James, Wyndham "Jimmy" (Oral history)

British private served with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt Depot in GB, 1940; NCO served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, North Africa and Italy, 1940-1943; NCO served with 6th Bn Infantry Reinforcement Training Centre in North Africa and Italy, 1943-1945; NCO served with 159 Transit Camp in Italy, 1945-1946; NCO served with O Garrison Company in Italy, 1946

REEL 1 Background in Wales and London, GB, 1919-1940: description of life in Ebbw Vale and family; reasons for moving to Rhymney; father's farm shop in Abergavenny; education in Rhymney and Pengam including opinion of system of selection for grammar school and description of miner's houses; more on father's business; rugby at school; discipline; reasons for leaving school at 16; family; jobs taken up by school leavers in Rhymney; search for work in London at Labour Exchange including turning down of work locally and preference of work with Great Western Railway in Swindon; work helping milkman in mean time; job taken at Rickmansworth in London. REEL 2 Continues: journey to London; lodgings taken in London; more on job taken including details of pay; punishment given at school for smoking; problems with shoes; leisure activities; working week and drive to work; memories of boss Mr Forbes; signs of approaching war; request for extra pay to cover rent; extra work taken on with WH Smith; money saved; driving lessons and test; more on job worked. REEL 3 Continues: friendship with maid from Pity Me; memories of boss Mr Forbes; visit from mother; contact with family; dream to buy motorbike and drive home; problems with accent after move to London; Munich Agreement and situation in Britain during 1930s including men volunteering for Spanish Civil War; communism and politics in Wales; opinion of Munich Agreement; relationship with Betty Taylor; call-up of Militia and opinion that needed to re-arm; opinion of Oswald Mosley and activity of IRA; story of German Jewish refugee family; reactions to friends joining army; outbreak of war; story registration as volunteer at St Albans including medical and reason for being unable to join Welsh Guards; eagerness to start; sending home of possessions upon call-up; request of Mr Forbes to stay. REEL 4 Continues: refugees living in empty houses; reactions of Mr Forbes to war; situation in Autumn 1939; excitement at joining army and ambitions for service including knowledge of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment; process of joining army and reactions of others to his becoming an infantryman; instructions for joining at Bedford. Aspects of period as recruit and private with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Depot in GB, 1/1940-7/1940: arrival at Bedford and march to barracks with Corporal Sears; issue of uniform and identity discs including army number; description of barracks and hut accommodated in; conditions in winter; memories of fellow recruits including Peter Cain; reactions to being in army; welcome talk from and opinion of Corporal Sears; story of Corporal Sears's racist remarks about a Burmese recruit and their reaction; reveille; morning procedures including method for making bed; recruits caught in bed; drilling with Corporal Sears and cigarette breaks. REEL 5 Continues: inoculations; health of recruits including story of man with diarrhoea being forced to drill; description of drilling at Infantry Training Centre; care of rifle and punishments for having a dirty rifle; field craft training; polishing of boots; forced washing of dirty recruits; sighting of rifle; bayonet drill and selection for promotion; memories of 2nd Lieutenant Slaydon; length of time with Corporal Sears; rejection as driver and selection for signals training; training with bren gun; firing of Boyes anti-tank gun and opinion of PIAT; description and opinion of rifle issued; guard duties; preparation for guard; selection and duties of stickman; story of Peter Cain's mother visit during a guard duty; conditions in sentry hut; pneumonia among recruits; route marches; story of meeting Corporal Sears later in Norfolk. REEL 6 Continues: teaching of drill at school; details of civilian billets and signals training school including telephones set up in bedrooms for practice; staff at signals school; learning of morse code and sending messages; telephones used for sending morse; morse keys made for training; learning of semaphore; training with heliograph; splitting up of recruit squads; training on aerodrome near Duxford; arrival of troops from Dunkirk; period following Dunkirk on alert for invasion; qualification as signaller; promotion