Description
Object description
British trooper and NCO served with 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars in GB and North Africa, 1939-1942; NCO served with 8th King's Own Royal Irish Hussars in Cyprus, North Africa, GB, North West Europe and Germany, 1943-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in various places, GB, 1918-1939: family and education in Chesterfield and Haslemere; interest in wireless; civilian work including move to Cheltenham; joining of army including encouragement given to friends. Aspects of period as trooper with 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars in GB, 9/1939-10/1941: details of unit; outbreak of war; background of troops; uniform and equipment shortages; posting to Minehead; details of training; opinion of NCOs; accommodation and training in Ilfracombe; teaching of Morse code; posting as commanding officer's wireless operator; memories of Colonel Burley; changes to tank crews; details of Vickers Mk 6 and 2 man tanks; posting to Nottinghamshire; spread of regiment; details of communications; details of postings in GB, 1940; air activity; exercises; details of A13 and Crusader tanks; opinion of gunnery training; exercises and role at Warminster; changes to tank crews; role in echelon communications; knowledge of posting abroad; details of voyage to Egypt. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars in North Africa, 10/1941-1/1943: initial activities; plans for attack on Libya including transport of Crusader tanks up desert; knowledge of opposition; morale; German breakthrough and problems created during withdrawal.
REEL 2 Continues: description of the Gin Palace radio vehicle; German withdrawal; make-up of Honey tank crew; problems with tank during advance; withdrawal from German Army; activities during period left out of battle; description of Honey tank; posting to Sidi Bish; details and opinion of intelligence course undertaken; description of Grant tanks; return to front and activities at Saloum; camouflage of tanks; details of action against German tanks including own role; collection of Stewart and Grant tanks; subsequent action including death of commanding officers; activities of H Squadron; posting and visit to Alexandria; posting to Alamein Line; initial activities of unit; action seen and casualties including attachment to 9th Lancers; hitting of tank and damage caused; withdrawal and cover taken; story of return to tank; return to unit.
REEL 3 Continues: period of hospitalisation and convalescence; visit to Port Said; problems with desert sores; leisure activities in Cairo; details of base depot; theft of watch; return to and disbandment of 2nd Gloucestershire Hussars; journey to Cyprus and joining of Irish Hussars. Aspects of period as NCO with 8th King's Own Royal Irish Hussars in Cyprus and North Africa, 1/1943-12/1943: details of C Squadron and regiment's involvement in North Africa; details of camp; description of training undertaken with armoured cars; posting near Benghazi; role of unit; collection of British armoured cars; hospitalisation; voyage aboard Duchess of Richmond to GB. Aspects of period as NCO with 8th King's Own Royal Irish Hussars in GB, 12/1943-6/1944: postings in Norfolk and Bognor Regis including details of Cromwell tanks issued; role in unit; opinion of senior officers; boarding of landing craft; story of voyage to Normandy. Aspects of operations with NCO with 8th King's Own Royal Irish Hussars in North West Europe, 6/1944-5/1945: problems during disembarkation; opposition during landing; terrain in Bocage country; knowledge of situation; air activity; details of advance; sleeping arrangements; supply and details of ration including cooking of meals; scenes of dead animals; communications; contact with Germans.
REEL 4 Continues: advances into Belgium and toward Arnhem; contact with American troops; activities of Hussars serving with infantry; details of role in unit as signals sergeant including use of Fuller telephone; crossing of Rhine; morale; story of wine; relationship with civilians in Belgium and Netherlands; advance through Germany to Berlin. Aspects of period as NCO with 8th King's Own Royal Irish Hussars in Germany, 1945: activities in Berlin including relationship with civilians; final action of unit; details of typewriter acquired.
REEL 5 Continues: VE Day celebrations; posting to Northern Germany; involvement in amateur radio including duties during period at Dieppe transit camp and building of radio station; demobilisation, 3/1946; correspondence course taken in Benghazi; reunions with former comrades.
