McCotter, James (Oral history)

British private served with 2nd Bn Black Watch in India, 4/1945-9/1947; served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 27th Infantry Bde in Hong Kong, 7/1949-8/1950; served with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde and Korea, 8/1950-4/1952

REEL 1: Background in Midlothian, Scotland, 1926-1944: childhood; education; employment in oil refinery; family; attitude to prospect of military service. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with Black Watch Regimental Depot, Queen's Barracks, Perth, GB, 1/1945-2/1945: call up for military service , 12/1944; initial posting to Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, 12/1944; attitude to military life and discipline; opinion of NCOs; drill; daily routine and training; uniform and kit; physical fitness; opinion of food; care of kit; recreational activities in Perth; pay; relations with civilians; further training at Kinfauns Castle; weapons training; opinion of training; accommodation. Aspects of training with 10th Bn Black Watch in GB, 2/1945-3/1945: joining the battalion at Lockerbie, 2/1945; map reading and tactical exercises; attitude to serving with Black Watch; move to Fort George. Aspects of voyage aboard MV Britannic from Glasgow, GB to Bombay, India, 4/1945: on draft to India; route; disembarkationa at Bombay, India. Aspects of period with 2nd Black Watch in India, 4/1945-9/1947: initial impressions of India; move into camp at Bilaspur. REEL 2 Continues: training for possible airborne landing in Japan; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; move to Karachi; problem of heat; story of tiger with cubs; description of train journey to Malia Camp, Karachi; use of Indian servants; story of sergeant major and boots; moved into Napier Barracks in Karachi; recreational activities; role of Black Watch in suppressing mutiny among naval cadets of Royal Indian Navy, 2/1946; civil unrest; protection of vehicles from crowds; question of appropriate use of force; transfer from A Coy to Headquarters Coy at Cherat Cantonment on North West Frontier; duties with armoury officer on firing range; area and terrain; daily routine; return to GB on leave, 9/1947. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as private with Black Watch at Black Watch Regimental Depot, Queen's Barracks, Perth, GB, 1947-1949: initial posting to Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, 9/1947; volunteering for general duties at headquarters in Perth; description of camp and facilities; social life. Aspects of period with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in GB, 1949: posting to battalion at Colchester, 1949; attitude to serving with Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; story of mutiny aboard troopship in Southampton, 1949. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 27th Infantry Bde in Hong Kong, 7/1949-8/1950: initial impressions of Hong Kong; move into Victoria Barracks; duties on working parties in New Territories; police duties with headquarters, Victoria Barracks; preparations for possible Chinese invasion; relations with Chinese in Hong Kong; reaction to outbreak of Korean War, 6/1950. REEL 4 Continues: attitude to being posted to Korea; sailed aboard HMS Ceylon to Pusan, Korea, 1950. Aspects of operations as private with A Coy, 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in Korea, 8/1950-4/1951: initial impressions of Korea; train journey to positions on Nakdong River; relieving US forces; problem of infiltration of North Korean troops; initial experience of being in action; relations with American troops; opinion of American ration packs; killed chickens for food; description of capture of Hill 282; use of coloured panels as signals to aircraft; reaction to British casualties caused by accidental US air attack on Hill 282. REEL 5 Continues: flight to Kimpo; advanced on foot north towards Chinese/North Korean border; renaming and composition of 27th Commonwealth Bde; nature of fighting; description of rifle; rearguard actions against Chinese troops; returned to positions on 38th Parallel; uniform and kit; opinion of American troops; use of abandoned North Korean vehicles; problem with cold weather conditions; comparison of US and British Army discipline; sleeping arrangements; attitude to survival; physical condition; rest periods out of line; story of losing contact with battalion for ten days; period at US camp; question of recognition for role of 27th Commonwealth Bde in Korea. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 27th Infantry Bde in Hong Kong, 4/1951-9/1952: posting to camp at Fanling; role in preparing troops for action in Korea; daily routine and duties; return to GB, 9/1952; disembarkation at Greenock, GB; demobilised, 11/1952. Aspects of civilian life and employment in GB from 1952: attitude to being demobilised; employment as engineer; attitude towards military service.