Interview with Leslie Brown

British schoolchild evacuee from Jarrow to Weardale, GB, 1939-1940; civilian in Jarrow, GB, 1940-1942; private served with Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle, GB, 1942-1943; private and NCO served as signaller with 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 209th Independent Infantry Bde, 77th Infantry Div in GB, 1943; private served as signaller with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Italy, Middle East and Greece, 12/1943-5/1945; NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Greece, 1946-1947

REEL 1 Background in Jarrow, GB, 1923-1939: father's employment; memories of the Jarrow March, 10/1936; visits to shipyard; family; education; reasons for not seeking employment in shipyards; school certificate; impact of political events in Europe, 1936-1939; politics; outbreak of war. Aspects of period as civilian in Jarrow, GB, 1940-1942: declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; German Air Force raids; enlistment and duties with Air Raid Precautions; reason for not being able to join Royal Air Force; employment in Hebburn and Felling including pay; leisure activities; father's and brother's employment during Second World War; civilian reaction to war following Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; rationing. Aspects of enlistment in British Army, 1942: call-up form military service; medical in Newcastle upon Tyne; selection tests and opportunity to choose path; war service of school friends. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of basic training with Royal Sussex Regiment in GB, 1942: posting to Chichester; packing away of own clothes; uniform issued; reaction to posting; background in recruits; accommodation; army number; introduction to army discipline; drill; morning procedures; Bren Gun training; firing ranges; lectures; evening activities; rations; discipline; awkward recruits; drill competition; standard of turnout; polishing of uniform parts; smart greatcoat and quality of kit; punishment given to thief later at Brancepeth Castle; NCOs in training; kit inspections; comradeship; issue of rifle and shooting; firing of Bren Gun; hand grenade training; route marches; example of a standout recruit; morale; leaving camp; football; physical training; opinions of fellow recruits; coping with being away from home; assessment; reaction to transfer to Brancepeth Castle. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as private with Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle, GB, 1942-1943: journey to and arrival at Brancepeth Castle; daily routine; Morse Code training; opinion of training and usefulness of different communication techniques; training with field telephone; night exercises; learning light infantry marching pace and new arms drill; route marches; radio training; reliability of radios; details of radio sets used; fitness training; football; duties as 'stickman' contact with officers; weekend leave; punishment for being late back from leave; standard of turnout; memories of 'Bush' Williams; further details of Morse Code training; posting to 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Hornsea; newsreels; memories of NCO at Brancepeth Castle. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as private and NCO with 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 209th Independent Infantry Bde, 77th Infantry Div in GB, 1943: summary of infantry course attended; promotion to lance corporal; discussion of course; character of Hornsea; role of signal platoon on schemes; chain of communication; posting to Durham and drafting programme; discussion of possible destinations on draft; accommodation; duties as lance corporal; attitude towards promotion; pay; discipline; accommodation in Durham; nature of wartime Durham; composition of signals platoon; embarkation leave; reaction to overseas service; opinions of training and equipment; training with and opinion of Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (PIAT); engagement; journey to Glasgow. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Champollion from Glasgow, GB, to French Algeria, 1943: ship sailed on; seasickness; conditions on board; knowledge of destination; stop at Gibraltar and convoy to French Algeria. Aspects of period as NCO and private with on draft with Durham Light Infantry in French Algeria, 1943: initial impressions of French Algeria; move into barracks in Philippeville, French Algeria; troops in barracks; knowledge of destination. REEL 5 Continues: football; reasons for reverting back to rank of private; situation in Italy; Allied troops present at Philippeville; journey to Naples; first impressions of Italy. Recollections of operations as signaller with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Italy, 12/1943-3/1944: reception from battalion; composition of signals platoon; initial contact with battalion personnel; joining B Coy; route march through Camino; impressions of fighting area; weather; story of initial experience of artillery fire; rest afterwards; use of wireless set and land lines; chain of command; use of wireless set on move; code words and conversing with commanding officers; opinion of training; discussion of feelings while under fire; description of German multi-barrelled mortars; digging in; initial impressions of dead troops; activities in front line; forward movement and wait for America forces; advance towards River Garigliano; contact with United States Army troops; use of Compo rations. REEL 6 Continues: cigarette ration; crossing the River Garigliano; lunch in mountains; plan of attack in mountains; casualties in leading platoon; sights witnessed in River Garigliano valley; call for artillery support; move through German artillery fire and splitting up of troops; walk along ridge; cover taken in wood and destruction of tree; contact with Private Bill Wade; withdrawal with forward platoons; casualties; reorganisation; stand to; opinion of attack strategy; communication difficulties; organisation of company during attack; memories of signals officer Captain George Harris; nature of terrain; morale of battalion; opinion of German Army troops and weapons; opinion of Thompson Submachine Gun; duties at company headquarters; dangers while repairing telephone lines; settling in of reinforcements; NCOs in signals platoon; standard of turnout. REEL 7 Continues: role and duties with Headquarters Coy; rota worked; sleeping arrangements; organisation of meals; protection against the cold; chain of command; reason for not suffering from trench foot; German artillery shelling; confidentiality