Billingham for forces; mother's concern for him being called up and to his volunteering; father's map following war; celebrations for victories; civilian fear of invasion; listening to Churchill's speeches; process of joining army at Middlesbrough; reasons for joining army; medical; request to join artillery; commitment made to army; disappointment in posting with infantry; posted with General Service Corps in Northern Ireland; aim of training centre to produce officers and NCOs; date joined army; goodbye talk from father; details of journey to Bangor including night in Stranraer. Aspects of period as private with General Service Corps in Northern Ireland, 4/1944-11/1944: filling of paliasse; uniform and equipment issued; issue of uniform and adjustment of uniform; home sickness during first night in army; start of discipline and introduction to army language; accommodation; washing facilities; cleaning of barrack room; making of bed and laying out of equipment for kit inspections; problem with mess tin polish; footwear issued; frequency of inspections; memories of Corporal McClean and corporals in barrack room; squad sergeant; attitude of NCOs; loss of equipment; details of pay; items bought from pay; posting in A Platoon; platoon rivalry; washing facilities; cleaning of barrack room and ablutions; bullying including of Private White. REEL 3 Continues: training ahead of recruits; morning procedures; breakfast; tidying of room; morning activities; bayonet training; memories of Sergeant Urquhart; gas precaution training; weapons trained with; grenade training; details of PIAT and 2" mortar; problems with sten gun; opinion of bren gun; availability of 3" mortar; firing on ranges at Grey Abbey; digging of trenches; description of bivouacs used on exercises; description of the assault course; demanding nature of training; opinion of NCOs; memories of Sergeant Downer; background of troops; training with live ammunition; leave after three months; route marches including camaraderie and singing; dealing with stragglers on a route march; foot inspections; medical inspections; hygiene; lunch and tea including end of working day; evening visits to NAAFI; afternoon activities; physical training and sports; Saturdays; church parades; relationship with civilians. REEL 4 Continues: punishments; story of Irish troops deserting; permanent staff at Hollywood Barracks; comradeship among recruits; memories of Corporal McClean; NCOs in platoon; opinion of training and first promotion; lectures and films including about VD; placement in Durham Light Infantry; passing out parade; opinion of training; training in leadership and tactics; journey to Felton. Aspects of period as NCO with Durham Light Infantry in GB, 11/1944-4/1945: role of Felton Hall as battle school; description of area; arrival at barracks; accommodation; discipline; morning procedures; live ammunition training including artillery support; casualties; official and unofficial weekend leave; tactical training at Alnmouth; use of PIAT in training; night defence training; length of exercises; survival training; wet and cold conditions; promotion to Lance Corporal and duties; guard duties including standard of turnout; problems with guard being opposite cemetery; piquet duties; rats in accommodation; method of waking troops; bugle calls; fitness after training; relationship with civilians; later visits to Felton; death of troops while crossing river; silencing and splitting up of survivors; effect on community of accident; route marches; summary of training. REEL 5 Continues: pace in training; duties training new intakes; officers and NCOs; officer's billets; mail and parcels from home; censorship of mail; jungle training course at Newcastleton; news of posting and embarkation leave; journey through Darlington; concern of parents and knowledge of destination; arrival in Liverpool. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Bombay, India, aboard the MTS Britannic, 4/1945: description of ship; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; storage of hammocks during day; conditions on ship; sleeping on deck; supply of meals; rations; canteen; entertainments; route taken; stops at Port Said and Aden; visits to deck; discipline; boat drill; news of voyage; enjoyment of voyage; conditions below deck; knowledge of destination. Aspects of period as NCO in India, 4/1945-5/1945: arrival in Bombay and journey to Kalyan; first impressions of Bombay; camp at Kalyan; rations; canteen and shite hawks; trick played on shite hawks; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; civilian workers in camp; joining with 2nd Battalion in Poona; climate; tablets taken each morning; inoculations; activities in transit camp and discipline; joining of 2nd Battalion. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in India, 1945: condition of troops; accommodation; egg sandwiches in canteen; civilian workers in camp. REEL 6 Continues: reception from battalion; accommodation; climate; troops returning home; discipline; officers in battalion; complement of battalion; posting in D Company; NCOs in company; make-up of platoon; relationship with civilians; preparations for posting in Malaya; absence of regimentation; reason for not visiting Poona; local food enjoyed; contact with Indian troops; mail; rations; washing facilities and latrines; promotion on arrival in Singapore; length of time in Poona; voyage from Bombay to Singapore including conditions on ship. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry in Singapore and Malaya, 1945-1947: arrival and march to barracks in Malaya; state of city; arrival in barracks; digging of latrines; Japanese POWs in camp; cleaning up of camp; sleeping arrangements; rations; health of battalion; rations; duties guarding nurses quarters; unrest among civilians; move to Chinese High School; baths. REEL 7 Continues: situation and duties at Changi Jail; escort of prisoners to court for war crimes trials and description of trials; opinion of Japanese; involvement of Australian staff; description of Changi Jail; details of guard duties; attitude of Japanese prisoners; Australian attitude to Japanese prisoners; rations for prisoners; washing facilities; contact with prisoners; details of executions including duties removing bodies; attitude towards Japanese; actions of prisoners on final night; length of executions; ranks of prisoners; Japanese opinion of hanging; attitude of non-British staff to duties; food and discipline in Sergeants Mess; treatment in hospital for skin complaint; discipline in hospital; leisure activities in hospital; problem with other patients; doctor; convalescence in highlands; continuing problems with skin problems; length of time at Changi Jail; return to Chinese High School; leisure activities in Singapore; treatment of VD; army attitude to VD. REEL 8 Continues: journey to Sumatra to retrieve Japanese troops; taking of surrender; boarding of Japanese onto boat and disposal of arms; return to Singapore; conditions and rations on return journey; accommodation in Singapore; secondment to Royal Army Service Corps; duties with Major Malcolm; duties as instructor with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; wait for demobilisation and time in transit camp; start of troubles in Malaya and duties at demonstrations; duties at Seremban; accommodation; strength of battalion and arrival of National Servicemen. Aspects of journey from Singapore to Liverpool, GB, 11/1947: canteen; entertainment; accommodation; stop in Aden; change in climate at Gibraltar; scenes on arrival in Liverpool; process of demobilisation in York. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1947: return to civilian work at ICI; opinion of help gained from army; service with Territorial Army; reasons for short Territorial service; membership of Old Comrades Association; best and worst aspects of army.