Interview with Allan Anthony Mavin

British private trained at Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle and Light Infantry Bde Depot, Strensall Barracks, York, GB, 6/1952-11/1952; served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Infantry Bde in Hong Kong, 12/1952-3/1953; private and NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 3/1953-9/1953; NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 10/1953-6/1954

REEL 1 Background in Bearpark, GB, 1931-1952: family; summary of education; German Air Force raids during Second World War; area grew up in and subsequent changes; leisure activities; annual trip to beach; wartime visits to Bridlington; outbreak of war; rationing and blackout; activities of local farmers; father's work as Special Constable; discipline; important people in community and story of preparation of father's corpse; life in Bearpark; family home; early education; reactions of father when starting work. REEL 2 Continues: secondary education in Sunderland including events affecting him during Second World War; membership of Boy Scouts; coke dumped in fields and work with it; work as apprentice with repairers of motor engines including deferral of National Service; details of pay; night classes and continuation of rationing after war; working week; power cuts after war; details of work including trade union membership; leisure activities. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of enlistment with British Army, 6/1952: reaction to conscription for National Service; process of joining British Army; medical; reaction of parents to his joining British Army; own reaction to his joining British Army and news of posting in South Korea; choices of unit; length of service and opinion of military life; details of pay; intelligence test. Recollections of training as private with Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle in GB, 6/1952-7/1952: arrival at regimental depot; background of fellow recruits; reception; issue of paybook and uniform; method of polishing boots; accommodation and cleaning of equipment; keeping barracks clean; discipline; opinion of training NCOs and discipline; recruit platoons and their destinations; rivalry between platoon NCOs; types of recruit at regimental depot and selection of friends; background of NCOs; description of regimental depot; going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL); use of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); rations; supply of meals; details of 'jankers'; reasons for getting put on 'jankers'. REEL 4 Continues: reaction to military lifestyle; regimental and military police; NCO in barrack room; reaction of recruits to discipline; coping with lack of privacy; cleanliness; piquets; evening activities; learning of drills and light infantry pace; route marches and physical training; passing and failing of tests; fitness levels of recruits; route of longest march; breaks on route marches; formation of marches; rations and dealing with straggler son route marches; opinion of physical training; role of training; educational tests. REEL 5 Continues: issue of rifle and alterations made to sight; firing on Whitburn Ranges and opinion of Lee-Enfield No 4 Rifle Mk I; cleaning of rifle; number of rounds carried for rifle and Bren Gun; dismantling and assembly of Bren Gun; shooting proficiency tests for extra pay; fitness tests; bayonet training; assault courses; opinion and stripping of Bren Gun; details of firing Bren Gun including verbal tests; description of gas masks; selection of sportsmen; explanation of basic training; opinion of relevance of training; attitude of recruits towards basic training; final tests; passing out parade; leave. Recollections of training as private at Light Infantry Depot, Strensall Barracks, York, GB, 7/1944-11/1944: journey to York and arrival at Strensall Barracks; role of Strensall Barracks; reception; prior recollection of earlier parade in Durham; continuation of training; description of camp and barrack room. REEL 6 Continues: reason for posting; accommodation; facilities; cleaning of barrack room and inspections; presence of corporal in hut; background of permanent staff; use of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); transport; canteen and rations; kit inspections and issue of jungle green uniform; company orders; loss of kit; discipline; problems with discipline; crimes and their punishment; organisation and details of piquets; 'jankers' and coal detail; evening and weekend activities; fighting among troops and with other units; visits to York; contact with women; venereal disease films and lectures; camp entertainments; cleaning of kit and boots; gambling among troops; mail and travel warrants; opinion and description of Sten Gun. REEL 7 Continues: Sten Gun training at Fylingdales; use