of information; German forces' jamming of radios; maintenance of equipment by Lance Corporal Jack Howe; company wireless sets; mail; comradeship in signals platoon; being relieved in front line. Aspects of period as private with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Middle East, 3/1944-7/1944: journey from Italy to Egypt; in transit at Quassassin Camp, Egypt; leave in Cairo, Egypt; training; discipline; memories of the Regimental Sergeant-Major Harrison Thomasson and Company Sergeant-Major George Gates; problem with pencil in leg; playing football near Nathanya, Palestine; time in Tel Aviv, Palestine. REEL 8 Continues: comrades serving in the signals platoon; socialising as a platoon; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel John Preston; posting as battalion commander's signaller; reactions to posting; role on exercises; weather conditions in French Syria; transportation of radio; visits to Lake Tiberias, Jerusalem and Bethlehem in Palestine; guard duties in French Syria; cinema; visit to Damascus, French Syria; pay backlogs; receiving news of D-Day landings, 6/6/1944; journey from Egypt to Naples, Italy, 7/1944. Aspects of operations as private with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Italy, 7/1944-12/1944: sports tournaments; initial impressions of Gothic Line; reasons for change; movement through Apennine Mountains; memories of Major Denis Worrall during battalion attacks; attitudes towards serving in Italian Campaign; further memories of Major Denis Worrall; air and artillery support; nature the German 88mm artillery fire. REEL 9 Continues: problems with mines; mine detection training; reinforcements; battalion morale; superiority of German forces' positions; story of Universal Carrier accident; artillery shelling received at Gemmano; communications; discussion of shell shock amongst troops; time spent in monastery; presence of Italian photographer in village; relations with Italian civilians; story of Private Ronnie Elliott's tank experience; opinion that would rather be in open than in an enclosed vehicle; battalion officers; waiting for 2/5th Bn Leicestershire Regt to take Forli Airfield; move to Rome, 28/11/1944. Aspects of operations as private with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Greece, 12/1944-4/1945: flight from Italy to Athens, 12/1944; reaction to move to Greece; degree of knowledge of situation in Greece; drive through Athens; problems with wireless sets; memories of Private Thomas 'Tommy' Gaffney on the Acropolis. REEL 10 Continues: communications; role in Athens; situation in Greece; nature of actions on the coast road; relations with Greek civilians; nature of terrain operated in; journey to Patras; accommodation; activities in Patras; problems with alcohol; cross-country run; footballing activities; opinion that war would not last much longer; journey from Greece to Italy, 4/1945. Aspects of operations as private with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Italy, 4/1945-5/1945: arrival in Taranto, 4/1945; journey to Ancona; move inland; VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; concerns over being posted to Far East. Aspects of period as private with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Austria, 1945-1946: battalion move to Austria; accommodation in Brückl; relations with Austrian civilians; policy of non-fraternisation. REEL 11 Continues: attitude in battalion towards Austrian civilians; duties in Brückl; weapons left in fields by German forces; sight of refugees in Austria; mail; accommodation in Wildon; football competition; reason for not playing for British Troops in Austria team; other activities in Austria; bartering in Italy and Vienna; leisure time in Vienna; state of civilians; presence of Soviet Army troops in Vienna; presence of Cossack troops who had served with German forces in Austria; organisation of leave to GB; journey to GB; leave and marriage; organisation of demobilisation; attitude of troops towards military service; return from leave; disbanding of the battalion; battalion magazine; process of disbandment. REEL 12 Continues: leaving certificate from battalion; reaction to posting to 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry. Recollections of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Greece, 1946-1947: joined battalion at Taranto, Italy; reception from battalion; differences between 1st and 16th Bns Durham Light Infantry; promotion to lance corporal; duties in A Coy stores and posting as company clerk; role in Greece; duties on posting to Signals Platoon; examination taken; memories of signals officer; promotion to corporal; attitude towards promotion; duties in Education Section; standard of education in battalion; troops serving with Education Section; accommodation; reasons for tests; lessons given; regional mix serving in battalion; story of disqualification from a football tournament; regimental pride; sizes of crowds attending football match; story of problems at football match in Xanthi; relations with Greek civilians; reaction to treatment received from Greek civilians. Aspects of demobilisation in GB, 1946: journey to GB; morale on return home; leave; plans for civilian employment; time spent at Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot at Brancepeth Castle; weekend leave; demobilisation of wife; pay allotted to family; process of demobilisation at York. REEL 13 Continues: reaction to demobilisation; leave. Post service life and employment: adaptation to civilian life; battalion reunions; comradeship in British Army; return to work at Felling Library; qualification as librarian; summary of civilian employment. Aspects of period as evacuee from Jarrow to Weardale, GB, 1939-1940: evacuation to Weardale; accommodation; reaction of people to being evacuated; return home, 1940. Aspects of operations as private with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 139th Infantry Bde, 46th (North Midland) Infantry Div in Italy, 1943-1945: story of repairing telephone lines on Gothic Line and the appearance of the battlefield at night; description of an artillery barrage; fetching troops for reconnoitre. REEL 14 Continues: [Betty Brown] Aspects of period as private in Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB during Second World War: mail; following events in Italy; posting to Swansea; memories of friend with husband serving with Durham Light Infantry; regularity of mail; news of war; leaving Auxiliary Territorial Service; return to civilian employment; demobilisation; discussion of pay; reaction to husband's extended military service.