Interview with Eric Albert Spick

British apprentice with Army Apprentices' School, Arborfield Garrison, 1939-1942; private and NCO served with Royal Army Service Corps in GB, 1941-1942; NCO served with Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in GB, 1942-1944; served with No 21 Beach Recovery Section, Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in GB and Normandy, France, 1944-1945; served with Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in North West Europe, GB, Northern Ireland and Egypt, 1944-1970

REEL 1 Aspects of period as apprentice with Army Apprentices' School, Arborfield Garrison and private and NCO with Royal Army Service Corps, GB, 5/1939-10/1942: family; enlistment in British Army, 5/1939; reception arrival at Army Apprentices' School, Arborfield Garrison, 1939; sporting activities; opinion of training; drill; guard duties; vehicles worked with; passing out; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; activities following start of Second World war; postings and courses with Royal Army Service Corps, 1941-1942; interview for commission; wounding during posting to anti-aircraft site; daily routine in workshops; accommodation during various postings. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in GB, 942-1944: joining Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 10/1942; waterproofing of vehicles; attending diving course at HMS Excellent, Whale Island; details of post-war postings; further details of waterproofing. Aspects of operations as NCO with No 21 Beach Recovery Section Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers in GB and Normandy, France, 1944: voyage from GB to Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944; disembarkation; duties on beach at Lion-sur-Mer, Normandy, France; nature of landing from landing ship tank on Gold Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944; accommodation in sand dunes; morale; details of unit; awaiting embarkation in GB, 6/1944; seasickness crossing English Channel; posting in East Wittering, GB prior to Operation Overlord and journey to Southsea, GB; visit from King George VI. REEL 2 Continues: invasion training and incident of accidentally releasing a dinghy; scenes during first assault on Gold Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944; reaction to unit casualties; spares supply; rescue of drowned vehicles; story of beer delivered by Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire; nature of opposition to landings on Gold Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944; contact with Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel, including bartering for bread; further details of duties; memories of beachmaster on Gold Beach, Normandy, France. Aspects of operations as NCO with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in North West Europe, 1944-1945: artillery fire received from Le Havre, France, 9/1944; German air activity; posting to Abbeville, France; vehicle recovery work; period with Canadian Army workshops; relations with civilians in Germany and France; rations; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1944; story of commanding officer's Willys Jeep; story of visit to Rouen, France; posting in Baronsville, Belgium; relations with civilians in Germany; story of money issued and discovery of Reichmarks in Germany, 1945. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB, Northern Ireland and Egypt, 1946-1970: duties as Permanent Staff Instructor with Light Aid Detachment in Northern Ireland; details of promotions to sergeant; pattern of postings until demobilisation; civilian employment with Vauxhall Motors and process of demobilisation; decision to emigrate; favourite vehicles worked with; reflections on military service; contact with former comrades; opinion of posting in Egypt; accommodation in various postings.