Drake, James Joseph (Oral history)

British private and NCO served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and North Africa, 1940-1943; NCO served in Ford Castle and Callaly Castle Military Hospitals in GB, 1943-1946

REEL 1 Background in Hemsworth, GB, 1913-1940: family; description of life in Hemsworth; background of parents; brother Howard Drake's service in First World War; details of other siblings including brothers who served in Second World War; air raids during First World War; injuries received in First World War by Howard Drake; education including story of treatment for eye injury at Leeds Infirmary and discipline; grammar school entrance exam and reasons for not going; summary of civilian work. REEL 2 Continues: work at butchers while at school; ambition to work with cars and motorbike bought; reason for not working in mine; father's work in mines; activities during 1926 General Strike; pay received by father; more on work with doctor; membership of tennis club and leisure activities; work as lorry driver including signs of approaching war. REEL 3 Continues: memories of wife and children prior to service; work as driver with council; leisure activities with family; civil defence training received before war; concerns among civilians about gas; opinion of Neville Chamberlain and Munich Agreement; story of arrival of evacuees and declaration of war while on holiday in Blackpool 9/1939; reactions to war; call-up and formation of 16th Battalion; instructors of civil defence group; HGV licence and opinion would not be called up; posting to and arrival in Edinburgh. Recollections of period as private and NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1940-1942: arrival in camp with battalion; weather and conditions in camp; train journey to Edinburgh; friend in draft; reactions to posting in Durham Light Infantry; reactions of wife to call-up; mail; activities during first fortnight including inoculations; issue of uniform; story of trouble for reprimanding NCO; background and memories of troops. REEL 4 Continues: weapons trained with; daily routine; fatigues; guard duties; NCOs from Beds and Herts; interview with Major Innis; morale; learning of Light Infantry pace by Beds and Herts NCOs; keenness to learn; proficiency with rifle; setting of sight on rifle; types of rifle in battalion; discipline; troops having difficulties in training; application for motor transport section including offer of promotion in A Company; arrival in motor transport section and test run; posting as commanding officer's driver; accommodation in Dalkeith; memories of commanding officer; weekends in Edinburgh; Royal Army Service Corps troops posted with battalion; places visited by colonel; story of leave granted after six months. REEL 5 Continues: promotion to Lance Corporal; details of pay; wife's work during war; proportion of battalion who were married; time in charge of awkward squad; church parades and accommodation in Dunfermline; story of a gun fired during a guard inspection; opinion of training; relationship with civilians; memories of Company Sergeant Major George Gates including make-up of Headquarters Company; details and stories of route marches; rations; state of troops feet following route marches; pace on route marches; marching songs; summary of training received; equipment situation; posting in carrier platoon and promotion to Corporal; collection of first carrier; driving of carrier. REEL 6 Continues: teaching of platoon to drive carrier; formation of platoon; NCOs in platoon; memories of Lieutenant Lax and Captain Kirkup; leaves while stationed in GB; duties on coast at Folkestone and story of sea being set on fire; opinion of Scotland and civilians; journey to Norfolk in convoy; carriers in battalion; problems with one carrier and remedy; course attended in Cambridge; vehicles in battalion; accommodation in North Walsham; activities of carrier platoon in Norfolk; cross country performance of carriers; make-up of a carrier crew; communications; posting on Lord Fisher's estate in Thetford; story of patrolling on a manoeuvre. REEL 7 Continues: argument with Major Sebag-Montefiore about absence of rations on manoeuvre and subsequent interview with colonel; involvement in Bumper scheme; walk from Salisbury Plain to Rye; accommodation; relationship with civilians in Rye; bombing of Rye; activity of anti-aircraft guns including British plane shot down over Rye; memories of Morris Pletts and Sergeant Lucas; memories of Sergeant Doorman; relationship among sergeants; memories of Platoon Sergeant Major Glover; stories of Private Morson going AWOL including after being collected from jail. REEL 8 Continues: story of escorting Private Morson from jail in Yorkshire; guarding of Private Morson at Camberley and his escape; story of Sergeant Matten losing stripes because of Morson's escape; opinion of why battalion held on to Private Morson; training received at battle school in Kent including wounding of an officer; reactions to training with live ammunition; wounding of Sergeant Lucas; opinion of instructors and course; fellow NCOs who took course; memories of battalion commanding officers; contact with Regiment Sergeant Majors in GB and abroad; memories of General Montgomery; memories of Sergeant Battle; relationship with Company Sergeant Major Gates; activities in Sergeants Mess. REEL 9 Continues: visits to local pub in Rye; gambling among NCOs including story of a win at brag; religion and politics in battalion; involvement of private soldiers and officers in gambling; playing darts against civilians in pub; contact with troops from other parts of brigade; Irish soldier who often got into fights; playing cricket for battalion; night manoeuvres; communications on manoeuvres including description of throat microphones used; formation of carriers in threes; make-up of carrier crew and own role; summary of battle school training; entertainment and memories of Sergeant Aitchison; effect on morale of shoulder flashes; reiteration of air raids over Rye and British plane shot down. REEL 10 Continues: fishermen killed by German air activity; reasons for not being able to fire on German aircraft; rumours and knowledge of posting aboard; inspection from King George VI at Camberley; departure of Corporal Easley for officer training; army attitude toward socialising with subordinates; friends in carrier platoon; weapons in battalion including opinion and use of anti-tank rifle; departure of older soldiers; journey to Liverpool; boarding of troopship Devonshire. