Description
Object description
British NCO served 2nd Bn Black Watch in GB, Palestine, Aden, British Somaliland, Crete, Syria, North Africa and India, 1935-1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in India and GB, 1914-1935: family; education. Recollections of period as NCO with B Coy, 2nd Bn Black Watch in GB, 1935-1938: reasons for enlistment in Black Watch; joining unit after period at 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 in Palestine, 1938-1939: arrival at Sarafand; move to Allenby Barracks, Jerusalem; railway patrols.
REEL 2 Continues: incident involving mined watermelons; sight of Chinese population in Jerusalem; reaction of unit to soldiers shot in the back in Jerusalem Recollections of operations as sergeant with 2nd Bn Black Watch in British Somaliland, 1940: conditions during training in Aden; move to British Somaliland; method of acquiring spares for carriers; move to front-line; NCO's suppression of Italian snipers; effects of lack of water; withdrawal to coast and disposal of his carrier; evacuation by HMAS Hobart and return to Aden. Story of visit by General Archibald Wavell to Citadel in Cairo c1941. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch on Crete, 1941: move to Crete and arrival under air attack at Suda Bay; move northwards.
REEL 3 Continues: receiving drink from Greek civilians on route to Herakalion; digging in Bren gun carriers in positions at Herakalion; orders not to fire on German aircraft; effect of opening fire on first two waves of German paratroopers at Herakalion airfield; orders to withdraw to Suda Bay; evacuation by Royal Navy; method of immobilising Bren gun carriers; German Air Force attacks on HMS Dido; casualties aboard HMS Dido. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch in Syria, 1941: move to Syria; question of fighting on Vichy French ranges with dug in tank turrets. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch in Tobruk, 1941: move by Royal Navy to Tobruk; initial impression of Tobruk; defensive lines within perimeter.
REEL 4 Continues: character of dugouts; behaviour of Australians on perimeter line; opinion of Australian troops; evacuation with wounds to Alexandria; method of returning to unit. Period as NCO with 2nd Bn Black Watch in India, 1943-1944: move to India; incident when padre acquired donation from gambling servicemen at Bangalore; training for jungle operations.