Description
Object description
British officer cadet served with Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1936-1938; officer served with 2nd Bn Wiltshire Regt in GB, 1938-1939; officer with 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in India, 1939-1940; served with 5th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div and No 160 Officer Cadet Training Unit at Alton Towers in GB, 1941-1944; served with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 1944; served in GB, 1944-1945; served with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div as Mayor of Bergen, Germany, 1945; served with 2nd and 1st Bns Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in Germany, 1945-1949; served with Staff College at Camberley, GB, 1949-1950; served with 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), Hong Kong Garrison in Hong Kong, 1952-1953, and Cyprus, 2/1956-12/1958; served with School of Military Intelligence, Maresfield Park, GB, 1958-1960; commanded 4th Bn Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regt (Berkshire and Wiltshire) in GB, 1960-1964; served as staff officer in GB, Egypt and West Germany, 1964-1971; served with Ministry of Defence in Oman, 1976-1979
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Poona, India, and Truro, GB, 1918-1936: family; education at Truro School. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1936-1938: process of enlistment in British Army; problems settling into military life; help gained from rugby experience; cost of Royal Military College Sandhurst; cleaning of kit and morning parades; treatment from instructors; relations with fellow cadets; opinion of training; choices of regiment; passing out parade; leave. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in GB, 8/1938-2/1939: story of departing words from father; arrival at Catterick Camp; state and morale of battalion; memories of adjutant officer; initial relations with fellow officers; weapons situation; reaction to posting to India; recreational activities. Aspects of voyage from Southampton, GB, to Bombay, India, 2/1939: disembarkation; details of troopship; route taken; train journey to Bangalore, India. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in India, 2/1939-1940: uniform; character of battalion; duties as transport officer; accommodation; memories of officers; internal security duties; exercises; opinion of Royal Military College Sandhurst training; declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of readiness for war; concern about threat of Japan; posting in Madras and character of Fort St George; opinion of British Indian Army; reaction to situation; reasons for return to GB; voyage from India to GB including period ashore in Cape Town, South Africa. Aspects of period as officer with 5th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 1941-1943: joining battalion at Dover; situation in GB; postings in Kent; role and training received; loss of troops to North African Campaign; desire to see action and short period spent with Parachute Regiment; return to battalion. Aspects of period as with No 160 Officer Cadet Training Unit at Alton Towers, 1943-1944: memories of colleagues; background to obtaining posting to 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's); background of officer cadets; reasons for returning cadets to unit; reflections on posting. Aspects of period as officer with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in GB, 4/1944-6/1944: arrival with battalion at Rye; joining rifle company; knowledge of approaching invasion of Normandy, France; opinion of posting and memories of batman; preparations for invasion of Normandy, France; prior knowledge of invasion of Normandy, France.
REEL 3 Continues: composition of division; journey with vehicles to Tilbury Docks and reception from civilians in East End of London; German V1 Flying Bomb attacks; conditions on voyage to Normandy after D-Day. Aspects of operations as officer with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: conditions on voyage from Tilbury, GB to Normandy; approach to Juno Beach and loss of 43rd Reconnaissance Regt personnel aboard mined MV Derrycunihy, 24/6/1944; movement inland; rendezvous with infantry; story of breakfast obtained by batman; first experience of German multi-barrelled mortar fire; role of battalion; disappearance of batman; self-inflicted wounds among troops; relief of 15th (Scottish) Infantry Div troops; orders to take fighting patrol to Carpiquet Airfield; composition and selection of patrol; nature of patrol including reconnaissance of Carpiquet Airfield; return to battalion positions and reception on arrival; reference to patrol in German reports and opinion of patrol carried out; knowledge of situation on Hill 112; skirmishes with German forces; situation around Caen; nature of German opposition faced and comparison of British and German tanks; nature of attack on Hill 112, 10/7/1944; artillery support and accidental fire suffered by battalion on start line; nature of advance through cornfields toward Hill 112; activities of 130th Infantry Bde.
REEL 4 Continues: further details of advance through cornfield; situation at by end of day, 10/7/1944; evening activities morale of troops; overnight withdrawal of tanks; German forces armoured night-time counter-attack; aftermath of German counter-attack; events at Hill 112 during 11/7/1944, including attack by 5th Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; relief and withdrawal; divisional and battalion casualties, 10/7/1944-11/7/1944; reinforcements; supply of hot meals; news of second attack on Hill 112; reconnaissance undertaken; composition of 129th Infantry Bde and supporting units; nature of attack on Hill 112, 19/7/1944; counter-attack by German Tiger tanks and air support; German withdrawal; surrender of German military personnel; reflections on battles for Hill 112; opinion of training received; comparison of German and British weapons and opinion of British areas of superiority; activities during rest periods.
