Interview with James Tanner

British private served with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 169th (London) Infantry Bde, 56th (London) Infantry Div in Italy, 1944; served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Italy and GB, 1944-1946

REEL 1 Background in Littlemore, GB, 1922-1943: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Colchester Garrison, GB, 4/1943-11/1943: enlistment; reaction to posting to light infantry; reception on arrival at Colchester; German Air Force raid during first night; memories of NCOs; drill; fitness training; inoculations; rations; weapons training; comradeship; changes during basic training; kit inspections; discipline and punishments; memories of officers; passing out parade; leave; posting to 4th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Woodhall Spa; description of exercises involved in; shooting competition; memories of NCOs. Aspects of voyage from Liverpool, GB, to Italy via North Africa, 1943-1944: journey to Liverpool and embarkation aboard ship; reactions to posting overseas; joining convoy; embarkation; seasickness; voyage through Mediterranean including air raid; arrival in Oran, French Algeria, 25/12/1943; accommodation; situation in North Africa; care taken of rifles; journey to Bizerte, Tunisia; involvement in filming of 'The Way Ahead' (1944); voyage to Italy. REEL 2 Continues: opinion of Italian Campaign; arrival and period in Nola, Italy. Aspects of operations as private with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 169th (London) Infantry Bde, 56th (London) Infantry Div in Italy, 1/1944-2/1944: reception on joining battalion; supply of ammunition to troops on River Garigliano including reactions to situation and deaths of fellow recruits; crossing River Garigliano and taking up positions, 1/1944; story of staying in trench during subsequent advance; return to battalion; firing at German forces; wounding on Gustav Line. Aspects of hospitalisation in Italy, 2/1944-4/1944: hospitalisation and reaction on waking up; medical treatment received; story of missing posting to Royal Army Medical Corps; period in transit camp on slopes of Mount Vesuvius and evacuation of camp on volcano's eruption, 3/1944; background to joining Royal Army Ordnance Corps as storeman in Pontecagnano. Aspects of period as private with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Italy, 1944-1946: background and reaction to posting as store man at Pontecagnano; Royal Army Ordnance presence in Pontecagnano; relations with Italian civilians and recreational activities in Salerno; black market; nature of posting as factory policeman; leave in L'Aquila. REEL 3 Continues: activities during leave in L'Aquila and Amalfi; wait for leave in advance of Python; flight in Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster from Italy to GB for leave; arrival and pass through customs; wait for train in Newquay and journey to Littlemore; reception on arrival home; activities during leave; extension to leave; return journey to Italy by train; reception on arrival; news of father's illness; application for compassionate posting; return to GB. Aspects of period as private with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in GB, 1946: posting and journey to Trench; compassionate leave; gaining of subsequent weekend leaves. REEL 4 Continues: involvement with football team; posting to Arncott; discipline; duties including problems gaining leave; background to demobilisation; story of final Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) ration; opinion of final posting; process of demobilisation in Woking, 1946. Post-war life and employment: civilian employment in car factory; prior recollection of activities with Local Defence Volunteers and 6th (Oxford City) Bn Oxfordshire Home Guard prior to joining British Army, 1943; reflections on military service; activities as shop steward; family and retirement. Aspects of operations as private with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Italy, 1944-1946: memories of officers; contact with chaplain; story of crossing wall watched by German forces; problems with terrain; post-war visit to Monte Cassino; further memories of officers; question of health. REEL 5 Continues: food and water rations; relations with Italian civilians; adaptation to situation; details of mail sent home and received; recreational activities and rations; sleeping in front line; noise of and reaction to artillery shelling; troops suffering from psychological shock; contact with German prisoners of war; story of later return to Royal Army Ordnance Corps depot at Pontecagnano; opinion of United States Army and Canadian Army troops; comradeship; settling into civilian life; story of attending medical before Army Reserve service.