to Lance Corporal and increase in pay; story of being posted to Durham Light Infantry; fate of troops sent to Singapore; details of posting in Edinburgh. Recollections of period as NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 7/1940-12/1942: arrival at Morton Hall; NCOs in battalion and disappearance of older NCOs; other signallers transferred to Durham Light Infantry; reaction to posting and knowledge of Durham Light Infantry; adapting to Light Infantry pace. REEL 7 Continues: setting up of camp; arrival of Durham Light Infantry troops including memories of David Brown; arrival and background of new recruits; concern for new recruits having to train in a field; posting with and memories of Sergeant Deacon; formation of squads and reiteration of concern for recruits having to train in a field; accommodation; washing facilities; memories of David Brown; memories of "Tubby" Baker, Sergeant Brown and Platoon Sergeant Major Glover; picking up of Indian language from old soldiers; memories of Arthur Pearson; retaining of Beds and Herts cap badge; characters in battalion; sorting out of troops for awkward squad; teaching awkward squad bayonet drill; re-learning of rifle drill; rifles in battalion; memories of Lieutenant Colonel Morrough-Bernard; officers in early days of battalion; memories of 2nd Lieutenant Girling; drilling of recruits in Dunfermline and accommodation; problems with training to march on grass. REEL 8 Continues: memories of Sergeant Harry Stern; church parades at Dunfermline Abbey; formation of platoons and posting as signals sergeant; memories of Colonel Murray; ledger filled with notes during training and used for teaching; posting in Dalkeith; selection of troops for signals training; ex-Beds and Herts troops assisting with training; opinion of signals students; description of 18 set radios; resentment from Sergeant Stern; scenes around Dalkeith; relationship with civilians; discipline and morale; reinforcements from Brancepeth; ex-Beds and Herts troops who left Durham Light Infantry; training of signals platoon at Dalkeith; spread of signals platoon through battalion and their role; laying and insulation of cables. REEL 9 Continues: sending of messages between companies; make- up of signals platoon; contact with brigade signallers; signals duties and training; vehicles in signals platoon; role of dispatch riders; training to ride motorbike; problems faced by recruits in signals training; memories of Yorkshire men in signals platoon; memories of Corporal Reynolds and Copeland; selection for signals NCO; swiftness of promotion; enjoyment of basic and signals training including opinion of Corporal Gilmore; posting to Catterick for signals sergeant course; troops on course; opinion of instructors; number of troops on course; role and summary of course; clinching of top students for course; accommodation; morning parades and consequences of missing parade; rank when on course and process of gaining new ranks; need for discipline; standard of turnout; sergeants mess; drill course. REEL 10 Continues: training with and use of 18 set radio; reliability of 18 set; manoeuvres with 18 sets; aerials; reason for repeating of basic signals training; codes; communications on manoeuvres; common messages sent; importance and use of maps; opinion of course and need to be alert and sharp; description of and visits to Darlington including The Hole in the Wall pub; memories of Edward Williams; friendship among course attendees; Sergeants Mess; length of course; return to battalion in Norfolk; memories and opinion of new company commander Major Olleson; posting as Company Quarter Master Sergeant; men in charge of signals platoon in his absence; selection as signals officer for Exercise Bumper and details of exercise; interview with Lieutenant Colonel Sebag- Montefiore and demotion of Sergeant Stern; role of exercise; march past Duke of Gloucester. REEL 11 Continues: return to Thetford and length of exercise; further details of Exercise Bumper; role as officer; reinforcements; turnover of officers and NCOs; movement around Norfolk during Exercise Bumper; accommodation during night and supply of rations; Beds and Herts signal training; opinion of Exercise Bumper training; other units in exercise and communication responsibilities; umpires in exercises; role as attacking force; debriefing after exercise including officers in battalion; description of priory battalion was based in at Thetford including accommodation; story of Sergeant Banfield stealing a cigarette case; posting as Company Quarter Master Sergeant in Headquarters Company; duties in sick bay including description of house it was based