Description
Object description
British gunner served with Royal Artillery in GB, 1942-1943; served with 120th Regt Royal Artillery in GB, 1943; private served with Commandos in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1944; gunner served with 120th Regt Royal Artillery in North West Europe and Germany, 1944-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bristol, GB, 1923-1942: family; education; civilian work including air raids; reaction to receiving call-up papers; train journey to Warwick, 9/1942; reception on arrival; pattern of training; football including playing for Birmingham City; posting to Royal Artillery at Deepcut. Aspects of period as gunner with Royal Artillery, 1/1942-4/1943: anti-aircraft gunnery training including practice shoots on Essex and Cornwall coasts; posting to unit near Stowmarket; daily routine; aircraft recognition training; airfields nearby and air activity; firing at German aircraft; background to posting to Oulton Park. Aspects of period as gunner with 120th Regt Royal Artillery in GB, 1943: postings within unit; fitness training; activities of unit; settling into unit and comradeship.
REEL 2 Continues: proficiency with rifle and posting to holding unit. Aspects of period as private with Commandos in GB, 1943-1944: pattern of training with unit at Gravesend including story of exercise; selection of snipers; skills held by colleagues; knowledge of unit; training with booby traps and mines; opinion of NCOs; story of sudden journey to camp at Southampton; details of camp and events on arrival; supply of meals; segregation from other units; preparations for posting to France; voyage to Isle of Wight, 4-5/6/1944; briefing for invasion; voyage to Normandy including contact with Free French troops; story of return visit to Ouistreham; approach to coast. Aspects of operations as private with Commandos in North West Europe, 1944: scenes during landing.
REEL 3 Continues: reactions to situation; depth of water; movement up beach at Ouistreham including opposition faced; role of unit; action faced in Ouistreham; breakdown after war's end; summary of advance through North West Europe including problems faced in orchard and living conditions; smell of dead cattle; actions in Netherlands; badge worn; advice given about surrender; details of weapons carried and sold; rations during campaign; question of alcohol; action faced during advance including role as sniper in unit; story of briefing and wait for artillery unit in Flushing including relationship with civilian woman.
REEL 4 Continues: reunion with and re-joining of 120th Regiment Royal Artillery. Aspects of operations as gunner with 120th Regt Royal Artillery in North West Europe, 1944-1945: settling into battery; memories of Captain Freddie Arnold; activities of unit in Flushing; movement of unit around Netherlands; scenes and knowledge of Operation Market Garden; ammunition fired; crossing of Rhine including German POWs; posting in Rheine. Aspects of operations as gunner with 120th Regt Royal Artillery in Germany, 1945-1946: reactions to end of war; mental effect of war on troops; details of posting near Paderborn; accommodation; climate; daily routine; background to hospitalisation. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 1946: initial period at Southmead Hospital; details of convalescence home; treatment received at Southmead including trips home; details of convalescence course; background to gaining work in ration stores; posting to and period at Deepcut, 1946-1947. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1947: continued effects of service; leave after demobilisation; civilian work.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of treatment received; settling into civilian life; family; talking about experiences; attendance before medical board in Cheltenham during convalescence; opinion of treatment; ongoing medical problems; opinion of pension and medal awards.