Interview with Andrew Henry

British gunner served with Royal Artillery in GB, 1932-1938; civilian employee at Royal Military College Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1938-1939; NCO served as instructor with No 124 Officer Cadet Training Unit and with 20th Indian Artillery Regt in GB and India, 1939-1941; served with General Headquarters Second Echelon in India, 1941-1945; civilian employee at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1946-1978

REEL 1 Recollections of period as civilian employee at Royal Military College Sandhurst Camberley, GB 1938-1939: background to finding employment at college, 1938; prior recollections of military service with Royal Artillery and as groom to officer student at Staff College, Camberley; training trenches in Sandhurst area; First World War veterans college employees; attending Passive Air Defence course as reservist at Porton Down; digging of trenches; work on rifle range; quartermaster's role; terms of employment; permanent inside staff; duties of utility man; purchasing bungalow in Sandhurst, 8/1938; pay; daily routine for inside and outside staff; parading of fatigue party; uniform worn; anticipation of war. REEL 2 Continues: effects on Royal Military College Sandhurst on declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; increase in work; weekly routine and mess waiter duties; lunchtime break. Recollections of period as civilian employee at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Camberley, GB, 1946-1978: return to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; wartime changes in establishment; role on return to academy; reasons for wanting contact with cadets; gradual change in character of cadets; memories of General Arthur Denaro as cadet; readjustment to civilian life; duties as indoor staff; wages; work in B Block; duties of dormitory assistants; relations with officers; orderly servants; room inspections. REEL 3 Continues: promotion to Head Dormitory Attendant; work on band nights; duration of dinners and cleaning up afterwards; question of keeping dogs; memories of Brigadier Bernard Fergusson. Aspects of period as gunner with Royal Artillery in GB, 1932-1938: reasons for joining British Army; basic training; discipline; handling Ordnance QF 18 Pounder Field Gun; dealing with horses; daily routine; rations; role as duty stableman; pay; duration of service; reasons for staying in British Army. Aspects of period as NCO with No 124 Officer Cadet Training Unit, Royal Artillery at Llandrindod Wells in GB, 1939-1941: duties on wireless training. REEL 4 Continues: setting up roadblock during invasion scare. Recollections of period as instructor with British Indian Army in India, 1941-1945: reasons for volunteering to instruct British Indian Army troops; character of voyage from GB to India via South Africa; arrival in India; formation of 20th Indian Artillery Regt; duties at General Headquarters Second Echelon at Jhansi; chain of command; number of units dealt with by section; living conditions; relations with civilians; degree of threat from Quit India Movement; return to GB, 1/1946; conditions at Royal Military College Sandhurst on return, 1946.