in; rabbits shot and eaten. REEL 12 Continues: story of old man warning him of ghosts and mysterious events in accommodation leading to them moving out; later meeting with Sergeant Tinsley in Milan; NCOs in stores and 16th Battalion battle section; Sergeant's Mess; memories of Arthur Pearson; visits to Thetford; departure of Sergeant Banfield; NCOs in battalion including memories of Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant Golightley; reactions to and reasons for posting as Company Quarter Master Sergeant; details of pay and reasons for being better off in army; money allotted to mother; role as Company Quarter Master Sergeant; importance of form G1098; relationship with Lieutenant Quartermaster Albert Newman. REEL 13 Continues: memories of Newman's staff including Company Sergeant Major Golightley and Sergeant "Fruity" Currant; process of paying troops; kit inspections; accusation of Charles Bray that he kept rum back; ration supply duties; organisation and completion of paperwork; help from junior NCOs; overview of responsibilities including pay parades; more on duties including during mealtimes; opinion of cooks and rations; memories of Sergeant "Sibble" Battle; memories of other NCOs; memories of Colonel Murray and Lieutenant Colonel Sebag Montefiore; standard of turnout. REEL 14 Continues: duties during exercises in Norfolk as Company Quarter Master Sergeant; efficiency of Lieutenant Quartermaster Albert Newman; role in move to Great Yarmouth; accommodation and air raids; desertion of town; length of time at Great Yarmouth; memories of Sergeant Bickmore; boxing at Infantry Training Centre; posting at and description of Worsted Camp; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Pickering; conditions at Worsted Camp; story of officer reprimanding Platoon Sergeant Major Glover; shoulder flashes; singing of marching songs to family on leave; war service of siblings; marching songs; boots. REEL 15 Continues: rain and conditions in Worsted Camp; role of camp; reputation of battalion; posting to Shorncliffe; standard of turnout; story of Sergeant Horsman's disruption of the commanding officer's parade; inspection from Brigadier Chichester-Constable; activities at Shorncliffe; shelling from France; guard duties at Folkestone and Dover; Folkestone hotel accommodated in; news of fall of Singapore; supplying guards with rations; leisure activities; advantages of RAF on nights out; later changes to battle dress; shoes worn to dances; memories of Sergeant Mattin; drinking in Folkestone; posting and arrival in Rye; story of posting to D Company in Winchelsea and other changes in battalion; memories of Company Quarter Master Sergeants "Ginger" Argent and Crow; changes in role after transfer; work with and role of cyclist platoon; description of Winchelsea and accommodation of troops; spread and role of battalion; Sergeant's Mess and accommodation in Winchelsea; story of visit from Captain Wayland; rota for visiting company at meals; rations supplied to Lieutenant General Montgomery and staff. REEL 16 Continues: visit from Montgomery and cooks brought from Aldershot; impressions of Montgomery including orders relating to physical training; role of Montgomery in Winchelsea; battalion battle school; night into day exercise; memories of Colonel Ware; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Thomasson and Sergeant Mattin including story of fight between the two; differences between and memories of Majors Joe Waylen and Balance; memories and death of Corporal Price; differences between and memories of Company Sergeant Majors Arthur Pearson and George Broadhead; memories of officers including 2nd Lieutenants Kauffman and Duffy; memories of platoon NCOs including Charles Bray. REEL 17 Continues: admin and kit inspection duties at Winchelsea and memories of Major Balance and Company Sergeant Major Gates; duties and selection of Company Orderly Sergeant; position of company office; accommodation of troops; billet inspections; opinion of fellow NCOs; discussion about Lance Corporals; common misdemeanours and punishments; duties relating to discipline; bullying NCOs; examples of Beds and Herts NCOs never settling into Durham Light Infantry including memories of Sergeant Banfield; accents in battalion and memories of Balldera. REEL 18 Continues: leadership class; nature of Geordie soldiers; aversion to commission; running of the company; example of a mistake made when signals sergeant; NCOs not cutting the mustard; dances organised in Winchelsea including relationship with George Gates; relationship with Penny Markland; contact with civilians; pubs visited in Winchelsea; leisure activities in Rye; problems