REEL 5 Continues: nature of advance to Mont Pinçon with 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own); final approach to Saint-Jean-le-Blanc; casualties during capture of Saint-Jean-le-Blanc; defeat of German forces; contact with French civilians; search for observation post and prisoners of war taken; sighting of German forces and call for artillery support; evening activities; nature of night withdrawal; discovery of mortar platoon troops left behind and thier rescue by Captain Tom Powell; plan for attack on Mont Pinçon, 8/1944; breakfast and German artillery fire received; nature of 5th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) actions at Mont Pinçon and wait for start of own attack; advance through 5th Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) to summit of Mont Pinçon, 6/8/1944-7/8/1944; digging of positions; disappearance of signallers; promotion to major; discussion of awards.
REEL 6 Continues: rest period; sights witnessed in Falaise Gap, 8/1944; orders to cross River Seine; arrival in Vernon and reception from French civilians; situation on River Seine; nature of action to cross River Seine at Vernonnet; relations with French civilians; movement from Veronnet to Giverny and opposition faced; liberation of Giverny and artist Claude Monet's house, 8/1944; events elsewhere while in Giverny; plan for Operation Market Garden; activities during rest periods; battle fatigue among troops and in self; visit to Paris; relations with French civilians; opinion of senior officers, including General Bernard Montgomery and Major-General Brian Horrocks; attitude of troops towards Prime Minister Winston Churchill; censorship and importance of mail; letters written to families of casualties including replies; activities of chaplain and medical officer.
REEL 7 Continues: discussion of battle fatigue, including own experience; further details of attack on Hill 112, 19/7/1944 as witnessed from reserve position, including morale of troops beforehand and sight of casualties from earlier actions; communications role during Hill 112 battle; withdrawal and new role in C Coy; arrival reinforcements and activities during rest period; background of reinforcements; learning from experience; life expectation of officers; thoughts about possibility of wounding or death; nature of first action in Normandy.
REEL 8 Continues: prior recollection of advance to Hill 112; importance of Mont Pinçon; advance to Mont Pinçon with 13th/18th Hussars; reason for separation from armoured support; final approach to Saint-Jean-le-Blanc; nature of German opposition faced on arrival and subsequent action at Saint-Jean-le-Blanc; role of 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own); relations with armoured units; order for withdrawal during night; story of search for observation post and encounter with German Waffen-SS officers; sighting of German forces and call for artillery support; organisation of withdrawal and rations obtained from Royal Artillery officer; reiteration of story of discovery of mortar platoon troops left behind and rescue by Captain Tom Powell; German forces artillery fire received during breakfast; approach to Mont Pinçon; activities of 5th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's).
REEL 9 Continues: nature of advance up Mont Pinçon; positions dug on summit of Mont Pinçon; sleep; disappearance of signallers; withdrawal and continuation of German resistance; advance on and through Falaise Gap, 8/1944; physical state of troops; relations with French civilians; nature of plan for crossing of River Seine; opposition faced by 5th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) and 4th Bn Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's); crossing of River Seine; German opposition faced in Vernonnet; nature of advance to and capture of Giverny; liberation of artist Claude Monet's house, near Giverny. Recollections of operations as officer with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944: period in Giverny and visit to Paris, France, 9/1944; move during Operation Market Garden to Eindhoven, Netherlands.
REEL 10 Continues: aerial activity at start of Operation Market Garden, 22/9/1944; proposed role during advance to Arnhem, Netherlands; nature of journey to Nijmegen; visit from Major-General Brian Horrocks; situation on arrival in Nijmegen and capture of Nijmegen Bridge, Netherlands; crossing of Nijmegen Bridge, Netherlands; problems with terrain beyond Nijmegen Bridge; movement along dykes toward Arnhem; loss of 4th Bn Dorsetshire Regt personnel sent into Oosterbeek Perimeter; contact with withdrawing airborne troops; proximity to German lines; reconnaissance of German lines; story of attack on German forces and wounding in hand; withdrawal and initial medical treatment; medical evacuation and treatment received; story of trial of German officer who shot him; rejoining unit in Reichswald Forest, Germany, 2/1945; nature of German opposition; move to Aachen area, Germany, 3/1945; description of Siegfried Line.
