Description
Object description
British NCO served with 1st Bn Black Watch in Germany, 1945-1947, 2nd Bn Black Watch in India, 1947-1948 and 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Palestine, GB, Hong Kong and Korea, 1948-1952
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Smethwick, Birmingham, GB, 1927-1944: family; father's service with Black Watch; education; employment; reason for joining Army, 1944. Aspects of training with Black Watch in Scotland, GB, 1944-1945: enlistment with Black Watch at Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow, 12/1944; first impressions of army life; daily routine; attitude to discipline; physical training; reaction of parents to enlistment; weapons training; posted to Queen's Barracks, Perth; accommodation; story of training exercise; route marches; posted to Milk Camp, Lockerbie; divisional training; jungle training; classified as marksman; posted to Army Cadet base, Dundee; posted to drafting camp in Crieff; posted to Germany, 12/1945. Aspects of operations with 1st Bn Black Watch in Germany, 12/1945-3/1947: duties guarding German POW at camp; escape attempts; attitude to Germans; problem of typhus.
REEL 2 Continues: description of camp; posted to Bremervorda; guard duty on airfield and training; posted to Duisberg, 11/1946; accommodation; reaction to bomb damage; relations with German civilians; black market goods; guard duties; story of German woman; question of fraternisation; posted to Edinburgh, GB, 3/1947. Aspects of voyage aboard SS Somalia to India, 5/1947: conditions aboard ship; disembarked Bombay. Aspects of operations with 2nd Bn Black Watch in India, 1947-1948: posted to transit camp in Karachi; description of train journey to Peshawar; posted to camp in Chattar; daily routine and duties during Partition period; posted to desert camp in Karachi, 11/1947; training for airborne landings; posted to Egypt, 2/1948. Aspects of operations with 2nd Bn Black Watch in Egypt, 1948: posted to transit camp; transferred to 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Aspects of operations with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Palestine and Egypt, 2-5/1948: daily routine and peacekeeping duties during Mandate period; posted to Suez Canal; returned to GB, 6/1948. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in GB, 6/1948-3/1949: daily routine and duties at camp in Colchester; posted to Hong Kong, 3/1949. Aspects of operations with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Hong Kong, 3/1949-6/1950: posted to Stanley Barracks; border patrols and guard duties in New Territories; duties with MT Section.
REEL 3 Continues: recreational activities; duties as driver for Slim's son; amusing story of Gurkhas; posted to Korea, 6/1950; sailed aboard HMS Ceylon to Korea, 6/1950. Aspects of operations with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in Korea, 1950-1951: disembarked at Pusan; story of accident in jeep; rejoined 1st Bn in riverbed; briefing from CO; posted to Bn HQ; reason for disposal of flamethrowers; duties delivering ammunition to forward companies in Bedford trucks; condition of roads; terrain; reaction to casualties in 1st Bn caused by accidental US air strike on Hill 282, 9/1950; story of friend suffering from shell shock; story of troops on Hill 282 shooting down US Mustang.
REEL 4 Continues: attitude to Americans; opinion of Bedford 4x4 trucks; problem of booby traps; role as part of spearhead force during advance to Manchurian border; problem of vehicles breaking down in cold weather; winter clothing; story of stolen clothing and kit; opinion of adequacy of clothing; problem of moustaches freezing; opinion of 1st Bn CO; personal arms; opinion of rations; story of sergeant-cook making bread; opinion of Australian troops; relations with American troops; attitude to Korean War; story of Korean mayor and family; problem of abandoned orphans; relieved and moved into rest camp at Inchon; sailed on US ship to Hong Kong, 5/1951.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of operations with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Hong Kong, 1951-1952: physical condition; story of seeing HMS Amethyst; daily routine and duties; role in tattoo; posted back to GB, 10/1952; disembarked Glasgow; reception on arrival. Aspects of period in GB, 1952: leave; story of demobilisation, 10/1952; civilian employment as mechanic. Reflections on period of military service.