Lightley, John George Taylor (Oral history)

British private trained at Yorkshire/Northumberland General Training Centre in GB, 1951; officer cadet trained at Eaton Hall Officer Training School, 1951-1952; officer served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, Germany and Korea, 1951-1953; served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1953-1967; served with 6/8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1967-1971; served with Northumbrian Volunteers in GB, 1971-1973; served with 7th Bn Light Infantry in GB, 1973-1975

REEL 1 Background in Co Durham, GB, 1930-1951: family; memories of childhood in New Brancepeth and Gateshead; education; outbreak of war and evacuation to Ushaw Moor; issue of gas masks; signs of approaching war; phoney war and return to Gateshead; Dunkirk troops billeted in school; evacuation to Esh Winning; more on education including second return to Gateshead; fascination with war; time in scouts and school cadets; enjoyment of cadets and scouts; church; leisure activities; school certificates; resons for studying agriculture; start of higher education; fellow students. REEL 2 Continues: life at university; time in University OTC; joining if army for National Service; medical; call-up and orders to report to Strensall. Aspects of period as recruit at Yorkshire/Northumberland General Training Centre, GB, 6/1951-9/1951: arrival at York and journey to training centre; reaction to National Service; first meal; issue of equipment and uniform; description of barrack hut; cleaning of hut and keeping personal area straight; kit and room inspections; charges for lost equipment; denims issued; background of recruits; washing of dirty recruits; reactions of recruits to National Service; allocation to regiment; activities in first week; posting to Waterloo Platoon; selection boards; Duke of Wellington Regiment staff at training centre; morning procedures; breakfast parade; breakfast; supply of food; washing of utensils; drill; adjustments made to uniform; method for cleaning boots; weapons training; NAAFI break; 2nd parade; lunch; afternoon activities; end of working day; tea; evening activities; practical jokes. REEL 3 Continues: weapons drill; gas precautions; field craft training; interviews and tests at War Office Selection Board. Aspects of period as officer cadet at Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School, GB, 9/1951-1/1952: arrival in Chester; changes to uniform; mix of regiments; NCOs at Eaton Hall; standards demanded; length and composition of course; lessons from Second World War; experience of duties and responsibilities; learning of man management; reasons for wanting to be an officer; background of cadets; officers at Eaton Hall; learning of mess etiquette; memories of NCOs; punishments give out; friends made; sports and fitness training; accommodation; duties; battle camps and ranges; route marches; training in trenches; Saturday parades; rations; NAAFI; visits into Chester; relationship with civilians; pass rate of course. REEL 4 Continues: Christmas leave; joining of Durham Light Infantry. Aspects of period as officer at Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 3/1952-5/1952: buying of new uniform; arrival at Brancepeth Depot; accommodation; batman; re-learning of Light Infantry pace; pay and expenses; life in officers' mess; traditions of regiment; joining the Friends of the Museum; preparations to take draft to Berlin; details of journey to Germany; prisoner in draft; impressions and background of draft; reactions to joining battalion; journey across Russian Zone. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Germany, 5/1952-ca 7/1952: state of Berlin; civilians in Berlin; black market; BAFS money; relationship with civilians; VD precautions; army attitude towards VD; guard duties around Berlin; civilians employed in barracks; officers being demobilised and duties given; posting in 4 Platoon B Company; senior officers; experience in battalion; welcome from battalion; relationship with fellow officers; make-up of platoon; memories of NCOs and other ranks in platoon. REEL 5 Continues: memories of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hanmer; make-up of company and battalion including reinforcements; weapons in battalion; army presence in Berlin; Russian invasion scares; duties on May Day; opinion that would have been helpless against Russians; firing ranges at Sennelager; accommodation; officer duties; battalion gardens and civilian apprentices; duties at Spandau prison; relationship with troops of other sectors. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 7/1952-8/1952: return to GB and knowledge of earmarking for Korea; opinions of battalion; training and exercises for Korea at Catterick; march through county; relationship of regiment with civilians; leave; Cathedral service; journey to Southampton; memories of Peter Jeffreys and Oscar Norman; memories of Reg Atkinson including care of trenches in Korea; other officers in battalion. REEL 6 Continues: preparations for journey to Korea; weapons taken abroad; description of 3.5" rocket launcher; talks about Korea; opinion of training; state of battalion; training received by National Servicemen; enthusiasm of battalion; reactions towards war. Aspects of journey from Southampton, GB, to Pusan, Korea, aboard the Empire Trooper, 8/1952-9/1952: journey to Southampton; crew of ship; send-off from Southampton; accommodation; conditions on ship; activities onboard; deck inspections; duties; route marches on stop-offs; time in Colombo; activities in Hong Kong; white mess kit; other passengers on ship; scenes in Hong Kong; arrival in Pusan. