Interview with John Frederick Baron

British private served with Royal Corps of Signals in GB, 1931; served with 2nd Bn Black Watch in GB, 1931-1932; served with 1st Bn Black Watch in India and Sudan, 1931-1936; served with 1st Bn Black Watch, 154th Infantry Bde, 51st (Highland) Infantry Div in GB and France, 1939-1940; escaped from France to GB via Spain, 1940

REEL 1 Background in Bainton, GB, 1912-1931: family; education; civilian work; reason for joining British Army; process of enlistment; journey to Catterick Camp. Aspects of period as private with Royal Corps of Signals in GB, 1931: reception on arrival; background of recruits; pattern of training, including signals; desire and background to joining Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). Aspects of period as private with 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) in GB, 1931-1932: purchase of uniform; changes from Royal Corps of Signals; weapons training; relationship with colleagues; fitness training; battle training; reaction to posting in India; details of voyage aboard HMT Lancashire. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) in India and Sudan, 1932-1936: initial impressions of Bombay; train journey to Meerut; signs and knowledge of Indian Mutiny; duties; summers in hill station; coping with climate; routine; civil unrest; leisure activities; rations; memories of officers; role of route marches; posting to Barrackpore; visits to Calcutta; relationships with local women; civilian workers in camp; summers in Darjeeling; guard duties; attitude to promotion; posting to Khartoum, Sudan; details of barracks; activities; return to GB and demobilisation; re-enlistment in regiment; atmosphere at Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) Regimental Depot, Queen's Barracks in Perth, 1939; reaction to situation. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt), 154th Infantry Bde, 51st (Highland) Infantry Div in GB and France, 1939-1940: period at Dover Castle, GB; journey to Rouen, France; period in Rouen, France; in action at Saint-Valery-en-Caux, France and wounding. Aspects of escape from France to GB via Spain, 1940: escape from German hospital; obtaining clothes; journey to Paris; period in American Hospital of Paris, Paris; departure from Paris and journey beyond demarcation line; journey to Marseille; events in Marseille; walk across Pyrenees Mountains; details of period in internment camp in Spain; period in Gibraltar with 4th Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt); return to GB. Recollections of service with British Army from 1940: summary of war service with British Army, 1940-1945; marriage; civilian employment, 1945-1948; re-enlistment in British Army, 1948; period with British Military Mission, Greece in Athens, Greece, 1948; reason for return to GB; period serving in Jamaica; demobilisation; reason for being Mentioned in Despatches; memories of officers he served as batman. REEL 3 Continues: service in Merchant Navy; civilian employment; reflections on military service.