getting between Winchelsea and Rye; more on contact with civilians; medical inspection room; absence of transport and description of beaches in area. REEL 19 Continues: visits to pubs; Post Office shop; discussion about ranks he could socialise with including story of visit from Penny Markland while in Camberley; NCOs in battalion who lost stripes; involvement in Exercise Harold including being taken prisoner in Battle by Canadian troops; impressions of Canadian Army; Canadian sergeant attached to 16th Battalion in North Africa; fitness training available when Company Quarter Master Sergeant; base of and contact with Lieutenant Quartermaster Albert Newman; memories of Regiment Quarter Master Sergeant Golightley and Sergeant "Fruity" Currant; black market; treatment while prisoner during Exercise Harold; story of books found at Plumpton Racecourse. REEL 20 Continues: contact with Winchelsea Home Guard including story of phosphorous bombs found; anti-aircraft in area; air activity; Albert Newman's slit trench; contact with RAF including dance attended in Rye; clothes worn at dances in Winchelsea; involvement with exercises; battalion efficiency competition; use of bicycles; bicycle drill; details of bicycle platoon; drafts for service abroad; turnover of officers in battalion; swimming and fitness training; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Thommasson; wearing of forage caps and story behind it; hats worn by senior NCOs and opinion they made the wearer bald. REEL 21 Continues: wearing of caps when away from battalion; leave passes and Military Police in London; reaction to leaving signals and contact with platoon; backgrounds of NCOs and troops; weapons used by anti-aircraft and anti-tank platoons; vehicles used on exercises; rations; reaction to missing out on battle school; troops joining new arms of service being formed; battle schools; supply of rations to firing ranges and work of Company Sergeant Major Broadhead; Rye cinema and methods of getting there; lifts given to troops during ration runs; story of man employed by cinque ports to watch sea for invasion; rumours of approaching service abroad and opinion of readiness for war; Chevrolet trucks; news of Dieppe raids and invasion of North Africa; orders for posting to Camberley and embarkation leave; activities at Camberley; organisation of move to Camberley; issue and description of Tommy Cookers; lecture given on Tommy Cookers; use of Tommy Cookers; equipment issued to sergeants; paperwork and records destroyed before move. REEL 22 Continues: responsibilities during move; accommodation; activities in Camberley; departure of transport; inspection from King George VI including march to parade ground; reactions to going abroad at Christmas; leave; return journeys from Wales; accommodation shared with George Broadhead and Broadhead's prediction of destination; reactions of NCOs to posting abroad; married members of battalion including married person's allowance; accommodation and activities in Camberley; journey to Liverpool and knowledge of destination; arrival in docks; embarkation. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Algiers, Algeria, aboard the Derbyshire, 12/1942-1/1943: description of ship and crew; accommodation; memories of Company Quarter Master Sergeant Shaw; transportation of stores; more on accommodation; start of voyage and plan to join convoy; seasickness during Christmas dinner; further memories of Company Quarter Master Sergeant Shaw. REEL 23 Continues: story of card game won; changing winnings into Francs; later talk with Regiment Sergeant Major Thomasson about card game; later request from padre for loan and loss of winnings; discussion about game won; activity of destroyers in convoy and U-boat scares; roughness of sea; loss of part of convoy; other units on ship; boredom of voyage; pass through Gibraltar; first impressions of and arrival in Algiers; poems written on voyage; reactions at end of voyage. Aspects of operations as NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1/1943-5/1943: arrival in Algiers; impressions of Algiers; march to Maison Carre; guard and wine drunk at Maison Carre; events on following morning; time at Maison Carre; description of brothels in Algiers. REEL 24 Continues: Algiers Kasbah; visits to shows in brothels including ranks attending brothels and description of George Gates; attitude of different men to the exhibitions; awareness of Algiers' notoriety; US prophylactic stations; impressions and jealousy of American troops; drinking in Algiers; smells and scenes in Algiers; impression of civilians; journeys between Algiers and Maison Carre; reactions of troops to being