Description
Object description
British private served with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in GB, 1943; served with 7th Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Italy, 1944; served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Italy and GB, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Littlemore, GB, 1922-1943: family; education; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in Colchester, GB, 4/1943-11/1943: enlistment; reaction to posting to light infantry; reception on arrival at Colchester; air raid during first night; memories of NCOs; drill; fitness training; innoculations; rations; weapons training; comradeship; change during basic training; kit inspections; discipline and punishments; memories of officers; passing out parade; leave; posting to 4th Battalion in Woodhall Spa; description of exercises involved in; shooting competition; memories of NCOs. Aspects of journey 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, Algeria, 25/12/1943; accommodation; situation in North Africa; care taken of rifles; journey to Bizerte,Tunisia; involvement in filming of The Way Ahead; 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 in Italy, 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 positions dug; story of staying in trench during subsequent advance; return to battalion; firing at opposition; wounding on Gustav Line. Aspects of hospitalisation in Italy, 1943: details of hospital at Sassa; 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; 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: reactions to posting; details of details of Pontecagnano and ordnance corps presence; relationship with civilians and leisure activities in Salerno; black market; posting as factory policeman including advantages of role; leave in L'Aquila.
REEL 3 Continues: activities during leave in L'Aquila and Amalfi; wait for leave in advance of Python; description of flight in Avro Lancaster to GB for leave; arrival and pass through customs; wait for train in Newquay; details of 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 NAAFI ration; opinion of final posting; process of demobilisation in Woking. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: civilian work in car factory; activities with Local Defence Volunteers and Home Guard before joining army; reflections on service; work 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 including cinema in Pontecagnano; contact with padre; story of crossing wall watched by Germans; problems with terrain; post-war visit to Cassino; memories of officers; question of health.
REEL 5 Continues: food and water rations; relationship with civilians; adaptation to situation; details of mail sent home and received; leisure activities and rations; sleep in front line; noise of and reactions to shelling; troops suffering from shock; contact with German POWs; story of later return to depot at Pontecagnano; opinion of US and Canadian troops; comradeship; settling into civilian life; story of medical before reserve service.