Description
Object description
British wireless operator served with B Sqdn, 46th Reconnaissance Regt in GB, North Africa and Italy, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Battersea, London and Brighton, 1911-1940: social circumstances; education; local territorial unit; work as railway blacksmith, 1925; return to London, 1926; various jobs and leg injury; study and work as plumber; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; Anderson shelter; effects of German air raids; reinforced cellar shelter; rationing; call up, 12/1940. Recollections of periods training with Royal Sussex Regt at Chichester Barracks, and Arundel Castle, 12/1940-3/1941: reception; PT; relationship with instructors and recruits.
REEL 2 Continues: drill; weapons training including rifle, Bren, hand grenades and bayonet; kit and barrack room inspections; canteen; food rations; move to Arundel Castle, 1/1941; guard duties; Lewis gun; conditions of service; circumstances of 'volunteering' to join Royal Armoured Corps. Recollections of period training with RAC at Winchester Barracks and Locherbie, 3/1941-5/1941: drafts originating from various units and consequent drill problems; question of assignment to trades and selection for training as wireless operator.
REEL 3 Continues: signal training including Morse code, wireless procedure, 11, 18 and 19 wireless sets and batteries; move to Locherbie; assault course and forced marches; driving training on Bren gun carrier and Humber scout car. Period as driver/wireless operator on staff of Officers' Training Unit, RAC at Annan, 1941-1942: driving duties; assisting in carrying out tactical exercises. Recollections of initial period with B Troop, B Sqdn, 46th Reconnaissance Regt in Sussex, 1942: prior posting to holding units; opinion of Lieutenant Neville Lloyd-Blood.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of Lieutenant Neville Lloyd-Blood and formation of Humber scout car crew with Driver/Mechanic George Lockhart; introduction to heavy Humber scout car. Voyage aboard troopship to Algiers, Algeria, 1942. Recollections of operation in North Africa, 1942-1943: first impressions; informal relationship with officers and story of being arrested for not saluting officer from another unit; role of unit; policy of working in pairs of scout cars; drive through Atlas Mountains; positions around farmhouse in Ouiz Zaga Wadi, Tunisia; German mortar fire; situation; crossing wadi; Stuka attack; role driving Humber scout car to contact neighbouring unit.
REEL 5 Continues: story of coming under German shell fire during patrol; story of carrying mines aboard Humber scout car during trips to contact neighbouring unit; story of taking Colonel on patrol into German sector and accidental explosion of mines in Humber scout car by officer giving wireless demonstration; German retreat; stories illustrating booby trap clearance duties during advance; circumstances of colonel being wounded on patrol; period in rest camp in Tunis; opinion of new heavy Humber scout car.
REEL 6 Continues: initial problems with recoil mechanism of 20mm gun in testing new Humber Scout car. Aspects of operations in Italy, 9/1943-5/1945: waterproofing Humber scout car; voyage in tank landing craft; landing on beach at Salerno, 9/1943; confused situation; patrol; bringing back anti-tank guns that had penetrated too far inland; situation; story of squadron strength patrol to locate reported German armour in Cava sector, 9/1943, including German ambush on approaching Cava bridge, direct hit on Humber scout car, returning fire, breaking up German infantry attack and isolated situation.
REEL 7 Continues: story of squadron strength patrol to locate reported German armour in Cava sector, 9/1943, including turning Humber scout car round and retreat with damaged radiator; repairs at beachhead; rejoining unit; advance through Italy, 1943-1944; infantry role taking over capture positions from assault units; terrain; period in Palestine, 1944, including reinforcements, opinion of 19 wireless set and infantry training; return to Italy; cold conditions and hospitalisation; rail journey to rejoin unit; infantry role taking over capture positions from assault units. Period in Austria, ca 1945-1946. Return to GB and demobilisation, 1946. Post-war career: problem with nightmares; return to work as plumber; work in council building stress; question of effects of war service.