abroad; activities of officers; return journeys from Algiers; length of time in Algeria; disappointment on arrival in Algiers; fitness training; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; kit inspections; accommodation and gathering of troops on troopship; lectures on voyage; rations at Maison Carre; tea powder on train journey to front; description of train boarded at Maison Carre; change in discipline on train. REEL 25 Continues: troops who had served in India; arrival at railhead; wait for transport; briefing for journey to front; relief of Royal West Kents; compo rations; supply of meals to frontline including scenes and shelling at front; convoys and journey to front; dispersal of rations; shelling; store of compo rations for emergencies; contents of compo rations; cigarette and tobacco rations; situation at Sedjenane; description of abandoned tobacco factory and battalion's use of it; Albert Newman's base; sleeping arrangements; make-up of B Echelon; position of battalion headquarters and hospital; contact with anti-aircraft troops; company cooks and cookhouse; air activity including stories of aerial attacks. REEL 26 Continues: memories of Colonel Ware; resentment of RAF; regularity of air attacks; shot taken at Messerschmitt and revenge bombing; anti-aircraft placements at B Echelon; RAF presence; effectiveness of German aircraft; activity at front; early casualties; German positions and snipers; problems with lice and methods of delousing; bombing of B Echelon including reactions during raid; scenes following raid; casualties; visit of a general; argument between Albert Newman and padre; sounding of alarm for lone plane; opinion of Albert Newman; burial of casualties; new position of B Echelon; robbing of graves. REEL 27 Continues: opinion of Arabs and story of Arabs shot; Germans spy disguised as Arabs; reading of bible following dive-bombing; cover taken during bombing; reactions during bombing; effect on morale of stukas; news of new posting; departure of Colonel Ware for reconnaissance; relief of rifle companies and camp in Sedjenane woods; alert from French soldiers of German presence; Stand To; orders from Major Bannerman; reaction to situation; start of Battle of Sedjenane and casualties; opinions of attacks on German position; withdrawal and activities of B Echelon; wait for news from battle; promotion of and talk with Joe Waylen on first day; lucky escape of Ledbetter; supply of rations following battle; reactions to situation; return of Colonel Ware; morale; amalgamation of A and D Companies; memories of John Plemper; activities and losses of D Company; issue of rum ration on third day; George Broadhead's request for rum; death of George Broadhead; remainder of rum; departparture of D Company for battle; news of D Company's defeat. REEL 28 Continues: opinion that the battalion was at an end; state of D Company; actions of carrier platoon; burning of Sedjenane village; reactions within battalion to battle; size of battalion following Sedjenane; departure of Major Bannerman and Colonel Ware; opinion of why attack had failed; B Echelon's withdrawal and new position taken up; arrival of Colonel Preston; memories of Major Worrell including his initial rifle inspection; Captain Duffy's activities at mine; supply runs to Captain Duffy; inactivity of other Company Quarter Master Sergeants; story of reprimand for not standing to; history with Major Balance; opinion of Major Balance and Arthur Pearson; noise made by dogs on journey to mine; number of journeys made to mine; quiet in sector; contact with Goumiers; activities of Paratroopers in area; reinforcements and help given in fall of Tunis. REEL 29 Continues: attitude of reinforcements to joining Durham Light Infantry; Canadian NCOs in battalion; state of battalion and duties undertaken; Sergeant Majors in battalion; memories of Captain Pritchard; casualties witnessed during a creeping barrage; orders for consolidation of ground gained; firing from Germans while collecting picks and shovels; digging in; withdrawal of Germans; casualties; "Tubby" Baker's firing of a Vickers Machine Gun; morale of battalion; return of wounded from hospital; fatigue; story of Private Stamp shooting his thumb off; cases of desertion in GB; raid on transport at Twin Tits; presence at Bou Arada; end of war in Tunisia and death of Canadian NCO. REEL 30 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 5/1943-9/1943: relief following victory in North Africa and final push by Americans; German POWs taken in Tunis; selection for detachment in Tunis victory parade; camp set up outside Tunis night before; uniform worn for parade including difference between