Interview with Percival Frederick Jee

British NCO served with 46th Reconnaissance Regt, Reconnaissance Corps in GB, North Africa, Italy, Greece and Austria, 1/1940-5/1945

REEL 1 Background in Southhall, GB and Canada, GB, 1919-1939: family; education; childhood; civilian employment in Canada and Middlesex; joining of army. Aspects of enlistment and training as fusilier and NCO with Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) in GB, 1939-1940: enlistment; reception at Hounslow Barracks and Christmas leave; inspections; pattern of training; recreational activities; promotion to lance corporal; settling into military life; move to Heston; training and instructors; desire to join Royal Armoured Corps; attending lance corporal course; move to Bushey and accommodation. Aspects of period as NCO with 46th Reconnaissance Regt, Reconnaissance Corps, 46th Infantry Div in GB, 1941-1943: joining regiment at North Walsham; description of armoured cars used; exercises with Home Guard; training with troop; promotion to sergeant; prior recollection of reaction to Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; knowledge of future role; move to Tenterden; journey to Liverpool; reaction to overseas posting. Aspects of voyage from Liverpool, GB, to Algiers, French Algeria, 12/1942-1/1943: discipline of troops; travelling in convoy; seasickness; sleeping arrangements; duties; question of becoming officer. Recollections of operations as NCO with 46th Reconnaissance Regt, Reconnaissance Corps, 46th Infantry Div in North Africa, 1/1943-5/1943: arrival in Algiers, French Algeria; march to camp. REEL 2 Continues: climate; pattern of training; drive to frontline; knowledge of situation and memories of officers; opinion of equipment; nature reconnaissance patrols undertaken; reaction to situation; treatment for impetigo; cooking of meals; supply of water; contact with Axis troops, including prisoners of war; story of near miss during German Air Force raid; accommodation; advance toward Tunis, Tunisia; contact with Axis prisoners of war in Tunis, Tunisia; briefings; reaction to casualties; character of Tunis, Tunisia; memories of Sergeant Charlie Bass; accommodation; recreational activities and discipline; story of hated NCO falling into hole; composition of unit; memories of chaplains; preparations for move to Italy; hospitalisation with dysentery; briefings for landing at Salerno, Italy; reaction to move to Italy. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as NCO with 46th Reconnaissance Regt, Reconnaissance Corps, 46th Infantry Div in Italy, 9/1943-5/1945: nature of landings at Salerno, 9/1943; advance to Naples, Italy; relations with Italian civilians; nature of advance towards Monte Cassino, including terrain; patrols on River Garigliano; situation at Monte Cassino; state of Cassino town and Italian civilians; Italian soldier serving with regiment; story of accordions; mail; loss of cigarettes; opinion of Royal Army Medical Corps; dealing with wounded; story of accidental artillery shelling of Allied prisoners of war; fitness; story of taking shelter taken from artillery fire and reunion with uncle; further details of dealing with wounded; shell shock among troops; advance northwards and leave in Florence. Aspects of period as NCO with 46th Reconnaissance Regt, Reconnaissance Corps, 46th Infantry Div in Greece, 12/1944-4/1945: situation in Greece; duties; relations with Greek civilians; hospitalisation in Athens, 4/1945; story of earlier injury and reunion with Sergeant Charlie Bass. Aspects of period as NCO with 46th Reconnaissance Regt, Reconnaissance Corps, 46th Infantry Div in Austria, 1945-1946: return to regiment at Klagenfurt, Austria; leave in GB; disbandment of regiment and reunion with family. REEL 4 Continues: prior recollection of rats at Monte Cassino; period in Austria; demobilisation at Aldershot Garrison, 1946. Post-war life and employment: civilian employment; question of regret at leaving military service. Reflections on wartime military service: keeping information from troops; court martial attended for deserting troops; discussion of troops from other nations and regiments; knowledge of Holocaust; opinion of military life and treatment from British Government; story of meeting Randolph Churchill at Sedjenane, Tunisia.