Mottram, Oswald Feukes (Oral history)

British private served with Basic Training Unit in GB, 1942; served with 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1942-1943; served with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 1943; served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 1943

REEL 1 Background in Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, GB, 1910- 1942: family and memories of childhood on farms including early education; attendance at church; leisure activities; further details of education; civilian work; items spent pay on; leisure activities; end of apprenticeships at start of war including knowledge of problems in Europe; fate of apprentices; dissolving of company; reason for not being able to join army. REEL 2 Continues: posting to work building aerodromes in Yorkshire; work and air activity at RAF Tockwith; opinion of pay; accommodation and family; transport to work; meeting of wife; arrival of call-up papers; reactions to call-up; medical in Leeds; sorting into Royal Engineers and later posting to Durham Light Infantry. Aspects of period as private with Basic Training Unit in GB, 1942: arrival at Brancepeth Castle; uniform issued and troops not taking to army life; description of accommodation; heater in room; latrines; water supply; canteen; relationship with recruits and NCOs; contact with officers; help given to recruits struggling with new life and position among recruits; NCO in accommodation; sleeping arrangements; cleaning and inspections of hut; cleaning of rifle; previous weapons experience; cleaning of equipment; details of buttons; handling of .303 Lee Enfield rifle; cleaning of rifle; description of and reaction to bayonet issued; drills learned. REEL 3 Continues: drilling with and firing of rifle; morning procedures; details of breakfast; physical training; morning break; driving and maintenance training; gas training; story of crawl along underground pipe; bayonet training; training with bren gun; description of explosive weapon used in house clearance; lunch; afternoon activities; sports including memories of Private Vincent Cook; tea; lectures including VD warnings and inspections; evening preparations for kit inspections; replacement of lost items; theft among troops; visits to NAAFI; leisure activities in camp; story of final vehicle inspection; coping with army language; relationship with NCOs; passing out parade; leave; posting to 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as private with 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 1942-1943: coastal defence duties including area posted; embarkation leave; story of parade in Durham; issue of tropical kit; train journey to Liverpool. Aspects of journey from Liverpool, GB, to Sicily, 1943: boarding of ship; population of ship; scenes of convoy and embarkation; voyage past Gibraltar; air raid on convoy and emergency disembarkation; casualties from raid; activities during five week stop; journey across North Africa to Sousse; role in draft; air activity; boarding of landing craft; landing at Syracuse. Aspects of operations as private with 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 7/1943-8/1943: joining of battalion; capture and evacuation of Italian POWs; opposition faced on landing; advance along coast; diagnosis of malaria; hospitalisation; missing of boat home with battalion; action seen in Sicily; confusion during period following release from hospital; story of mutiny; period in North Africa. Aspects of operations as private 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in Italy, 9/1943: landing at Salerno; street fighting in town. REEL 5 Continues: news would lead an advance up a hill; opposition faced during attack; reactions during action; quiet before attack; advance and sudden start of activity; cover taken from fire; casualties; absence of officers from attack; role of patrol; description of wounds; scenes during evacuation; knowledge of wounding; thoughts and pain while coming in and out of consciousness; reactions on being woken up; details of wounds. Aspects of hospitalisation in Italy, 9/1943: story of surgeons discussing which leg to amputate; opinion of treatment received; simultaneous problem with malaria; story of voyage to GB. Aspects of hospitalisation in GB, 1943-1944: refusal of entry on arrival at hospital; transfer to children's hospital in Durham; treatment received; irons worn on leg; discharge from army. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1944: problems with gaining pension; help from and work with Colonel Stanforth; civilian suit received on demobilisation; best and worst elements of time in army further memories of Colonel Stanforth.