of Sten Gun in house clearance training; learning to use camouflage; map training; exercises and route marches; accommodation outside Whitby for intensive training; daily routine at Whitby including rations; latrines; work on farm; story of farmer at Otterburn; sleeping arrangements out of barracks; role of night exercises; safety consciousness of British Army; training with tracer; training with live ammunition; casualty allowance at Haramura Battle School, Japan; rotation of troops through Whitby; march away from camp; evening activities in Whitby; news of posting in Whitby; relevance of training to Korean War; firing of Ordnance SBML 2 Inch Mortar; transport of Ordnance SBML 2 Inch Mortar and ammunition; training with grenades; transport of Bren Gun and ammunition; use of mortars in Korean War; ease of carrying mortar; firing of 3.5 Rocket Launcher; training for Projector Infantry Anti-Tank (PIAT); return to Strensall Barracks; summary of training. REEL 8 Continues: physical training; culmination of training; changes on reaching battalion; future destinations of troops; training with grenades; analysis of units at Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle and Light Infantry Bde Depot, Strensall Barracks; leave after period of training at Light Infantry Bde Depot, Strensall Barracks; holding company placed in after leave; duties while waiting for draft; journey to Southampton; teaching of regimental history; resentment at being in military and later pride in regiment; opinions of NCOs; relations with other units at Strensall Barracks and discipline; reactions of parents and girlfriend to overseas posting; attitude of civilians towards Korean War; degree of knowledge of Korean War; exemption of other men from Bearpark; hopes of parents for position in rear; reaction to posting to South Korea; clamour of officers for posting in Korea; length of infantry's stay in line. REEL 9 Continues: finals weeks at Light Infantry Bde Depot, Strensall Barracks; issue of new webbing; journey to Southampton; time on docks; impressions of ship; reactions on embarkation; boarding of ship. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Asturias from Southampton, GB to Hong Kong, 11/1952-12/1952: sleeping arrangements; storage of kit bags and tropical kit; daytime clearing of accommodation; meals rota; police guarding of embarkation; settling in; embarkation from Southampton; reveille; seasickness in Bay of Biscay; cleaning up of mess decks afterwards; supply of meals and rations; use of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) on board; duties in cookhouse; fire watching; lifeboat drill; guard duties; ship hospital; cleaning of decks; out of bounds areas; shore leave; leisure activities; route taken through Mediterranean; sun bathing rules and army attitude towards sunburn; reasons for stop at Port Said, Egypt; journey through Suez Canal, Egypt; contact with troops in Canal Zone, Egypt; shore leave in Aden, Aden Protectorate; stop in Colombo, Ceylon; shore leave in Singapore, Federation of Malaya; impressions of Aden, Aden Protectorate; out of bounds areas; precious stones available in Colombo, Ceylon; arrival in Hong Kong. REEL 10 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Infantry Bde in Hong Kong, 12/1952-2/1953: disembarkation; nature of journey from Kowloon to Fan Ling; arrival at and reason for Fan Ling Camp; camp chaplain; description of camp and merge with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles; reception in camp; latrines; drill; adaptations made to bayonet by 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles; selection of guard stickman; cross-country runs; reveille; breakfast; tablets taken daily; uniform worn; football and assault course; platoon exercises; border patrol duties on People's Republic of China including description of villages in border area; attempting to stop a smuggler; accommodation during border patrol; attack exercises with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles and Royal Air Force; opinion of posting in Hong Kong; use of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); visits to Fan Ling; relations with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles and information received about Korean War. REEL 11 Continues: rations; recreational activities in Hong Kong; amphibious warfare training in Kowloon; description of Fan Ling; relations with civilians; Christmas 25/12/1952; receiving mail and news from home; reiteration of opinion of posting in Hong Kong; summary of training received in Hong Kong; falling plates contest and comparison of equipment and rifles with Australian Amy troops; opinion of Australian Army troops. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry at Haramura Battle School in Japan, 2/1953-3/1953: voyage aboard HMT Empire Fowey from Hong Kong to Kure, Japan; arrival at camp at Kure; journey to Haramura Battle School including stop in Hiroshima; description of camp; accommodation; permanent staff; baths; impressions of camp; presence of Australian Army personnel at battle school; morning procedures; exercises and demonstrations; issue of winter clothing. REEL 12 Continues: climate; heating and accommodation; tablets and rations; organisation and role of camp; changes in training after leaving GB; practise with Bren Gun; training with live ammunition; training for patrols including explanations of different types of patrol; routine through day and night; training with trenches; firing on ranges; relevance of training; background of instructors; opinion of training; march to Kure; length of time spent at Haramura Battle School and waiting for draft to South Korea; contact with Japanese civilians. Aspects of period in transit through South Korea, 3/1953: voyage from Kure, Japan to Pusan; reception in Pusan; details of train journey to front including issue of K-rations; impressions of countryside and signs of fighting; state of roads and railway; reaction of troops to situation. REEL 13 Continues: conditions and sights on train journey; rumours of presence of North Koreans in countryside; orders to disembark from train; night in Seoul; guard duties near Suwon including accommodation; knowledge of what was being guarded; description of area posted in; activities of American troops; contact with United States Army Military Police Corps. Recollections of operations as private and NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry, 28th Commonwealth Infantry Bde, 1st Commonwealth Div in South Korea, 3/1953-9/1953: joining of battalion at and impressions of Camp Casey; posting into 10 Platoon, D Coy; reception at battalion; flow of National Service conscripts through battalion; troops returning to GB; strength of battalion. REEL 14 Continues: contact with civilians in Suwon; beer ration; venereal disease lectures and army attitude to it; venereal disease precautions; military attitude towards sunburn; carrying of weapons; organisation of company; deployment of battalion across front and isolation of platoon; organisation of platoon; splitting up of draft he arrived with; memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Jeffreys; time spent at Camp Casey; posting on Hill 355; knowledge of situation; organisation of a move into a new position; relief of United States Army troops; contrast between American and British troops in front line; welcome from Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; reactions to being in front line; washing of clothes; terrain in area and importance of Hill 355; deployment of battalion and units in reserve; description of trench system; opposing Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; sight of Republic of Korea Army attack; air activity; use of Bren Gun. REEL 15 Continues: description of trenches including building of sandbags defences; shelters; heaters; 'hutchies' and sleeping arrangements; problems with rats; cleanliness of United States Army troops; lighting in 'hutchies'; washing facilities; area covered by platoon; activities in front line including repairing barbed wire; rations; supply and heating of meals; Korean porters; paraffin blow lamps; latrines and hygiene; daytime activities; duties; stand-to; night-time activities including cleaning of grenades and Bren Gun magazines; improvements made to trenches; artillery shelling; details of listening posts. REEL 16 Continues: learning of listening post locations; rotation around duties; creation and condition of listening posts; story of Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldier spotting the listening post; description of fighting and ambush patrols; duties in trench; activities while on listening post; composition of listening post; role of listening post; sounds heard and communication; further details of role of listening patrol; story of seeing People's Volunteer Army troops on a patrol; method for leaving and entering trench; process of being called into trench; need for care in No-Man's-Land; reactions when under attack; story of soldier taken prisoner; composition of an ambush patrol; weapons taken and reason for not taking Bren Gun; story of Corporal Robert Lofthouse's actions on an ambush patrol; end of patrolling; amount of patrolling done each week; duration of first spell in front line; reason for problems on left flank of front line; gaining dominance of No-Man's-Land and advantages of doing so; effect of dominance of No-Man's-Land on peace talks. REEL 17 Continues: reasons for listening patrols; support from reserve company; story of bugler throwing grenades; aftermath of actions; reason for not using phosphorous grenades; grenades used on patrols; unwritten laws of