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Algiers, Algeria, aboard the Devonshire, 12/1942-1/1943: route taken to Algiers; seasickness of Sergeant Walton; headache suffered in rough seas; submarine scares; transport of carriers; sleeping arrangements; guard duties; story of seasickness after a rough night; precautions taken against seasickness; informing of wife of posting abroad; knowledge of destination; activities on ship during voyage; submarine scares and position in convoy; stories of gambling during voyage. REEL 11 Continues: seasickness of other passengers; story of returning money won from gambling; proficiency at three-card brag; gambling with officers; activity of destroyers in convoy; discovery of destination; arrival in Algiers and disembarkation. Aspects of operations as NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1/1943- 3/1943: march to camp; arrival in camp and second march to vineyard; accommodation and first night; discovery of blisters in morning; impressions of Algiers; restaurant visited in Algiers; contact with Americans in Algiers; activities in vineyard camp; journey in convoy to front and collection of carriers from docks; scenes on journey along coast; beggar met on journey; condition of roads; arrival at Sedjenane and situation in Tunisia; duties of carrier platoon; Messerschmitt attacks on carriers and camp; lookouts and road repairers on patrols. REEL 12 Continues: damaged French vehicle acquired; description of camp; pig shot for dinner; rations; activities of carrier platoon; description of Sedjenane village; reason for later transferring to foot; training course for Vickers machine gun attended; relationship with American troops; opinion and firing of Vickers gun; training carrier platoon on Vickers; contact with rifle companies; mail; news of war received; situation and conference attended; news of German advance; carrier movement during first attack by rifle companies; problematic German mortar and machine gun; orders to attack machine gun and mortar; preparation for attack; repeated cancellation and affirmation of orders; talk with colonel about situation; opinions of colonel and Captain Kirkup. REEL 13 Continues: approach to hill and civilian driving mule; splitting up of carrier platoon and movement around hill; setting up of Vickers and position of German machine gun; firing on German position; vantage point taken and sighting of mortar position; destruction of mortar position; runner sent back for instructions; spotting of troops; fight with German troops further up hill; escape from position and cover taken by river; reunion with platoon; proximity to Germans fought; impression of German troops; weapons used by Germans; reactions during battle when ordered platoon officer back; sizes of sections and activities of Sergeant Doorman's section; more on reactions during battle and opinion of fitness and battle school training; stopping of message claiming him dead; time by river; return to Sedjenane along river; joining with stray members of rifle companies; carrying back of an officer; report to officers upon arrival in camp; effect of attacks on rifle companies; mood of officers; revolver given by wounded officer he carried; memories of Lieutenant Lacks and Captain Kirkup; bogging up of carriers and their recovery; orders for defensive positions to be taken around Sedjenane village. REEL 14 Continues: group formed for defence of village; objectives for defence of village; role given for operation; plan for approach to village; journey to village and ruse to trick Germans over size of force; taking up of positions; visit to ammunition dump; start of German shelling; arrangement of forces ready for German advance and orders given to troops; advance of German troops; firing on Germans; advance of second German force and action taken against them; activities through rest of day and lull at nightfall; ammunition shortage; damage to bren guns; passing around of bren guns; attitude towards Captain Aitchison; use of grenades and burning of village buildings; start of slow retreat from village and orders given for return; story of evacuation with wounded troops; reaction of colonel on return; steady return of platoon from village and troops taken POW; troops accompanying him on return; success of operation; state on return to battalion; eating of emergency rations; news of rifle companies' activities; reinforcements and arrival of tanks; opinion that battalion had ceased to exist and decision to go forward with tanks. REEL 15 Continues: arrival of train with tanks; situation the following morning; talk with Sergeant Henderson and decision to assist tanks; journey forward with tanks and advice given to commander; shelling of first tank and death of driver; advance of other tanks and retreat with Durham troops; rest in tunnel; decision to fall back; start of march back towards battalion and approach of carrier; news gained from brigadier; return to behind lines and reunion with officers; activities behind lines; news of Military Medal award during a parade; recommendation for officer training; decision to stay with unit; departure of patrol to meet No 1 Commandos; disappearance of patrol and