Interview with Howard Wharton

British NCO served 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) in GB, Palestine, Aden, Aden Protectorate, British Somaliland, Crete, Greece, French Syria, Libya and India, 1935-1944

REEL 1 Background in India and GB, 1914-1935: family; education. Recollections of period as NCO with B Coy, 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) in GB, 1935-1938: reasons for enlistment in Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment); joining battalion after period at regimental depot; reception at unit at Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow; incident when soldier was injured in face during street violence; memories of 'Micky' the dog; move to Edinburgh; incident when youth tried to disrupt changing of guard at Edinburgh Castle; food rations available; reaction to leaving Edinburgh for overseas service. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) Palestine Command in Palestine, 1938-1939: arrival at Sarafand Camp; move to Allenby Barracks, Jerusalem; railway patrols. REEL 2 Continues: incident involving mined watermelons; sight of Chinese population in Jerusalem; reaction in battalion to soldiers shot in the back by insurgents in Jerusalem. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) in British Somaliland, 1940: conditions during training in Aden, Aden Protectorate; move to British Somaliland; method of acquiring spares for carriers; move to front line; NCO's suppression of Italian Army snipers; effects of lack of water; withdrawal to coast and disposal of his carrier; evacuation by HMAS Hobart and return to Aden, Aden Protectorate; story of visit by General Archibald Wavell to battalion in Cairo, Egypt, 1941. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt), 14th Infantry Bde, Creforce on Crete, Greece, 1941: move to Crete and arrival under air attack at Suda Bay, 5/1941; move northwards. REEL 3 Continues: receiving drink from Greek civilians on route to Heraklion; digging in Universal Carriers in positions at Heraklion; orders not to fire on German Air Force aircraft; effect of opening fire on first two waves of German airborne troops at Heraklion Airfield; orders to withdraw to Suda Bay; evacuation by Royal Navy; method of immobilising Universal Carriers; German Air Force attacks on HMS Dido; casualties aboard HMS Dido. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) in French Syria, 6/1941: move to French Syria; question of fighting on Vichy French ranges with dug in tank turrets. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) in Tobruk, Libya, 1941: move by Royal Navy to Tobruk; initial impression of Tobruk; defensive lines within perimeter. REEL 4 Continues: character of dugouts; behaviour of Australian forces on Tobruk Perimeter line; opinion of Australian Imperial Force troops; evacuation with wounds to Alexandria, Egypt; method of returning to unit. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) in India, 1943-1944: move to India; incident when chaplain acquired donation from gambling servicemen at Bangalore; training for jungle operations.