Description
Object description
British private served with 2nd Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 38th (Irish) Infantry Bde, 78th Infantry Div in Italy and Austria, 12/1943-9/1945; NCO served with Royal Army Service Corps in Austria, 9/1945-11/1947
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Dudley, GB, 1925-1943: family; education; story of attemp to join Fleet Air Arm. Aspects of training with Worcestershire Regt at Norton Barracks, Worcester in GB, 1943: induction at Norton Barracks, Worcester, 11/1943; accommodation; daily routine and basic training; weapons training; recreational activities; recruits and NCOs; battle training courses and tactical exercises; bayonet practice; issued with jungle uniform. Aspects of voyage aboard RMS Canton from Glasgow, GB to Naples, Italy, embarkation at George V Dock, Glasgow, 12/1943.
REEL 2 Continues: disembarkation in Naples, Italy. Recollections of operations as private with 2nd Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 38th (Irish) Infantry Bde, 78th Infanty Div in Italy, 1943-1945: attitude to being transferred to regiment; relations with Irish soldiers; opinion of officers and NCOs; description of night patrol; use of thick socks over boots to reduce noise; amusing memories of Jewish soldier; relations with Italian civilians; story of attending mass with German soldiers; religious beliefs; summary of movements across Italy; description of action at Argenta; story of German dressing station.
REEL 3 Continues: story of killing German ski troops; moved to Udine sector; question of white camouflage; winter clothing; rations; use of entrenching tool as frying pan; story of Italian POW; classification of POWs; attitude to Italian POWs. Aspects of operations with 2nd Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 38th (Irish) Infantry Bde, 78th Infantry Div in Austria, 1945: relations with Austrian civilians; description of accommodation in former SS barracks in Villach; story of surrender of German troops; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; communication with home and censorship; story of German mail plane; question of staying in army.
REEL 4 Continues: further training in Klagenfurt; border patrols on Yugoslav border. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Army Service Corps in Austria, 9/1945-11/1947: transfer to Royal Army Service Corps, 9/1945; promotion to sergeant; billets in hotel; duties as transport sergeant; story of Austrian girlfriend; return to GB for demobilisation, 11/1947; civilian life and employment; attitude towards military service.