khaki and battle drill and malaria precautions; story of snake sleeping under him the night before parade; details of parade detachment; victory parade; Harold MacMillian at the parade; visit of Winston Churchill; visit to Constantine; reiteration of padre's request for a loan and loss of earlier brag winnings; activities during posting in Blida; posting to Headquarters Company as Company Sergeant Major; 16th Battalion Company Sergeant Majors; mountain warfare training; reformation of battalion; issue of Thompson Sub-Machine Gun and arrival of landing craft; opinion of Thompson Sub-Machine Gun; duties as Company Sergeant Major; reasons for posting; sparing of Private Stamp from charge for his self-inflicted wound; news of coming invasion of Italy; move to Bizerta and build-up to invasion; activities at Blida including visits to Algiers; NCO reinforcements and memories of Major Tom Reynolds; return of troops from hospital; gallantry awards; camera taken from a German POW; conditions at Blida; taking of items from POWs. REEL 31 Continues: story of aggressive German POWs at Bou Arada; taking of possessions from POWs; dispersal of his possessions after being wounded; reformation of battalion at Blida including creation of S Company; make-up of Headquarters Company; routine at Blida and belief would be posted to Italy; discipline; difficulty of keeping high standard of turnout; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Thomasson; loss of NCOs and officers in D Company; story of a social event in the Sergeant's Mess; battalion parades; absence of band; sleeping arrangements abroad; concerts including his impression of Churchill and effect of concerts. REEL 32 Continues: departure of Regiment Quarter Master Sergeant; ENSA concerts; memories of Captain Ponder; Company Quarter Master Sergeants; involvement in mountain warfare and experience of it within battalion; news of new German Tiger tanks; opinions of Boyes Anti-tank rifle and PIAT; distribution of PIATs; firing of a PIAT; PIAT stocks; journey to Bizerta; position taken and scenes of barrage in harbour including shrapnel rain; description of landing craft; knowledge of destination; story of contact with Gomer Willis; memories of Captain Pritchard; guess at destination; progress of 8th Army; joining of American 5th Army and British Infantry Divisions formed; wait for embarkation from Bizerta; officer's loss of sealed orders and advice given to him; concern of effect of lost orders. Aspects of journey from Bizerta, Tunisia, to Salerno, Italy, aboard an LCI, 9/1943: embarkation; description of LCI; foreseeable problems with steps during disembarkation. REEL 33 Continues: orders given to help ease problem; description of helping given to troops coming up steps; sleeping arrangements; problems with diesel fumes; seasickness; arrival and march in Palermo; voyage to Salermo including blackout; visit from Reverend Meek and celebration of Italian capitulation; reactions of different troops; opening of sealed orders and briefing; night before landings; German movement of troops through Italy and preparation for defence against invasion; signal to move towards beach; scenes on beach; disembarkation. Aspects of operations as NCO with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 9/1943: movement up beach; cover taken in river; distance moved inland; fire received from Germans; orders from company commander; scenes on return to beach; talk with beach master; lifting of mines and laying of road on beach; return to unit; withdrawal of Germans from ship's fire; communications with and shelling from navy; description of area landed; area Americans landed and progress made; advance along railway to town; fighting in streets of Salerno; evacuation of civilians. REEL 34 Continues: setting up of headquarters including defensive positions; story of company commander's requests and James's mission to retrieve his equipment; story of Company Quarter Master Sergeant Day shooting at him; scenes in Colonel Preston's office; activity at and proximity to Hospital Hill; activity at Headquarters Company; burning of close-by ambulance; shooting of German dressed as civilian; wounding from mortar blast; worsening of wounds and orders to get medical help; patients in CCS; diagnosis and transfer to hospital ship; items given by Red Cross nurse; role of Headquarters Company in action; establishment of beach head and visit of General Hawksworth; memories of Colonel Preston; news of battle at Hospital Hill; casualties; crisis among American troops at Paestum and work of British troops; call for and arrival of reinforcements; refusal of reinforcements to fight including plea from