Description
Object description
British bandsman served with 1st Bn North Staffordshire Regt in Trieste, GB, Korea and Hong Kong, 1952-1955
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Barnstaple and Exeter, 1932-1952: family background; social circumstances; education; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; German air raids and story of being bombed out of home; visits from soldiers on leave; re-housing; education at Mount Radford School, Exeter, 1942-1946; sporting activities; developing interest in music; street parties; bomb damage; work as apprentice engineer with Post Office, 1046-1947; work as apprentice with ophthalmic manufacturers, 1947-1952; musical activities.
REEL 2 Continues: deferred call up; background to recruitment as regular bandsman with North Staffordshire Regt, 6/1952. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine with North Staffordshire Regt, Whittington Barracks, 6/1952-8/1952: reception; kitting out; hair cut; barracks room; food rations; canteen;' drill; rifle and Bren gun training; question of bayonet training; hand grenade training; PT; reaction to military discipline; relationship with instructors, officers and recruits.
REEL 3 Continues: assault course; tactical exercises; question of possibility of commission; preparing for kit inspections; Irish deserter; visits and fights in Lichfield and Tamworth; status as bandsman. Recollections of period as bandsman with 1st Bn, North Staffordshire Regt in Lazaretto Barracks, Trieste, Italy, 9/1952-6/1953: journey out; first impressions; room accommodation; composition of military band; clarinet rehearsals and military band drill; concerts; orchestra performances playing violin; playing for officers' mess parties; jazz band; personal musical practice; lessons from virtuoso violinist from displaced persons camp.
REEL 4 Continues: familiarisation visits to Morgan Line; study for educational certificates; story illustrating opinion of Army Educational Corps; story of riots provoked by officers lack of respect for flags mourning death of Stalin; acting as camp guard during embarkation leave; absence of role as stretcher bearers; return to GB, 6/1953. Voyage aboard Asturias to Pusan, Korea, 9/1953-10/1953: conditions; story of meeting cousin; visits to Aden, Ceylon and Singapore; attacks of dysentery; first impressions of Pusan. Recollections of service in Korea, 6/1953-3/1954: move into transit camp; conditions of service; renewed dysentery; night journey by lorry to front line sector; coming under fire from North Korean infiltrators; cold conditions; move into Gloucester Valley, Kowang San area; terrain; nature of camp.
REEL 5 Continues: situation following ceasefire, 6/1953; building bandstand and tea garden; latrines; daily routine; cold weather and initial lack of equipment; issue of special winter uniform; concert party performances for various units including helicopter flights, composition of orchestra, nature of audiences and performances; performances for officers and sergeants' messes; visits from Bob Monkhouse and Marilyn Monroe; petrol stores in tents; rat problem; river bathing including risk of ear infections and water snakes; snake problem.
REEL 6 Continues: torrential rain and flooding; exploding ammunition in river; hot weather; story of theft of tank; story of various practical jokes played on officers and NCOs; story of drunken trombonist; relationship with bandsmen; personal morale; shooting accident; question of resumption of fighting; rest camp; beating retreat ceremony in commemoration of Gloucester Regt action in Korean War; food rations; relationship with Korean civilians and soldiers; question of developing interest in martial arts.
REEL 7 Continues: deserter's success in reaching GB; relationship with US troops; accident in uncleared minefield; commemorative concert in Pusan graveyard; question of national characteristics in combat; developing interest in Japanese culture and martial arts during period on leave and concert performances in Japan; effects of Korean experiences. Period at Fen Ling Camp, New Territories, Hong Kong, 10/1954-4/1955: nature of camp; decision to leave army and pursue career as musician; story illustrating incompetence of officer; opinion of band master; playing at formal functions in ceremonial uniforms.
REEL 8 Continues: relationship with Indian servant and development in interest in Indian religions; role training band boys; recreations; disciplinary measures taken against King's Liverpool Regt for mistreatment of Hong Kong civilians. Voyage back to GB, 4/1955. Period at Whittington Barracks, Litchfield, 5/1955-6/1955: status as old soldiers; demobilisation and story of mistaken arrest by military police, 6/1955. Post-service career: background to career as teacher; effects of military service.