Description
Object description
British officer served with 6th Bn Green Howards in GB and North Africa, 1940-1942; served as staff officer with 69 Bde, 50th Div in North Africa and Sicily, 1942-1943; student at Staff College, Haifa, Palestine, 1943-1944; served as staff officer with British Increment, US 5th Army and Rome Allied Area Command in Italy, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Leeds, GB, 1918-1939: family; education; pacifist and active Communist activity; anticipation of war; effect of outbreak of war on engagement; employment in family clothing firm. Aspects of enlistment and training with Green Howards in GB, 1939-1940: call up to depot at Richmond; adjusting to army life; nature of depot; physical fitness and discipline; character of signals training at Ask Hall; field telephone system; attending OCTU at Dunbar. Recollections of period as signals officer with 6th Bn Green Howards, 69 Bde in GB, 1940-1941: joining unit at Blanford; opinion of commanding officer Ted Cooke-Collis; opinion of NCOs; battalion transport; attending signals officers' course at Catterick; role commanding signals platoon.
REEL 2 Continues: preference for field telephones and problems with wireless; use of despatch riders; embarkation for Middle East. Recollections of period as signals officer with 6th Bn Green Howards, 69 Bde in Cyprus and Middle East, 1941-1942: voyage from GB to Egypt via South Africa; importance of keeping troops physically fit and entertained; rapid move to Cyprus; effects of Keho alcoholic beverages; lack of contact with civilians; move to Iraq, 11/1941; convoy to Kirkuk when motorcycle broke down; measures to collect convoy stragglers; opinion of service in Kirkuk; reasons for being sacked from job as signals officer; problems with wireless sets; terrain around Kirkuk; taking over command of rifle platoon; move to Syria. Recollections of operations as officer with 6th Bn Green Howards in North Africa, 1942-1943: move to Western Desert into Knightsbridge Box at Gazala; patrolling and navigating in desert; drills for rapid deployment from vehicles; depth of trenches.
REEL 3 Continues: defensive wire and minefields; occasion when attacked by RAF aircraft; attitude to serving in desert; rationing of water; development of Axis attack on Gazala Line; confused fighting around Knightsbridge Box on Gazala Line; background to becoming unit adjutant; duties as adjutant; character of headquarters company; role of commanding officer; equipment of battalion command post; opinion of maps; breakout from box; leading column out of box in Bren Gun carrier; character of breakout and reforming; outflanking and falling back on Mersa Matruh; RAF attacks on retreat to Mersa Matruh; dive bombing by German Junkers Ju 87 Stukas; method of taking cover during air attacks; move to El Alamein defensive Line.
REEL 4 Continues: character of retreat to Mersa Matruh; opinion of the El Alamein defensive line; loss of equipment during retreat. Recollections of period as staff officer with 69 Bde, 50th Div in North Africa, 1942-1943: background to becoming staff officer at brigade headquarters; duties as staff officer; communications with divisional headquarters and forward headquarters; reaction to removal to rear headquarters; impact of arrival of Montgomery; attitude of 50th Division to role given to 51st Highland Division; rapid advance during pursuit of Axis forces after El Alamein; obtaining souvenir weapon from Italian POW; physical condition and attitude of Italian POWs; quality of rations and cook at brigade headquarters; rate of advance; evacuation to Palestine with jaundice; alcohol supplies.
REEL 5 Continues: rejoining unit at Benghazi after treatment for jaundice; condition of brigade; functioning of 'old boy network' in staff work; role of division during Battle of Mareth; use of Benzedrine; clothing worn and use of helmets; deliveries of mail in field; terrain in Tunisia; return to Egypt; attitude to having never visited the pyramids; preparations for invasion of Sicily; degree of knowledge as staff officer about operational plans. Recollections of operations as staff officer with 69 Bde, 50th Div in Sicily, 7/1943: limited transport for first wave of landings; rations which troops landed with; character of landings; role of officer's batman; organisation after initial landings; terrain.
REEL 6 Continues: reaction of Sicilian farmer to requisitioning of his car; nature of fighting in Sicily; ration supply; lack of contact with civilians; encounter with Montgomery on beach at Taormina; role organising delivery of supplies. Aspects of period as student at Staff College, Haifa, 9/1943- 1/1944: character of students; sand table exercises; level of tactics simulated; character of instructors; importance of written work especially clarity of orders; value of training; initial posting to Cairo. Recollections of period as staff officer with British Increment 5th US Army in Italy, 1/1944- 8/1944: appointment as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General to headquarters at Caserta; living conditions; relations with US personnel; duties; role of female clerical staff; recreational activities; effect of eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
REEL 7 Continues: visit to nephew serving with US medical unit; visits to Anzio beachhead; conditions in Anzio beachhead; arrival in Rome. Aspects of period as staff officer as Rome Allied Area Command, 6/1944-8/1944: organising food supplies; character of command; offices in Excelsior Hotel; organisation of transit of British troops; attending private audience with Pope in Sistine Chapel; degree to which command functioned. Aspects of period as staff officer with British Increment 5th US Army in Italy, 9/1944-5/1945: return to unit; conditions in Florence; memories of Elwyn Jones and Alan Dortrey; organisation of firing squad; leave in GB, 5/1945; final return journey to GB aboard prison train, 1946; impact of death of President Roosevelt; duties in GB prior to demobilisation including dealing with security papers relating to Communists in British Army.
REEL 8 Continues: Demobilisation, 1946. Attitude to having served in British Army during Second World War. Story of writing his own citation for MBE on instructions from his Brigadier.