Description
Object description
British NCO served with 2nd Bn Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regt in Malta and the Dodecanese, 1940-1943 and in Egypt, 1943-1945; served with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Korea, 1952-1953
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Berkshire, 1921-1935: family. Aspects of period as band boy with 1st Bn Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regt in GB and India, 1935-1940: enlistment in Maidstone and posted to India; training as signaller in GB, 1938; memory of outbreak of war; posted to Luton and vehicle maintenance duties; rates of pay and question of rank. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd Bn Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regt in Malta, the Dodecanese and Egypt, 1940-1945: posted to Malta, 9/4/1940 and description of duties preparing defences and maintenance of aerodrome; role as company clerk; memory of air raids and problem of butterfly bombs; opinion of rations; recreational activities and opinion of Maltese; marriage; memory of German air raids and filling in bomb craters; interest in writing poetry; question of Malta campaign medal.
REEL 2 Continues: further memory of air attacks; problem of food shortages; question of morale during siege; casualties; unloading convoys; refuelling and rearming Spitfires; role as batman; promoted corporal, 1943; importance of convoys and improvement in situation following arrival of tanker Ohio; daily life and duties; story of meeting Sqdn Leader Warburton.
REEL 3 Continues: posted to Greek island of Samos; role in constructing defences and story of evacuation from island, 9/1943; posted to Genefa, Egypt, and nature of duties as Sergeant Instructor concerned with mines and booby traps. Aspects of post-war period of service with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB including training of conscripts. Aspects of operations with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Korea, 1952-1953: promoted Staff Sergeant and posted to Korea, 8/1952; description of duties in charge of technical stores near Imjin; story of bartering with American troops; sleeping arrangements; daily routine and weather conditions; memory of visit to Nagasaki.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of Japanese. Aspects of period with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Singapore, 1954-1955: description of duties as Company Sergeant Major in charge of 40 Base Workshop, Headquarters Company; story of receiving British Empire Medal, 1955; attitude to life in Singapore and relationship with civilian population. Aspects of period with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB, 1955-1957: opinion of conscripts; posted to Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Headquarters Company, Arborfield; nature of duties training National Servicemen; reasons for leaving army, 1957. Various aspects of civilian life and employment including role with army as barrack accountant.
REEL 5 Continues: interest in writing poetry; discussion of work with George Cross Island Association; reads own poem 'Peace Shattered'.