Wilkes, James Douglas (Oral history)

British driver served with 70th Field Regt Royal Artillery in GB, 1939-1940; NCO served with 1st Medium Regt Royal Artillery in GB, India and Burma, 1944-1945; NCO served with Royal Artillery Depot, Woolwich in GB, 1945

REEL 1 Background in Lahore, India, and Bradford, GB, 1919-1939: military background of family; civilian work of father; baptism in Calcutta; story about application to join Indian Police; memories of India and move to GB; problems with mother settling down in GB; life with mother following separation from father; relations in New Zealand; stories of visits from father; allowance from father; problems with money and underhand work as errand boy; family homes and childhood memories; food; education including work while still at school. REEL 2 Continues: leisure activities; involvement with church; illnesses; story of local suicide; memories of night in workhouse; reason for leaving school; work with wool merchant; working day and reason for leaving work; dole school and story of gaining job with cloth manufacturers; details of job including application for Indian Police; reason for joining Territorial Army and pay given during war; annual holiday; involvement with girls; brother's civilian work; signs of approaching war; motorcycle bought and worked on; interest in motor vehicles; anti-German and pro-Moseley feelings in area; attempt to join Tank Corps and reason for joining Royal Artillery. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as driver with 70th West Riding Field Regt Royal Artillery in GB, 3/1939-6/1940: details of unit; posting as despatch rider; process of joining; clothing issued; drill nights; learning movement in column; guns in regiment; driving lesson; driving of a gun tractor; organisation of unit; description and opinion of six-wheel gun tractor; other vehicles in regiment and their role; use of horses; role of dispatch riders; civilian view of Territorial Army; opinion of unit; discipline; movement in column; fuel supply; pay; attractions of Territorial Army; outbreak of war; reactions to start of war; invitation to apply for commission and reason for not applying; journey to and arrival at camp in Redesdale; army language; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; morning procedures; physical training; kit inspections; first meal at camp; standards set by officers and washing of utensils. REEL 4 Continues: allotment of tents and sleeping equipment; comfort of paliasses; cleaning of tents; activities during day; driving test; main meal; supply of meals; firing on range; end of working day and tea; evening activities; end of camp; mobilisation; reaction of mother to war; posting in Bradford Drill Hall; church parades; issue of battle dress; effect of battle dress on morale; equipment issued and stealing among troops; new vehicles issued; opinion of BSA motorcycles; personal weapons in regiment; bren and anti-tank weapons issued; activities while in Bradford; sleeping arrangements on first night; concern for mother; posting in Pateley Bridge and exercise; posting in Pickering and spread of regiment; clothing worn for riding motorcycle; speed limit; methods of dealing with winter conditions; preparations and inspection for guard duty; guns guarded; story of fixing the Permanent Staff Instructor's motorcycle; motor mechanic course taken in Norwich; accommodation; draining of vehicles during winter; period as driving instructor; story of drive to Grassington; contact with Northumberland Hussars. REEL 5 Continues: unloading of a train of ammunition at Pateley Bridge; exercise on Bellaby Moor; headquarters and dining hall in Pickering; accommodation; relationship with civilians; maintenance of vehicles and coping with winter conditions; winter clothing issued; sleeping arrangements; contact with civilians; routine duties; teaching troops and officers to drive; maintenance duties; description of truck used; story of sabotage to truck and opinion as to why; requisitioned vehicles; driving duties; guns in unit; turnover of officers; story of German bomber shot down; schemes; duties as dispatch rider; clothing worn on motorcycle including problems wearing tin hat; reason for imposing speed limit on motorcycles; accidents; journey to concert in Malton; details of Bedford 1500 weight trucks; Christmas 1939; details of mechanics course taken in Norwich; recall before end of course. REEL 6 Continues: rejoining of until at Salisbury Plain; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; conditions; collection and details of new