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Korea, 9/1952-3/1953: reception on quayside; conditions of train journey to front; arrival at Britannia Camp; accommodation; terrain and adaptation of tactics for terrain; homes of civilians; training and exercises at Britannia Camp including training for trench warfare; description of a static company positions. REEL 7 Continues: depth of trench; covered areas of positions; camouflage; later improvements; types of grenades; use of bren gun; trenches linking positions; accommodation behind hills; activities during day; Korean porters; description of hootches; heaters and lamps; Stand To; briefing for night; improvements made to trenches; standing patrols; reactions to noises at night including accident with grenade; wild pigs; accidents; split of battalion and passing of patrols through forward lines; problems with rats; dirtiness of Americans; standard of turnout; seasons in Korea; health of battalion; opinion of Indian Field Ambulance; proximity of Regimental Aid Post; memories of Medical Officer Leonard Arthur; duties as platoon officer; make-up of platoon headquarters including duties of runner and communications; batman. REEL 8 Continues: different types of patrols; make-up of patrols; nerves on first patrol; use of bren gun on patrol; method of ambush; length of patrols; effect of cold on weapons; story of soldier taking empty sten on patrol; care needed on return to lines; passwords; noise during patrols; methods of navigation and self-heating cans of soup; return routes from patrol; briefing before patrol; noisiness of Australians; artillery support; movement and positions of Chinese; methods for recording movement; sniping; discussion of fates National Servicemen subalterns; supporting units; casualties and minefields; checking of minefields; proximity of Regimental Aid Post; evacuation of casualties; problems from conditions underfoot in winter; opinion of sten gun; taping of magazines together; memories of troops in platoons; importance of humour. REEL 9 Continues: time on Point 159; rations; putting out of recognition panels; visits from officers; isolation of companies; actions of officers; activities in reserve area; contact with American troops; mail and package from Mayor of Durham; road to rear areas; NAAFI canteen and Salvation Army van; problems among troops; punishment areas; stories of ex-King's Shropshire Light Infantry soldiers from glasshouse; return to line as reserve company; activities of reserve company; improvements made to positions; Operations Willington and Blaydon; treatment and evacuation of wounded; daily briefings; American system of recording Chinese casualties; feelings on reconnaissance patrol; preparations for patrols and equipment taken; briefing before patrol; navigation; liaison with flanking patrols; communications; stress of patrols; winter conditions and methods of dealing with cold; clothing issued for winter. REEL 10 Continues: description of rest area; exercises; snow clothing and bulletproof vests; leisure activities; journey to Japan via Seoul; arrival in Tokyo on leave; Japanese treatment of George Hill's uncle during war; shopping in Yokohama; relationship with civilians and visit to Hiroshima; scenes in Tokyo; leisure activities; damage from war; rest camp; facilities available to troops; VD lectures before departure; American signs; opinion of leave; Christmas 1952 including appearance on Pathe news; description of positions taken; story of New Year's Eve; living conditions; cookhouse and rations; tilly lamps; activities in position; relieved by Americans; description of Camp Casey; cleaning up of camp; visit from Prime Minister of New Zealand; activities and routine at Camp Casey; houses of civilians; state of Seoul; Korean porters; memories of Korean troops. REEL 11 Continues: news of return to GB to form Colour Party for Coronation; reactions to leaving battalion; fates of National Servicemen reinforcements; journey through Japan; boarded Asturias; memories of Shaun Kelly on voyage; visit to Hong Kong; voyage to GB; arrival in Southampton. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1953: return to Brancepeth Castle; preparations for Coronation; description of Coronation Parade; return journey to depot; process of demobilisation; medals issued. Aspects of service as officer with various units in GB, from 1953: posting as Assault Pioneer Platoon officer in 6th Battalion; civilian work and move to Barnard Castle; conditions of service; positions held in 6th Battalion; amalgamation with 8th Battalion; time as 2nd in command of 6/8th Battalion; conversion of cadre and time as commanding officer; expansion of Territorial Army; make-up of Northumbrian Volunteers; activities of battalion; formation of 7th Battalion Light Infantry; posting as Company Commander at Horden; retirement; secretary positions; comradeship in battalion.