Colonel Preston; arrival and hospital in Bizerta; description of hospital ship St David; patients on ship and ambulances on quayside. REEL 35 Continues: Aspects of hospitalisation in North Africa, 9/1943-10/1943: memories of matron on ship; arrival and hospital in Bizerta; treatment received from Dr Deutsch; discharge from hospital and later meeting with doctor and nurses in Naples; description of American reception centre; refusal to carry rocks and demand for transfer; American uniform issued. Aspects of period as NCO with 6th Bn Infantry Reinforcement Training Depot in North Africa, 10/1943-11/1943: arrival and welcome at depot in Philippeville including offer of work; reprimand from brigadier; work given and role of depot; troops at depot; movement of depot to Italy. Aspects of period as NCO with C Coy 6th Bn Infantry Reinforcement Training Depot in Italy, 11/1943-c 6/1945: description of camp; posting in C Company; memories of Captain Dabbs and Lieutenant Colonel Haygate; setting up of camp and defences; craters created from German bombing; role in C Company; alcohol available locally; troops passing through camp. REEL 36 Continues: medical board and downgrading; reaction to downgrading and guilt from surviving; problems with ear before Salerno; more on role in C Company including difficulties of job and story of deserters caught; daily routine and duties including tent inspections; Captain Dabbs's constant changes to camp; story of woman trying to fertilise grapes; length of time spent by troops in camp; story of drunken soldier; ill discipline of troops; contrast with time in 16th Battalion; relationship with NCOs and Sergeants Mess; concerts; events at Cassino; reinforcements sent to Anzio; morale; proximity to Durham Light Infantry and meeting with Joe Waylen; attempts to catch civilian thieves in area; story of man jumping out of building during raid. REEL 37 Continues: spread of battalion; story of attempt to find a wanted man; deserters; camp security; raids on swill bins by local children; description of civilians; raiding of officers lines; thievery within camp and punishments given; problems with staff in camp including story of fight with sergeant; memories of Sergeant Skinner and relationship with civilians; troops involvement with black market and prostitutes; problems with items being stolen for black market; impressions of Italian society; singing of civilians in countryside; dangers of local alcohol; bar run by local woman; canteens built; glasses made from bottles. REEL 38 Continues: details of guards mounted at battalion headquarters; story of sewage thrown over a guard; disposal of sewage and latrines dug in village; outbreaks of rabies and typhus; treatment of lice with DDT; process of diagnosing and treating ill troops; problems with VD and preventative measures taken; attempts of troops to be put on charge rather than sent to front line; case of McCormack and periods when had to send as many troops as possible; shell shocked and bomb happy troops; assessment of troops; visits from regiments; psychiatrists; ex-artillery troops; reinforcements; contact with Special Investigation Branch and Italian Police; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Rix; memories of staff in camp; selection and turnover of staff. REEL 39 Continues: morale of staff and attitude of frontline troops towards staff; memories of RQMS Ritchie; length of time with battalion; story of suicide during VE Day celebrations; signs war was ending; reactions to end of war; release group and commitment made to army; details of LIAP; journey to GB via Milan; leave and VJ Day; return to Italy and posting to 20th Assembly Centre in Milan; attitude towards troops in Italy; journey through Switzerland en route to GB; welcome home from people in Kent; taxi journey across London; arrival home; troops travelled to GB with; impressions of GB while on leave; VJ Day celebrations. REEL 40 Continues: learning of fates of school friends; knowledge of his army service in Rhymney; standard of turnout; medal ribbons worn and reactions of civilians to them; activities on leave; mail and censorship; parcels received from GB; delay of mail after stay in hospital; casualty notification received by parents; reaction to dropping of atom bombs; request from Italian family in Rhymney and subsequent visit to Piacenza. Aspects of period as NCO with 20th Assembly Centre in Italy, 8/1945-1/1946: posting in Milan and promotion to acting Regiment Sergeant Major; location and role of centre; offer of and wait for commission; routine and duties at assembly centre before CO's orders; story of a letter from an MP; later meeting with aggrieved