Description
Object description
British private served with 70th and 9th Bns Dorsetshire Regt in GB, 1941-1943; trooper trained with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1943-1944; trooper and NCO served with Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons), 4th Armoured Bde in GB and North West Europe, 2/1944-5/1945; NCO served with Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) in Germany, Middle East and GB, 1945-1960
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Dawlish, GB, 1923-1941: education; employment; membership of Home Guard including uniform worn; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of enlistment and training as period as private and NCO with 70th and 9th Bns Dorsetshire Regt in GB, 1941-1942: enlistment in British Army at Exeter and reaction of parents, 1941; reception on arrival at Dorsetshire Regiment Regimental Depot, Depot Barracks, Dorchester; relations with fellow recruits; pattern of training; opinion of military life; supply of meals; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; friends in unit and leisure activities; guard duties at Fort Rowner; application for commission; duties as lance corporal; posting to Muddiford; promotion to corporal; relations with officers and fellow NCOs; opinion of infantry service; recreational activities; renumbering of 70th Bn to 9th Bn Dorsetshire Regt, 27/9/1942; knowledge of regimental history; posting to Colchester Garrison; promotion to sergeant; attending battle course.
REEL 2 Continues: refusal of commission; reversion to private and period as clerk; background to joining of Royal Armoured Corps. Aspects of period of training as trooper with Royal Armoured Corps in GB, 1943-1944: accommodation and sleeping arrangements at Bovington Camp; pattern of training; boxing; war news. Aspects of period as trooper with Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons), 4th Armoured Bde in GB, 2/1944-6/1944: posting to regiment at Worthing, 2/1944; waterproofing of M4 Sherman Tank; talks received from war veterans; posting to and role of Tank Delivery Sqdn; posting to C Echelon; period in sealed camp and memories of D-Day, 6/6/1944; journey to Southampton including sight of German prisoners of war; voyage to Normandy. Aspects of operations as trooper with Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons), 4th Armoured Bde in North West Europe, 6/1944-5/1945: landing on beaches, Normandy, France, 9/6/1944; posting to C Sqdn; role as lap gunner; reaction to being in tank in action; composition and role of 4th Armoured Bde; involvement in battle for Caen; sights witnessed in Falaise Gap; description of M4 Sherman Tank tracks and problems with them in Belgium.
REEL 3 Continues: relations with civilians in Belgium and Normandy, France; activities in Normandy, France; rations; composition of tank crew; storage of ammunition and firing of guns; storage of fuel; range of tanks; sleeping arrangements; German artillery fire received whilst in laager; engagements with German forces; latrines; uniform worn during North West Europe Campaign; degree of knowledge of wider battle for Caen, Normandy, France; state of Caen, Normandy, France; contact with civilians in France; composition of squadron; return to unit in Netherlands following breakdown of tank in Belgium; activities during breakdown.
REEL 4 Continues: regiment's role in Netherlands; characteristics of Sherman Firefly Tank including concerns during attack on Tilburg, Netherlands; nature of wintering in Netherlands; physical training and activities; nature of journey to take leave in GB; leave including desire to return to unit; return journey to unit; method of heating meals; story of accident with fire; unit casualties and reaction to loss of friends; medical staff; opinion of officers; pride in regiment; relations with civilians in Germany; mail; souvenirs; question of looting; requisitioning of accommodation; journey to Wismar, Germany, 4/1945-5/1945; nature of arrival in Wismar, Germany, 5/1945, including surrender of German forces and removal of civilians from streets; contact with Soviet Army; withdrawal along coast; reaction to end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945.
REEL 5 Continues: story of driving over mine and subsequent German fire artillery received; description of recovery vehicle; medical evacuation of driver; towing away of tank; sight of comrades' wounds; story of later mine accident during exercise in Libya, 1953; details of replacement crew. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) in Germany, 1945-1952: accommodation at Kamp-Lintfort; story of cooks; postings in Germany; riding; visits to opera in Düsseldorf; characteristics of Churchill Crocodile Flame-Throwing Tank and Comet Tank; promotion to lance sergeant; drinking whiskey in sergeants' mess; posting to Lüneburg; accommodation in former cavalry barracks at Lüneburg; presence of families; relations with German civilians; presence of German civilian workers in camp; changes to regiment including arrival of National Service conscripts; role and duties; character of Centurion Tank; relations with German civilians and recreational activities.
REEL 6 Continues: rations; exercises; knowledge of Holocaust; story of attending German wedding in Lüneburg; knowledge of German language; regimental celebration of Battle of Waterloo, 18/6/1955; unit officers. Recollections of period as NCO with Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) in Middle East, 1952-1955: period in Barce Barracks and nature of surrounding area, Libya; exercises; recreational activities; role as squadron sergeant-major and quartermaster; posting to Egypt; period in Canal Zone, Egypt; return to Libya; visit of Queen Elizabeth II; ear problems and posting to officers' mess; duties; move to Jordan; journey to camp in Ma'an, Jordan; coping with climate.
REEL 7 Continues: activities of unit; visit to Petra, Jordan; visits from King Hussein and senior officers; visit to Arab Legion in Ma'an, Jordan and subsequent events; departure from Jordan and return to GB. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) in GB, 1955-1960: posting to and role at Castlemartin Camp, Merrion; marriage; preparations for and involvement in ceremonial parades; role in Catterick Camp; accommodation in married quarters at Catterick Camp; decision to leave British Army; education; morning parades; attachment to Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry at Paisley; accommodation at Paisley; education; background to leaving British Army, 1960. Post-service life and employment: teacher training; story of meeting Queen Elizabeth II.
REEL 8 Continues: employment; involvement in amateur dramatics; prior recollection of concert arranged at Barce, Libya; reflections on military service.
