Description
Object description
British bandboy served with 7th Queen's Own Hussars in Egypt, 1939-1942; trooper served with 7th Queen's Own Hussars, 7th Armoured Bde in Burma, India, Iraq, French Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, 2/1942-4/1944; served with Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, 8th Armoured Bde in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB and India, 1922-1939: family; plan to join cavalry band; education in India. Recollections of period as bandboy with 7th Queen's Own Hussars in Egypt, 1939-1942: method of recruitment; natrue of troopship voyage from Bombay, India to Alexandria, Egypt; oath of allegiance at regiment in Abbassia; initial impressions of Egypt; issue of kit; interview with bandmaster and issue of different instruments; conversion from orchestral music to military music; daily routine for regimental trumpeters; duty days for trumpeters; role running errands for bandsmen; role assisting band on engagements; church services; discipline; living conditions in barracks; sporting activities.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of Light Tank Mk VIB; lack of contact with tanks; equestrianism in unit; reasons for lack of complaints during visits by band president; attitude to treatment by bandsmen; pay and stoppages; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939; reasons for decision to stay with regiment for regimental duty; regiment preparations for war service; number of those left out of battle; malingerers; reasons for requesting other duties; role unloading vehicles at Port Tewfik; learning to drive in desert; driving vehicles onto railway flats; driving onto tank transporters; composition of detachment at docks; threat of Axis air raids; casualties from Axis air raids.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as trooper with C Sqdn, 7th Hussars, 7th Armoured Bde in Burma, 2/1942-5/1942: rejoining regiment, 2/1942; degree of knowledge about regiment's action at Sidi Rezegh, Libya; re-equipping with M3 Honey Tank; casualties sustained by regiment at Sidi Rezegh, Libya; sight of refugees from Singapore, Malaya at Colombo, Ceylon on route to Burma; reaction to surrender of Singapore, Malaya; diversion to Rangoon; impressions on arrival in Rangoon; characteristics of 3 Ton Dodge Truck allocated to him; memories of co-driver 'Frenchie' Robinson; unloading at Rangoon; camp in rubber plantation; situation in Rangoon; obtaining goods from warehouses; duration of unloading; occasional Imperial Japanese Air Service attacks and sight of American Volunteer Group; role unloading provisions.
REEL 4 Continues: working on regimental plan; acquiring canvas bedroll and refrigerator; uniform worn; weapons carried and prior weapons training; wish to acquire Thompson Machine Gun; systematic demolition of docks; loading vehicle with petrol and maintenance stores; role of squadron B Echelon; command of echelon; condition of roads and terrain; use of No 19 Wireless Set in M3 Honey Tank; selection of rendezvous; method of supplying tanks; daytime activities; fatigue during retreat and threat of encirclement.
REEL 5 Continues: story of shuttle journey in which his vehicle broke down on approach to Ava Bridge; reliability of his vehicle; attack by Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft after collecting beer from brewery in Mandalay; behaviour of attacking aircraft; routine maintenance on vehicle and supply of spares; camouflaging vehicles and security; types of places used to replenish and procedures for approaching rendezvous; Imperial Japanese Army's treatment of captured NCO; Imperial Japanese Army tactics; sight of Japanese prisoners of war; state of health.
REEL 6 Continues: suitable locations for replenishment rendezvous; attitude of Burmese monks and civilians towards British; maps available and method of navigating to rendezvous; incident of using railway line during night move; passing through oil fires in Yenangyaung; stories of Japanese atrocities; loading and unloading vehicles; move to Kalewa on River Chindwin; destruction of unit tanks on banks of River Chindwin; items taken on destruction of vehicle; method of destroying vehicle; ferry across River Chindwin; use of rough tracks using smuggler guides; rate of movement and impediments; organisation at Tamu; move in British Indian Army trucks to Imphal, India; conditions in camp at Dysentery Hill, India including infestation of leeches.
REEL 7 Continues: move to Manipur, India; foraging for food on route to River Chindwin; instance of food poisoning; supplies of water available. Aspects of period as trooper with 7th Queen's Own Hussars, 7th Armoured Bde in India, 1942-1943: atmosphere in transit at Nagpur; acquiring whiskey supplies at Nagpur; arrival in Dhond; leave with parents in Bangalore; wounding of his brother in Burma; becoming tank driver on M3 Grant Tank; technique for driving M3 Grant Tank; armament of M3 Grant Tank; move to Bombay. Aspects of period as trooper with 7th Queen's Own Hussars, 7th Armoured Bde in Iraq, French Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, 1943-1944: landing in Basra, Iraq and move to Aleppo, French Syria; training at Aleppo, French Syria; move to Baaldeck near Beirut, Lebanon; characteristics of M4 Sherman Tank; leave in Beirut, Lebanon; visits to Zahlé; move to Fayed, Egypt.
REEL 8 Continues: facilities at Fayed, Egypt; atmosphere in regiment. Aspects of period as trooper on draft in GB, 4/1944-6/1944: return to GB under Python leave scheme; impressions of GB; move to Armoured Reinforcement Depot at Manningtree; attitude of his sergeant-major. Recollections of operations as trooper with B Sqdn, Sherwood Rangers, 8th Armoured Bde in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: crossing English Channel; in holding camp near Arromanches-les-Bains; posting to unit near Bayeux to drive M4 Sherman Tank; reception by crew; effects of opening fire on German Tiger tank during patrol towards Jurques; reversing into cover after shot; restricted movement in bocage terrain; infantry-armour co-operation; threats to tanks and use of prophylactic fire; nature of fighting in Normandy; damage to tank by German Panzerfaust in farmyard; method of firing gun and conditions in tank during action; communication in tank and direction by tank commander; reliability of M4 Sherman Tank.
REEL 9 Continues: maintenance of tanks; leaguering tanks at night; replenishment process and stand to; amusing story of German direct hit on cheese processing site and subsequent fear of gas attack; conditions in Falaise Gap; rest period in Arromanches-les-Bains area; lack of sleep in front line; effect on morale of tea; wounding by German artillery fire near Jerusalem; evacuation to Casualty Clearing Station; return to B Sqdn; contracting jaundice at Vernon and evacuation to GB; attempts to rejoin 7th Queen's Own Hussars band after hospitalisation; comparison between 7th Queen's Own Hussars and Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry; return to regimental duty with 7th Queen's Own Hussars.