Description
Object description
British private served with Somerset Light Infantry in GB, 1942; served with 5th Bn East Kent Regt (The Buffs) in GB and North Africa, 1942-1943; private and NCO served with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in North Africa, Italy, Middle East and Austria, 1943-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Horley, GB, 1914-1934: family; education; civilian work and knowledge of events in Europe; war work; outbreak of war and reaction; work status and attempts to join army; deferral of enlistment; further details of war work; air activity; friends and relatives in army; joining of army; posting to Gloucester. Aspects of period as private with Somerset Light Infantry in GB, 4/1942-12/1942: knowledge of regiment; background of recruits; move of wife and child to Gloucester; first impressions of unit; issue of kit; initial training; further details of recruits; length of time at Gloucester; posting to Frinton-on-Sea and training undertaken; weapons trained with; memories of awkward recruit; details of uniform.
REEL 2 Continues: evening activities; contact with RAF; route marches; details of pay; assault training; exercises with tanks; further details of route marches; embarkation leave; details of pay book; story of flora at Sedjenane; knowledge of destination; opinion of training; train journey to Liverpool; details of draft. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Algiers, Algeria, aboard the Duchess of Gloucester, 12/1942-1/1943: conditions onboard; rations; sleeping arrangements; activities during voyage; impressions of new unit; scenes during through Straits of Gibraltar; knowledge of destination; arrival in Algiers; shortages on ship. Aspects of operations as private and NCO with 5th Bn East Kent Regt (The Buffs) and 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in North Africa, 1/1943-3/1943: creation of officers' mess; leisure activities in Algiers; memories of platoon members; activities in transit camp; journey to frontline at Sedjenane.
REEL 3 Continues: action seen during Battle of Sedjenane; reunion with battalion; joining of medical staff; state of Regimental Aid Post; further reflections on battle; examples of self-inflicted wounds; situation before Battle of Sedjenane; posting and duties as medical officer's clerk; memories of medical officer Captain Kerringham; details of sick parades; treatment of malingerers; attitude to self-inflicted wounds; journey to Algiers; posting in hospital; posting of battalion at Bizerte; invasion training; preference for own regiment; accommodation at Sedjenane; memories of civilians; wait for posting; Bob Hope concert; process of evacuation; make-up and activities of medical staff.
REEL 4 Continues: journey to Salerno. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in Italy, 9/1943-5/1945: scenes during disembarkation; weapon carried and discarded; location of Regimental Aid Post and story of it nearly being captured; story of collecting a casualty; story of soldier committing suicide before action at Cassino including German method of destroying railway and Padre Plore's bath; story of self-inflicted wound; treatment of shell- shocked soldiers; contact with German POWs; air activity; proximity of Regimental Aid Post to action; details of chess set made; contact with civilians; problems with receiving mail and equipment in Algeria; rations; compassionate leave in GB; more on mail problems; terrain and morale in Italy; evacuation of casualties; reunion with battalion after compassionate leave.
REEL 5 Continues: civilians and activities in Middle East; shellfire faced at Cassino; details of Regimental Aid Post; memories of Private Ponceford and other casualties; medical aid given; process of gaining compassionate leave; details of leave; return journey to battalion; activities in Middle East; VE Day celebrations. Aspects of period as NCO with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in Austria, 5/1945-3/1946: promotions to corporal; concerts; relationship with civilians; disbandment of battalion; duties on 46th Division Training Farm; surviving friends in unit; period with Loyal Regiment. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: demobilisation at Aldershot and civilian work; reflections on army service; involvement with Regimental Association; reading of reference given after work on farm; period with Local Defence Volunteers in 1940; dates spent with each unit.