Description
Object description
British sniper served with 2nd Bn, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in GB, North West Europe and Palestine, 1941-1947. Present at capture of Pegasus Bridge, Normandy, 6/6/1944
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Wembley, London, 1923-1940: family background and social circumstances; education; work as apprentice sign-writer, 1936-1939; work as steel erecter, 1939; recreations; failed attempt to join army, 1939; recruitment and training underage with 12th Bn, Middlesex Regt at Stanford Brook Drill Hall, ca 4/1939-9/1939, including kitting out, Bren gun, drill rifle training, opinion of Bren gun carrier and weekend training; question of approach of war; outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; delay of call up and release as underage after mother's intervention; reserved occupation status as steel erector; work building army huts.
REEL 2 Continues: communal brick air raid shelter; German air raids; blackout; acting as ARP runner; work as steel erector; background to recruitment. Period with 70th (Young Soldier) Bn, King's Royal Rifle Corps in GB, 12/1940-5/1941: kitting out and formation of unit in Harrow area; move to North Weald airfield; opinion of Ross rifle and Lewis gun; anti-aircraft role and German air attacks; movements; weapons training; PT; question of choice of unit and signing on as regular, 1/1940. Recollections of training with Army Air Corps and 2nd Bn, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry at Bulford Camp, 4/1941-4/1944: medical; glider-borne nature of unit; formation into 2nd Bn, O&BLI; route marches.
REEL 3 Continues: assault courses; formation into 25 Platoon; opinion of various officers and NCOs including Major John Howard, Lieutenant Dan Brotheridge, Lieutenant Sweeney, Corporal Jack Bailey and Sergeant Bill Williams; training as sniper including use of telescopic sight and specially adapted rifle, camouflage, calibrating rifle to personal vision, use of telescopic sight, importance of individuality in sniper, morality of sniping and assessment as sniper.
REEL 4 Continues: first flights and landings in Hotspur glider towed by Albemarle; first flights in Hausa glider; flying with new glider pilots; loss of Hotspur; drill on disembarking from glider on landing and role of scout sections; tactical training and live firing exercises; platoon organisation and weapons; weapons training; question of hand-to-hand training; night exercise; opinion of US training, conditions of service and equipment during attachment to 101st US Airborne Div.
REEL 5 Continues: introduction to German infantry weapons and organisation; opinion of Sten gun; reorganisation of 25 Platoon in preparation for active service; exercises in capturing and holding bridges. Period at Tarrant Rushton airfield, 5/1944-6/1944: briefing on role in capture of Caen canal bridges on D Day; introduction to glider pilots; weighing to determine glider load; boat cargo for use by sappers; practice in use of Bangalore torpedo and pole charges; reaction to postponement of operation, 4/6/1944. Recollections of Pegasus Bridge operations, 5/6/1944-6/6/1944: loading Hausa; question of use of arrestor chutes; boarding Hausa, ca 21.30, 5/6/1944; seating arrangements; liaison officer from 7th Bn, Parachute Regt; personal morale; take off; approach to target area and landing.
REEL 6 Continues: exit from Hausa; successful attack on pillbox and dugout; search of lock machinery building; wounded French civilian; crossing Pegasus Bridge; return to occupy gun emplacement facing Benouville Chateau; failed German tank attack; arrival of Commandos and 7th Bn, PR; situation; use of German Pax gun against German snipers; arrival of rest of unit; fatigue and question of D Coy role leading advance to Escauville; encounter with German tanks and infantry in Escauville; story of being wounded and captured by Germans in Escauville; medical treatment; escape and rescue by Sergeant Nankerville; interview by Chester Wilmot for BBC at Headquarters., 6th Airborne Div.
REEL 7 Continues: German shellfire on HQ; evacuation to GB. Period in Wharncliffe Hospital, Sheffield and Halifax Hospital, 6/1944-6/1944: state of injuries; family visit. Period at Bulford Camp, 7/1944-12/1944: reaction to news of casualties and state of unit on arrival, 1/9/1944; reinforcements; question of realism of training; reports of Company Sergeant Major Bill Williams landing glider after death of pilots, 6/6/1944; leave; routine duties. Operations in Ardennes, Belgium, 12/1944-2/1945: journey out; role reinforcing US unit; 'compo' food rations; winter conditions and snow suits; return to GB. Period at Bulford Camp, 2/1945-3/1945. Account of Operation Varsity glider landing at Hamminkeln, Germany, 24/3/1945: take off from Birch airfield; anti-aircraft fire; cast off and landing near Hamminkeln railway station; exit from aircraft; situation; taking cover by embankment.
REEL 8 Continues: confused nature of situation; move towards Hamminkeln; casualties. Aspects of advance into Germany, 4/1945-8/1945: rest area; situation and nature of advance; contacts with Soviet Army and VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; return to GB, 8/1945. Period at Bulford Camp, 8/1945-9/1945: kitting out for service in Malaysia; advance party; cancellation of Malaysia posting. Aspects of periods in Palestine and Cyprus, 9/1945-11/1946: voyage out; first impressions; briefing on role preventing illegal Jewish immigration; patrols; Jewish insurgents' attacks on British solders and question of revenge attacks; night patrols and capture of Jewish suspects; story of shooting of Jewish ringleader aboard beached Jewish refugee ship; demobilisations; reactions to arrival of former deserter; detachment as regimental policeman to leave camp in Famagusta and Nicosia; return of unit to GB. Period as regimental policemen at transit camp, Toulon, France and =Cowley Barracks, Oxford, 1947-1948.
REEL 9 Demobilisation, 3/1948. Post-war career: question of staying in army; work as sign-writer; career as painter and decorator; acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; importance of membership of O&BLI Assoc and Airborne Forces Assoc.