sergeant; duties following CO's orders. REEL 41 Continues: news of mention in dispatches received; oak leaf bought from civilians to wear; pride in medal ribbons; attitude towards troops without ribbons; explanation of Part 2 Orders; time at centre; closing of centre; posting in 159 Transit Camp. Aspects of period as NCO at 159 Transit Camp in Italy, 1/1946-3/1946: members of 16th Battalion coming through camp; role and make-up of transit camp; role and duties at camp; more on contact with 16th Battalion troops; opinion of Arthur Pearson; reiteration of story of ghosts in Thetford and later meeting with Private Tinsley in Milan including description and role of the haunted house; meeting with Douggie Wakefield in Milan; story of being shot at with an air gun. REEL 42 Continues: process of gaining new ranks and reversion to Company Sergeant Major; reiteration of commitment to army; enjoyment of army; story of forgetting commitment and being mistaken about demobilisation group number; decision to leave following completion of commitment; leisure activities and visit to Domodossola for football match; closing of 159 Transit Camp; rumours of war with Russia; posting in Bologna. Aspects of period as NCO with O Garrison Company in Italy, 3/1946- 11/1946: description of O Garrison Company; German POWs working in camp; duties guarding trains; compound in Corticella; enquiry conducted following a robbery and capture of bandits; discipline; more on train guard duties; enjoyment of time in Bologna; advice given due to rumour of war with Russians and decision not to extend service; move to new barracks in Bologna; letter of recommendation written for German POW; story of Cossacks collected from a displacement camp in Modena. REEL 43 Continues: orders to send Cossacks to Russia; journey to American-run POW Camp in Pisa; description of camp; arrival in camp; handover of Cossacks; accommodation and food; jeeps owned by American troops; signs around the camp; cigarettes given; night in camp including offer of woman in middle of night; VD treatment tents; prostitutes in camp; details of liberation of Rome; stay in Rome rest camp in March 1945; story of being accosted by a prostitute in Rome; story of meeting the Pope in Vatican City; visits to the Rome opera; story of visit to the Colosseum. REEL 44 Continues: end of rime with O Garrison Company; release leave awarded; journey to GB from Mellach; handing in of kit at Mellach and of uniform at Woking; demobilisation suit received; Warrant Officer's trench coat and clothing coupons and suit bought in Leeds; keenness on a good turnout; reactions on leaving army. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1947: near return to army; money saved by mother; exhortations from community pillars; decision to move to Birmingham; difficulties adapting to civilian life; arrival in Birmingham; officer met in bed and breakfast; job gained at Joseph Lucas; contents of army release book and reference given by Captain Weston; gratuity payment; Infantry Reinforcement Training Depot sergeant met in Birmingham; reiteration of attitude towards base staff; relationship with manager at Joseph Lucas and learning to conceal his army rank from people. REEL 45 Continues: work at Joseph Lucas; decision to move to London and search for a job; course taken in law and medicine through British Legion; work in army pension tribunals including pension given for deafness; details of other jobs worked until 61; children; work as property developer; effects of army service on life; background in poetry at school; story of poem published in a history book; poetry written in army. REEL 46 Continues: commentary on and reading of poems written during army service. Aspects of period as NCO with 16th Bn in North Africa and Italy, 9/1943: posting with Tom Reynolds in C Company rather than Headquarters Company at Bizerta; LCI shared with A Company and Major Vizard; opinion that Arthur Pearson's written account caused him to make earlier mistakes in interview; orders after 11 days at Salerno to clean up and difficulties in doing so; formation of C Company at Blida; memories of George Gates; memories of John Plemper; memories of "Tubby" Baker; memories of Miles Etherington; memories of Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant Golightley; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Thomasson; memories of George Braodhead; memories of Platoon Sergeant Major Glover; memories of Colour Sergeant Barker; memories of Orderly Room Sergeant Knight; memories of David Brown; memories of other NCOs including Tom Baker; memories of Sergeant Cave; memories of other NCOs; recitation of poem written after war.