Interview with Arthur Frank Cooper

British private served with General Service Corps in GB, 1943; gunner served with 9th Field Training Regt Royal Artillery in GB, 1943; served with 59th Medium Regt Royal Artillery, 3rd Army Group, Royal Artillery, XII Corps in GB, North West Europe, 1943-1945

REEL 1 Background in Walsall, GB, 1924-1943: family, education; civilian work; following progress of Second World War; anticipation of involvement with war. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with General Service Corps at Norton Barracks, Worcester, GB, 1943: enlistment; father's reaction to his call-up for military service and advice given; journey to Worcester; reception on arrival at Norton Barracks, Worcester; reaction to physical training; initial activities, including issue of kit; first night in army; instructor NCOs; pattern of training; discipline; selection test. Aspects of period as gunner with 9th Field Training Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1943: posting to Harrogate; composition and roles of Ordnance 25 Pounder Field Gun team; bad artillery shells; maintenance of guns and vehicle; reflections on gunnery training; visits to Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI). Aspects of period as gunner with 59th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery 3rd Army Group, Royal Artillery, XII Corps in GB, 1943-1944: accommodation at Chiddingstone Castle; attending signallers training course in Edinburgh; role as signaller; routine; memories of officers; details of exercises; weapons training; death of Sergeant Griffiths; recreational activities, including visits to Chartwell; knowledge of approaching invasion of Normandy, France, including issue of currency and rations prior to embarkation; visit from General Bernard Montgomery. REEL 2 Continues: period at Forest Gate; embarkation aboard ship at Tilbury Docks; conditions on board. Aspects of voyage from Tilbury Docks to Normandy, France, 6/1944: sight of invasion armada off Isle of Wight; seasickness; approach to beaches; disembarkation. Recollections of operations as gunner with 59th Medium Regt, 3rd Army Group, Royal Artillery, XII Corps in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: arrival on beach and movement inland; story of talk with Wing Commander Johnnie Johnson; supporting Canadian Army troops during attack on Carpiquet Airfield; firing of gun; treatment of German Waffen-SS prisoners of war; sleep; journey to Cheux; proximity to German forces; nature of German Army multi-barrelled mortar and 88mm Gun fire; deployment at Cheux, including firing on night targets; communications; arrival in Colleville-sur-Orne; sounds and smells during Normandy Campaign; narrow misses and unit casualties; problems with dysentery; degree of awareness of situation in wider war; memories of Chaplain Eric Treacy; opinion of German forces' superiority; role of artillery. REEL 3 Continues: situation at Falaise Gap, 8/1944; question of prospect of accidentally firing on own forces; story of German Air Force raid; clearance of battlefield; approach to and state of Falaise; relations with French civilians; luxury rations; advance from Falaise; help obtained from civilians during action; terrain. Recollections of operations as gunner with 59th Medium Regt, 3rd Army Group, Royal Artillery, XII Corps in North West Europe, 8/1944-5/1945: advance into Northern France, including contact with French Resistance and passing First World War cemeteries; attack against tank in Kortrijk, Belgium; reception from civilians in Ghent, Belgium, 9/1944; situation in Belgium; unit activities at Gheel, Belgium; start of Operation Market Garden, 9/1944; start of artillery barrage over border with Netherlands, 9/1944; journey towards Arnhem, Netherlands; contact with United States Army troops; comparison of German and British weapons; personal cache of weapons; nature of actions on road to Arnhem, Netherlands; relief of 64th Medium Regt, Royal Artillery; reflections on Operation Market Garden; supply of rations. REEL 4 Continues: activities in Netherlands; Christmas period, 12/1944; coping with climate in Ardennes, Belgium; firing of guns; activities of General Bernard Montgomery in Ardennes, Belgium; nature of actions in Netherlands and Germany; conditions in Reichswald Forest, Germany, 1945; crossing of River Rhine, Germany, 3/1945; nature of advance into Germany, 3/1945-5/1945; contact with German civilians; opinion of military's post-war occupation role in Germany; post-war searches for and imprisonment of Displaced Persons; journey to Hamburg including sights witnessed in concentration camp, 4/1945-5/1945; firing of unit's last rounds on Hamburg from Krümse, Germany, 5/1945; reaction to end of Second World War in Europe, 8/5/1945; state of Hamburg; post-war duties in former labour camps, including attempts of German military personnel to get home and story of drinking vodka; news of posting to India; journey to GB; leave; reflections on Normandy Campaign including opinion of training and German weapons. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of voyage from GB to Bombay, India, 1945: issue of tropical kit prior to departure from GB; voyage from GB to Bombay, including receiving news of victory over Japan, 15/8/1945.