Interview with Kenneth Albert Reynolds

British gunner trained with 25th Medium and Heavy Training Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1942; gunner and NCO served with 53rd Heavy Regt, Royal Artillery, 8th Army Group Royal Artillery in GB, 1942-1944; NCO served with 53rd Heavy Regt, Royal Artillery, 8th Army Group Royal Artillery, Second Army in North West Europe, 6/1944-11/1944; served with Gordon Highlanders in Northern Ireland, GB and India, 1944-1945; served with Indian Army Corps of Clerks in India, 1945-1947

REEL 1 Background in Rushall, GB, 1923-1942: family; education; employment in armament industry, 1939-1942; membership of 27th (Walsall) Bn Staffordshire Home Guard; details and activities of unit including rifle training; attempt to join Royal Navy in Birmingham; state of Birmingham city centre after German Air Force bombing. Aspects of enlistment and training as private with General Service Corps in GB, 1942: background to joining British Army reception on arrival at Warwick; background of fellow recruits; settling into military life; pattern of training; relations with civilians; selection tests and posting to Royal Artillery. Aspects of period as gunner with 25th Medium and Heavy Training Regt Royal Artillery in GB, 1942: joining training regiment at Marske-by-the-Sea; composition of training regiment; accommodation; learning of gun drill and gun team roles; laying and aiming of guns; fitness training; practicing of gun drill; opinion of posting; composition of regiment and gun team. REEL 2 Continues: potential roles after training; move to Cromer. Aspects of period as gunner and NCO with 53rd Heavy Regt and 8th Army Group Royal Artillery in GB, 1942-1944: nature of regiment and guns; role of 8th Army Group Royal Artillery; postings in GB; firing on ranges near Sheffield and Otterburn Ranges; opinion of training received; discipline on exercises; discussion of mistakes made in Normandy Campaign; degree of knowledge of D-Day; exercises in preparation for move to Normandy, France; history of unit; memories of Bombardier Jim Barber; possibility of remaining in military service after Second World War including post-war education; involvement with rear party; nature of Buller Barracks, Aldershot Garrison; exercises and war diary; visit from General Bernard Montgomery; wartime petrol containers, including manufacture of Jerry Can. REEL 3 Continues: memories of Lieutenant-Colonel Roderick McLeod; problems with obtaining promotion; discussion of casualties suffered; knowledge of approaching invasion of Normandy, France; duties with rear party; voyage across English Channel from GB to Normandy, France, 6/1944. Aspects of operations as NCO with 53rd Heavy Regt, Royal Artillery, 8th Army Group Royal Artillery, Second Army in North West Europe, 6/1944-11/1944: landing in Normandy, France; movement inland to unit; situation on arrival with regiment, including terrain and morale; reaction prior to and during action; reasons for reorganisation of gun team into shifts; support given to 11th Armoured Div; story of attack by German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft. REEL 4 Continues: psychological stress of situation; nature of German opposition faced; cover taken; digging-in and camouflage of gun; under German artillery fire and incident of near miss; casualties; story of German forces' attack on positions shortly after vacating it; reaction to receiving news of sister's death; mail; digging of positions; supply of rations; time spent in front line; troops suffering from psychological stress; sound of German attacks; advance through Northern France; nature of rest period; water rations; advantages of serving in Royal Artillery; cooking of meals; supplementing rations; contact with French civilians; terrain; advance to Boulogne, France; situation faced on arrival; help given to wounded soldier; evacuation of French civilians; Royal Air Force bombing of Boulogne, France; story of downed Royal Air Force Handley Page Halifax aircraft. REEL 5 Continues: story of getting lost in Calais, France; problems caused by blackout; rations and coal obtained and distributed; impressions and opinion of Canadian Army troops; prior recollection of attack on Carpiquet, Normandy, France; story of talk with Canadian Army sergeant-major; recalibration of gun; story of losing way en route to Nijmegen, Netherlands and drive through village along front line; opinion of need to be with own unit; crossing of Nijmegen Bridge; contact with Dutch civilians; withdrawal and attachment to 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Div; contact with Dutch civilians during attack on 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, 10/1944. REEL 6 Continues: later reunion with Dutch civilians; posting on farm at Broek, Netherlands. Aspects of period as NCO with Gordon Highlanders in Northern Ireland, GB and India, 1944-1945: background to being posted to infantry, 12/1944; postings in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland and Ayr, GB; reaction to overseas posting and voyage from GB to Bombay, India; nature of jungle training; brief visit to Burma; preparations for attack on Singapore, Malaya; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan and end of Second World War, 15/8/1945. Aspects of period as NCO with Indian Army Corps of Clerks in India, 1945-1947: background to joining Indian Army Corps of Clerks in Jhansi; pay and conditions; description of work with statistics; return voyage from India to GB; demobilisation in Aldershot Garrison, GB. Post-war life and employment: reaction on leaving British Army. REEL 7 Continues: reception on return home; civilian employment; lessons learned from military service; reflections on Normandy Campaign; question of friendly fire.