Description
Object description
British clerk served with Headquarters 3 Corps in GB and Middle East, 1940-1942; NCO served with Ordnance Field Park and 5 Base Ordnance Depot in Middle East, 1943-1944; served with Headquarters 3 Corps in Greece, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, 1919-1940: father's military service in First World War; employment on merchant vessels; family home; training with Local Defence Volunteers. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Army Ordnance Corps at Royal West Kent Regt Regimental Depot at Maidstone, 4/1940-7/1940: background to enlistment, 5/1940; physical condition on enlistment; drill; adjustment to discipline. Aspects of period as clerk with Royal Army Ordnance Corps at Headquarters, 3rd Corps in GB and Middle East, 1940-1942: duties at Chilwell Depot; posting to Headquarters, 3 Corps in Whitchurch; encounter with military policeman on bicycle; meetings with local family.
REEL 2 Continues: loss of family members in air raid, 19/3/1941; move to Northern Ireland; compassionate leave to bury family; move from Whitchurch to Lurgan; reasons for lack of IRA activity; relations with civilians in Northern Ireland; role of 3 Corps in Northern Ireland; exercises; move to transit camp in Delamere Forest, 6/1942. Voyage from GB to Middle East, 1942: convoy to Freetown; depth charging on leaving Freetown; religious convictions; ashore in Cape Town; conditions on troopship from South Africa to India; ashore in Bombay; disembarking in Basra, Iraq; living conditions in camp.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as NCO with Ordnance Field Park 3 Corps and 5 Base Ordnance Depot in Middle East, 1943-1944: circumstances of his promotion; impressions of Iraq; visit to Palestine; encounter with Stern Gang near Lydda; conditions in Baghdad; theft from Kurds; smell of camel caravans; health, flies and extreme weather conditions; atmosphere in Palestine; move to 5 Base Ordnance Depot in Egypt; training Italian POWs as drivers; relations with Egyptians; responsibilities as staff sergeant and relations with subordinates. Recollections of period as NCO with Headquarters, 3 Corps in Greece, 1944-1945: brief move to Italy; voyage from Italy to Piraeus; reception in Athens; setting up vehicle depot in factory; shelling of factory by Communist on outbreak of Greek Civil War.
REEL 4 Continues: setting up of 140 Ordnance Depot; maintaining contacts made in Greece; Communist shelling of factory; leading vehicle convoy out of factory; street fighting in Athens; PYTHON and LIAP systems of leave; journey from Greece to GB on leave via Italy; leave in GB; return to Athens; return to GB. Demobilisation and adjustment to civilian life. Advantages of military life. Qualities of good officers.