company; maintenance of patrol groups; composition of a fighting patrol; keenness of officers in battalion; selection of patrol; parcels sent by Mayor of Durham; story of earlier raid on Chinese People's Volunteer Army lines; artillery and mortar support; Chinese People's Volunteer Army artillery fire; opinion Allies had superiority in arms; need for care during day to not attract attention; proximity of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops at Yong Dong Po; use of tanks and affects on infantry; taking cover from artillery fire and effects on activity; Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops use of machine guns; length of stays on Hill 355; effect of routine on troops and activities in rest area; example of soldier suffering from shell shock; rumour of soldier attempting to wound himself; self-discipline of troops; religion among troops and visits from Roman Catholic chaplain; cleanliness. REEL 18 Continues: grounds for complaint; mixture of regulars and National Service conscripts in company; opinion and role of NCOs and officers; turnover of troops and position of regulars; relations between officers with National Service conscripts; Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) request; method of drinking condensed milk; cigarettes in K-rations; laundry; arrival of new reinforcement drafts; relief from Australian Army troops; description of rest area moved into; deployment of battalion; methods of bathing; latrines; activities in rest area; cooking of meals; washing and changing of clothes; hygiene; daily routine including training and drill; promotion to lance corporal and attending course; posting with 11 Platoon; reason for moving recently promoted troops; length of period in rest area; guard duties; release of Chinese prisoners of war; leisure activities; position taken on return to Hill 355; relief of Australian Army troops; duration of period on Hill 355; location of new position; supply wagons heard from listening post. REEL 19 Continues: Mad Mile supply route; positions taken by company; importance of The Hook and Hill 355; precautions taken against attack; peace talks and Chinese People's Volunteer Army probing; trenches in new position; description of terrain; opinion of Australian Army troops; acquisition of Browning Machine Gun left behind by United States Army troops; Republic of Korea Army troops attached to company; living conditions; weather; protection against mosquitoes and reasons for not having mosquito nets; fireflies; problems from rain; health in army; routine; use of patrols; problems faced by troops on The Hook; watching events on The Hook, 5/1953; signs of earlier fighting; patrolling policy; use of radios on patrol. REEL 20 Continues: increase in Chinese People's Volunteer Army activity; reaction to Chinese People's Volunteer Army activity while on patrol at Surrey Hill; details of Surrey Hill and patrols sent there; use of machine guns; reactions to increased activity; strengthening of patrols; positions of D Coy Platoons; method of exiting and entering trenches; positions of listening posts; approach of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; requests for permission to return to trench; story of withdrawal to trench; composition of listening post; reaction to coming under direct artillery fire; arrival in trench and troops on stand-to; orders to return to 10 Platoon; organisation of journey back; story of confusion and fight on run to 10 Platoon; artillery fire and small arms fire; reinforcement from A Company; visibility of 12 Platoon's position; activities with 10 Platoon; casualties; reaction to People's Volunteer Army attack and anxiety over following nights; awards from attack; relief by Australian Army troops and return to rest area; reiteration of promotion to lance corporal and attending course; posting in 11 Platoon; reactions to promotion and posting; arrival with platoon; composition of platoon. REEL 21 Continues: settling into new platoon; move to Yong Dong Po; location and role of Yong Dong Po positions; proximity to Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; relieving 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt (West Riding); weather; story of Centurion Tank shooting from position; terrain at Yong Dong Po; widening of trench; old positions that had to be manned; story of patrol in old positions; artillery fire; relative relaxation in position; reinforcements; reason for flying reinforcements in before ceasefire; spread and state of battalion; discussion of positions; artillery support; accommodation and living conditions; rations; patrol activity including casualties and sketches of Chinese People's Volunteer Army positions; shorter nights; fighting on the The Hook; air activity; description of The Hook; newspapers; searchlights in operation behind