attempt to find it; discovery of ex-German positions on farm and news of patrol's fate including death of Morris Pletts; investigation of second farm; return to unit at nightfall and discovery of destroyed carrier from patrol; Stuka attacks; formation and activities of composite platoon; positions created on a hillside and tank battle witnessed; medical problems during tank battle; diagnosis from field hospital and transfer to 94th General Hospital in Algiers; state of battalion after Sedjenane; memories of Colonel Worrell and Captain Valance; evacuation of carriers. REEL 16 Continues: No 1 Commandos and Sherwood Foresters at Sedjenane; opinion of German troops; tactics employed in North Africa by German Army; opinions of German weapons; advantages created in positions taken at Sedjenane; discussion of rifle company tactics; arrival of officer from Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; attitude towards Captain Aitchison; medical problems suffered; description of field hospital. Aspects of hospitalisation in Algeria, 1943: transfer to 94th General Hospital in Algiers; treatment received and relationship with ward doctor; dysentery among German POWs; description of pain felt; activities in hospital; news of return to GB and reactions; story of German medical officer on ward; attitude towards nurse fraternising with German medical officer; length of time at 94th General Hospital; visits to Sergeant Weens and a carrier platoon member; boarding of hospital ship; movement around hospital; memories of German POWs; mail. Aspects of journey from Algiers, Algeria, to GB aboard the Hospital Ship Newfoundland, 1943: conditions onboard; visit from friend from home Smart and suggestion he should draw the ward NAAFI supplies. REEL 17 Continues: visit to prisoners onboard Newfoundland; distribution of NAAFI cigarettes and spares stowed away; lights on ship; arrival in Avonmouth and transfer of cigarettes onto hospital train. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 1943: journey to Bishop Auckland Hospital; storage of cigarettes in hospital; tobacco kept aside for father; items confiscated and stolen at hospital; differences in attitude of Quarter Master in GB and Africa; ranks carrying binoculars and compass; description of range finder issued; cigarettes issued in Africa; reason for being sent to Bishop Auckland; background of patients on hospital ship; treatment received in Bishop Auckland; opinion of treatment during hospitalisation; transfer to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and weekend at home; arrival at Pinderfields Hospital and refusal to bathe; granting of disembarkation leave and reasons for not requiring extra money; disembarkation leave; treatment received at Pinderfields Hospital including diet; medical board hearing and offer of hospital work; discussion with wife and decision to take work; new medical grading. Aspects of period as NCO serving in Military Hospitals in GB, 1943-1946: time at Northern Command Infantry Depot in Bingham including work looking after mess; transfer to Aberystwyth and tests taken. REEL 18 Continues: interview and wait for posting in Hemsworth; reported to Hexham and posting given at Ford Castle; stripping of and return to rank; administrative duties undertaken including explanation of acquittance rolls; completion of paperwork and help gained from patients; bedroll duties; complaints and backgrounds of patients; capacity of hospital; length of time at Ford Castle; arrival and departure of patients including hospital uniform; discipline duties at Ford Castle including punishment given; story of a patient put on a court martial for stealing mail; description of court martial at Berwick-upon- Tweed; other examples of ill discipline; story of neurosurgeon Mr Rowbottom's treatment of a Naval patient with a brain tumour. REEL 19 Continues: ENSA concerts and other entertainments arranged; ranks present in hospital and dealing with more senior ranks; tennis and other sports played at Ford Castle; gambling; attitude toward gambling while in Durham Light Infantry; exchange of posts with corporal at Callaly Castle; memories of the matron and local schoolmaster at Ford Castle; nurses at Ford Castle; transfer of Callaly Castle; visits of patients to Alnwick; differences at Callaly Castle; following progress of war; process of discharging patients from army including major who came to oversee medical boards; relaxation in discharging patients; laminectomies; VE Day; Durham Light Infantry patients; presentation of Military Medal at Buckingham Palace; opinion that won the Military Medal for an earlier action. REEL 20 Continues: reading of Military Medal citation; reiteration of opinion that won the Military Medal for an earlier action; leadership at Sedjenane; activities of officers in defence of Sedjenane; description of bren magazine; amount of ammunition carried on patrols; storage of ammunition; wait for discharge; description of Age and Service Group; process of demobilisation. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: return to civilian life and service of brothers during war including relocation to Blackpool; Blackpool in 1946; retirement and time in council and Masonic order; wearing of Durham Light Infantry cap badge in hospitals; cutting of contact with army. Aspects of operations as NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 3/1943: awareness of army film unit at Sedjenane; comment on photographs taken during first day of Battle of Sedjenane including reiteration of actions on that day against German mortar and machine gun positions a photocopy of which is in the file. REEL 21 Continues: terrain at Sedjenane; opinion of where information about German positions had come from; description of where Sedjenane village was in relation to hills in photograph; comment on photographs of village where he won Military Medal.