Description
Object description
British rifleman and NCO served with King's Royal Rifle Corps in GB, 2/1939-1/1942; NCO served with 2nd (Machine Gun) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, GB and North West Europe, 10/1942-11/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Leyton, GB, 1921-1939: family; education; employment; attempt to join Royal Navy; joining of army. Aspects of enlistment and training as rifleman with King's Royal Rifle Corps Regimental Depot, Peninsula Barracks, Winchester, GB, 2/1939-8/1939: enlistment in British Army, 2/1939; reception on arrival at Winchester; accommodation; background of recruits; commitment to military service; issue of kit, including trousers; standard of turnout and discipline; memories of NCOs and opinion of training; posture from drill; buttons and badges on uniform; rifle and bayonet training; proficiency with rifle; question of struggling recruits; learning drill; recreational activities; initial posting to 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps in Tidworth Camp, 8/1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; reason for posting to motor battalion at Chiseldon. Aspects of period as rifleman and NCO with King's Royal Rifle Corps in GB, 9/1939-10/1942: situation on arrival; learning to drive; lectures; arrival and issue of vehicles.
REEL 2 Continues: pattern of training; role giving driving instruction; reaction to Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940 including activities of 2nd Battalion; posting in Helmsley; preparations for embarkation; knowledge of destination. Aspects of voyage on draft aboard HMT Empress of Japan and HMT Empress of Scotland from Glasgow, GB to Egypt, 1942: change to HMT Empress of Japan's name to HMT Empress of Scotland, 10/1942 ; conditions on board; concert parties; route taken and submarine scare; prior promotion to lance corporal; duties; stopover at Freetown, Sierra Leone; shore leave in Cape Town, South Africa; arrival in Egypt; period in transit camp, including visit from General Bernard Montgomery. Recollections of operations as NCO with 2nd (Machine Gun) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North Africa, 1942-1943: joining battalion and relations with troops from Liverpool; Vickers Machine Gun training including composition of team; role of unit in action and comparison with infantry; participation in action at Wadi Akarit, Tunisia; advance to Tunis, Tunisia.
REEL 3 Continues: nature of return journey to Egypt, including breakdown of lorry; rumours of return to GB. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd (Machine Gun) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div on Sicily, Italy, 7/1943-10/1943: voyage to Sicily; nature of Axis opposition; landing at Avola, Sicily; advance across Sicily and involvement in battle for Primosole Bridge; degree of knowledge of actions involved in; duties as despatch rider; opinion of luck in postings; story of attack on Sicily; reflections on period in Sicily; return to GB. Aspects of period as NCO with 2nd (Machine Gun) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 11/1943-6/1944: first marriage and reception on return home; leave; atmosphere in GB; nature of amphibious landing training at Inverarary; opinion of training; posting to East Anglia; nature of sealed camp at Lyndhurst, including restrictions on movement; briefings received for invasion of Normandy, France; illicit visit home. Aspects of voyage across English Channel from Southampton, GB to Normandy, France, 6/1944: journey to Southampton; embarkation and period prior to embarkation.
REEL 4 Continues: nature of journey to Southampton; period on board ship prior to sailing, including issue of money; delay to D-Day; conditions on ship; supply of meals; morale; movement into English Channel; breakfast and inspection, D-Day, 6/6/1944; nature of embarkation onto landing craft and approach to Gold Beach. Aspects of operations as NCO with 2nd (Machine Gun) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: disembarkation from landing craft and movement up Gold Beach, D-Day, 6/6/1944; advance from beach into wood; contact made with infantry; German forces' opposition on Gold Beach; later support given to infantry; nature of advance inland from Gold Beach, D-Day, 6/6/1944.
REEL 5 Continues: warning and taking cover; drying of clothes and question of rations; aerial activity; nature of action at Tilly-sur-Seulles; period following D-Day Landings; story of German artillery bombardment; casualties and promotion to sergeant; battalion move into reserve; awareness of situation; method of marking of positions for aircraft; discussion of role and duties; question of talking about experiences; relations with French civilians. Recollection of operations as NCO with 2nd (Machine Gun) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-11/1944: advance into Belgium, 9/1942; German forces withdrawal from Belgium, 9/1944; relations with civilians in Belgium; knowledge of Operation Market Garden, Netherlands, 9/1944.
REEL 6 Continues: crossing of Nijmegen Bridge, Netherlands, 9/1944; arrival in Elst, Netherlands; aerial activity, including landing of gliders; activity during period in Elst, Netherlands, 9/1944-10/1944; contact with Dutch civilians during visit to Nijmegen, Netherlands, 10/1944; nature of leave in Antwerp, Belgium; return journey to GB, 11/1944, including letter sent to wife; decision to volunteer for military service in West Africa; background to break-up of 2nd (Machine Gun) Bn Cheshire Regt. Aspects of period as NCO in West Africa, 1945-1946: impressions on arrival in Lagos, Nigeria; activities before posting in Daru, Sierra Leone; duties; receiving news of posting to Far East; story of wedding; decision to leave British Army. Post-war life and employment: problems settling into civilian life.
REEL 7 Continues: process of demobilisation in York; civilian employment; second marriage; reflections on military service including leading men; opinion of modern society; problems settling into civilian life.
