Interview with Leslie Scott Hatt

British officer served with 6th Bn Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Infantry Bde, 1st Infantry Div in GB, North Africa, Italy and Palestine, 1940-1946

REEL 1 Background in Aberdeen, GB, 1914-1938: family; education; membership of Territorial Army from 1930; lack of anticipation of coming war; employment. Aspects of period as officer 4th Bn Gordon Highlanders in GB, 1938-1940: commissioning, 1938; weapons training; commanding detachment sent to Orkney Islands, 1939; deployment of sections; difficulties of travel; role as Senior Officer of Orkney Islands; role of detachment; duties for troops; failure of weapons training course; return to Aberdeen. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Infantry Bde, 1st Infantry Div in GB, 1940-1942: restoration of commission; anti-invasion exercise; joining battalion after battle course; role as messing officer. Recollections of operations as officer with 6th Bn Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Infantry Bde, 1st Infantry Div in North Africa, 11/1942-5/1943: voyage from GB to Algeria, French Algeria, 11/1942; reaction to overseas posting. REEL 2 Continues: arrival in Algiers, French Algeria; billeting in distillery; move by train to Goubellat Plain, Tunisia; impressions of Algeria; relieving 1st Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt in front line; character of platoon fighting patrol; view forward from positions; character of positions; reasons for pipers being withdrawn from front line; logistical support; evacuation of casualties; attack on German positions; lack of water; casualties from mines; period in reserve guarding prisoners of war; impression of German prisoners of war. Recollections of operations as officer with 6th Bn Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Infantry Bde, 1st Infantry Div in Italy, 1943-1945: move to Pantelleria Island, then mainland Italy. REEL 3 Continues: reduction of battalion strength at Anzio; source of reinforcements; leading fighting patrols; leave in Rome; meeting with Field Marshal Jan Smuts; use of South African officers; reconnaissance patrols. Aspects of period as officer with 6th Bn Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Infantry Bde, 1st Infantry Div in Palestine, 1945-1946: situation in Palestine; degree of danger in Palestine; acting as commanding officer in French Syria; dealing with Arabs who had killed their officers; demobilisation, 1946 and resuming civil career; benefits of military experience.