Description
Object description
British gunner served with Royal Artillery in GB, 1932-1938; civilian employee at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, GB, 1938-1939; NCO served as instructor with 124 OCTU and with 20th Indian Artillery Regt in GB and India, 1939-1941; served with General Headquarters Second Echelon in India, 1941-1945. Civlian employee at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, 1946-1978
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as civilian employee at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1938-1939: background to finding employment at Sandhurst, 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 Sandhurst on outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; increase in work; weekly routine and mess waiter duties; lunchtime break. Recollections of period as civilian employee at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1946-1978: return to Sandhurst; wartime changes in establishment; role on return to Sandhurst; 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 Attendent; work on band nights; duration of dinner and cleaning up afterwards; question of keeping dogs; memories of Bernard Fergusson. Aspects of period as gunner with Royal Artillery in GB, 1932-1938: reasons for joining army; basic training; discipline; handling 18 Pounder; dealing with horses; daily routine; rations; role as duty stableman; soldier's pay; duration of service; reasons for staying in army. Aspects of period as NCO with 124 OCTU at Llandindrodwell, c1939- 1941: duties on wireless training.
REEL 4 Continues: setting up roadblock during invasion scare. Recollections of period as instructor with Indian Army in India c1941-1945: reasons for volunteering to instruct Indian troops; character of voyage from GB to India via South Africa; arrival in India; formation of 20th Indian 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 Sandhurst on return, 1946.