positions; peace talks; receiving mail. REEL 22 Continues: description of fighting seen on The Hook; role in Yong Dong Po positions; story of troops wounded at Yong Dong Po; opinion that Yong Dong Po was a good position to hold; opinion of South Korean President Syngman Rhee; release of Chinese People's Volunteer Army prisoners; need for care against guerrillas; duration of time spent at Yong Dong Po; move into reserve and news of ceasefire; story of celebrations and help given to United States Army troops being attacked; description of reserve camp; creation of Demilitarised Zone, 8/1953-9/1953; peace talks and ceasefire; reactions to ceasefire; orders to move to Kansas Line; earlier work on Kansas Line; story of evacuation of wounded comrade from minefield; final People's Volunteer Army night attack on United States Army troops; start of ceasefire, 27/7/1953; move into reserve camp and return to army routine; changes made to uniform; first guard as lance corporal; kit inspections; organisation of battalion in camp; accommodation; receiving reinforcements on last day of war, 26/7/1953; story of new Royal Army Service Corps driver. REEL 23 Continues: dismantling of front line; creation of areas for sport and recreational activities; cleaning of transport and camps; A Coy's work with release of prisoners of war; supply of meals; evening activities; beer available and method of opening bottles; boarding of train and parcels received from Durham issued on journey; in transit camp in Pusan; visit to United Nations Cemetery, Pusan. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Orwell from Pusan, South Korea to Port Said, Egypt, 9/1953-10/1953: embarkation aboard HMT Empire Orwell at Pusan, South Korea; knowledge of destination; length of National Service remaining; demobilisation of troops; arrival in Kowloon, Hong Kong; inspection and shore leave; troops brought back to ship by Corps of Military Police and reprimand from commanding officer; shore leave in Colombo, Ceylon and Aden, Aden Protectorate; reasons for stop-offs; other passengers on boat; stories of patients in ship's hospital; duties and activities on board; conditions on board troopships; description of HMT Empire Orwell; rota for meals. REEL 24 Continues: rations; exercise; passing troopships on journey; route taken from Colombo, Ceylon to Egypt; journey up Suez Canal to Port Said, Egypt; arrival at Port Said. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 10/1953-6/1954: journey to St Gabriel's Camp, Moascar; description of camp and accommodation including tidying of area around tent; ablutions; use of heaters in tents; rations; use of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); civilian who cleaned uniforms; shoes bought; details of annual firing tests on rifle ranges; attack exercises; story of fight with guardsmen at dance; caps and tureens stolen; reprimand following morning; stories of scheme following dance; role in Egypt; places guarded and roadblocks manned; patrols made to make checks on British interests; story of arresting alleged spy. REEL 25 Continues: accommodation when patrolling; story of tomato fight with troops stationed in North Egypt; tiredness during week of patrols; treatment from wives of NCOs and officers; relations with Egyptian civilians; description of irrigation canal; story of guard on bridge over irrigation canal; leisure activities; daily routine; story of first swimming party; shopping in local towns; Christmas 25/12/1953; story of tents getting continually blown away; turnover of National Service conscripts; story of questioning from officer while on guard duty; escort for orderly officer; duties of trains; theft of items from officers camp; annual inspection from brigadier; kit inspections; night exercises; story of physical fitness tests taken at a rest camp; reasons for flying home from Egypt to GB; commanding officer's parade; time in transit camp; reasons for being classified overweight for flight; details of plane; flight from Egypt to Stansted via Malta; passing through customs; brief trip to Goodge Street Transit Camp in London. REEL 26 Continues: issue of travel warrants; walk to King's Cross Railway Station, London; boarding of train; journey to Durham; journey to Durham Light Infantry Regimental Depot, Brancepeth Castle; leave given to return home; story of drill parade; handing in of equipment; final pay; joining of 8th Battalion. Aspects of period with 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 6/1954-6/1958: joining battalion in Territorial Army; equipment kept for Territorial Army service; reserve commitment to 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry; wearing of uniform at work; civilian employment; effect of war service; contact with comrades after demobilisation; incident of loss of pay on Territorial Army camp.