REEL 11 Continues: contact with United States Army troops; nature of activities in Aachen area, Germany; knowledge of situation; conditions underfoot; wounding in eye during attack from German tanks; initial medical treatment received; medical evacuation and further treatment; reaction to situation; letters written to families of casualties; granting of leave. Aspects of period as officer in GB, 1945: hospitalisation and leave in GB; periods spent at in Chester Castle and Colchester Garrison; morale of troops at Colchester Garrison; background to obtaining return to unit. Recollections of period as officer with 4th Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 129th Infantry Bde, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div acting as Mayor of Bergen, Germany, 1945-1946: arrival with unit in Celle; problems with vision; posting to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp; contact with former camp commandant Josef Kramer and Irma Grese; treatment of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp trial prisoners; prior knowledge of concentration camps; appointment and role as Mayor of Bergen; problems from displaced persons; relationship with Royal Hungarian Army cavalry regiment at Bergen; living conditions.
REEL 12 Continues: character of Bergen and accommodation; further details of contact with Josef Kramer and Irma Grese; medical and welfare staff at former Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp; concentration camp survivors; relationship with welfare staff; illegal activity of Jewish Displaced Persons in area; nature of military courts; story of commanding firing squads; opinion of death penalty; reaction to commanding firing squads; relations with German civilians; posting to Hanover. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd and 1st Bns Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), 4th Infantry Bde in Germany, 1946-1949: recreational activities; accommodation; duties; contact with German Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt including discussions about the war; sports; demobilisation of troops; attitude to possible posting to Burma; family; question of leaving military service. Aspects of period as student with Staff College in Camberley, GB, 1949-1950: details of training.
REEL 13 Continues: accommodation and pay while at staff college; story of German civilian worker; birth of third son; training received at staff college; cheating among students; role of staff college; posting to 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Div at Taunton, 1950-1952. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's), Hong Kong Garrison in Hong Kong, 1952-1953: voyage from GB to Hong Kong; living arrangements in Hong Kong; duties of battalion in New Territories; relations with European and Chinese civilians; climate; story of exercise in preparation for service in Korean War; reaction to missing out on service in Korean War; dutie prior to return to GB, 1953. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in Cyprus, 2/1956-12/1958: situation and details of posting in Kyrenia; searches for National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) insurgents; story of ambush and visit to scene; subsequent search for and discovery of perpetrators; nature of village searches; family life; opinion of posting to Cyprus; memories of Governors Field Marshal John Harding and Hugh Foot; return to GB and posting received, 12/1958.
REEL 14 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with Military School of Intelligence in Maresfield Park, GB, 1958-1960: duties as instructor; exercises; importance of intelligence; opinion of intelligence in Iraq War, 2003; opinion of posting; opinion of GB chances in a war against Federation of Russia; celebrities and events in area; background to return to unit as commanding officer. Aspects of period as officer with 4th Bn Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regt (Berkshire and Wiltshire) in GB, 1960-1964: background to taking command of regiment; character of battalion and accommodation; commitment of troops; nature of relations with officers; exercises and battlefield tours; relationship with senior officers including award of Order of the British Empire (OBE); help received from British Army following death of wife. Aspects of period as staff officer with British Army in GB, Egypt and West Germany, 1964-1971: duties as staff officer at Aldershot Garrison, GB, 1964; hospitalisation after car accident; posting to Egypt; duties and opinion of posting; details of period as commandant of training camp at Sennelager, West Germany, 1967-1971; opinion of Royal Netherlands Army.
REEL 15 Continues: opinions of various military forces serving at Sennelager, West Germany; plans for war against Soviet Union; pros and cons of posting in West Germany; attempt to obtain promotion to brigadier; background to leaving British Army, 1971. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1971-1976: attempts to obtain civilian employment; interest in yoga; story of obtaining employment in Oman and first visit to country. Aspects of period as officer with Ministry of Defence in Oman, 1976-1979: advantages from period in Oman; memories of Robert Browning; accommodation in Muscat; civilian workers; recreational activities; nature of own work and that of Robert Browning; situation in Oman and make-up of armed forces; attitude to war with Yemen and visits to war zone; background of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
REEL 16 Continues: memories of Brigadier Tim Landon; memories of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said; daily routine and duties; working week; leave; visits to India; contact with troops; relations with civilians; relationship with colleagues; question of staying in Oman; story of asking for money at end of contract; final weeks in Muscat; reaction on departure from Oman; meetings with Sultan's agent in GB and attempts to obtain money promised; friends in Oman; attitude to corruption; buying of new home in GB; British knowledge of events in Oman. Aspects of post-service life and career in GB: marriage; activities during retirement, including membership of veteran association; changes to regiment; battlefield tours in Normandy.
REEL 17 Continues: memories of Wilfred Thesiger in Oman; contact with senior officers and former Prime Minister Edward Heath; discussion of Second World War's leaders; opinion of modern British Army; stories of practical jokes played during military career; reflections on active service.