guns issued; manoeuvres; story of injury to thumb; description of gun tractors in unit; manoeuvring gun into position; transport of troops and ammunition; conditions on Salisbury Plain; transport of private kit to Bradford; posting to Halifax and leave; move to 3 ton trucks; change of tyres on trucks; formation of advance party and rumours of posting to Norway; journey to Gallowshields via Catterick; accommodation; duties receiving troops from Norway; posting in Selkirk; duties including details of parachute duty; morale; story of visit into Selkirk and preparations for journey to Aldershot; arrival in Aldershot and changes to plans; breakdown of truck and replacement issued; journey to Southampton and reception from civilians en route; loading of trucks onto ship; advice from an old soldier; stay in rest camp. REEL 7 Continues: boarding of ship; voyage to Brest; reactions to posting in France; Cameronians on ship; scenes on arrival in Brest. Aspects of operations as driver with 70th West Riding Field Regt Royal Artillery in France, 6/1940: march to camp; knowledge of situation; rations; collection of vehicles and orders given; petrol collected from Royal Army Service Corps; strawberries eaten on journey; handling of vehicle; story of near crash on approach to Lavalle and aftermath of incident; air raid during night; sleeping arrangements; guard duty; refugees; journey to Mont-Saint- Jean; collection of petrol; and problems with storage cans; story of hot chocolate brewed up from emergency rations; equipment carried; contact with refugees passing through Mont-Saint-Jean; reaction to seeing refugees; sleeping arrangements; loading of battery office equipment into truck; troops in truck; details of journey to Cherbourg; state on arrival and organisation of meal; evening activities; knowledge of destination; problems with tiredness; air raid during night; breakfast; orders given; attempt to burn box of maps; transport of guns to docks and haircut; movement of vehicles to docks; story of roadblock and new route planned; orders for destruction of truck; boarding of ship; loading of truck onto ship; voyage to Southampton. Aspects of period as driver with 70th West Riding Field Regt Royal Artillery in GB, 6/1940-7/1940: reaction on return to GB. REEL 8 Continues: time in rest camp and visit to cinema; collection of vehicles from docks; sinking of officers' mess truck at rendezvous; transfer out of 49th Division; story of cyclist run over; enquiry following accident; rendezvous outside Cambridge; mail sent to mother; activities in Cambridgeshire; defensive positions taken up in Scotland; spread of unit; stories of delivering messages during an invasion scare including to Stirling Castle; morale in unit; story of receiving news of posting as mechanic to regular regiment and reactions to posting; suggestion of Sergeant Major Smith to travel to unit via Bradford; journey to Bradford; reception at home; story of attempts to find new unit. Aspects of period as vehicle mechanic and NCO with 1st Medium Regt Royal Artillery in GB, 7/1940-5/1942: arrival with unit at Seaham; journey to Regimental Headquarters in West Auckland; reception from Regiment Sergeant Major and posting with headquarters; details of unit; deployment of guns; description of AC Matadors; use of vehicles in winter; recent history of unit; morale. REEL 9 Continues: arrival and description of AC Matadors; role and spread of unit; accommodation; make-up of headquarters; relationship with civilians; visits to Bishop Auckland; relationship with regular troops; attachment from other regiments in headquarters; memories of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Grant; make-up of regiment; supply of ammunition and rations; vehicles in regiment; opinion of officers; promotion to lance bombardier; pay; personal vehicle; role and contact with quarter master; maintenance of vehicles; rules about repair of vehicles; length of time in West Auckland; arrival of impressed vehicles; story of air raid while delivering rations; visit to bomb craters and damage to buses; search for accommodation in Witton-le-Wear; news of diesel course; return visit to Bishop Auckland and preparations for sudden move; opinion of reason for high alert; details of diesel course attended in Darlington including memories of Tony Norse. REEL 10 Continues: accommodation in Witton-le-Wear; latrines and washing facilities; details of workshop; spread of headquarters; dining hall and billets; officers mess; relationship with civilians; boundaries to troops; presence of Military Police; passes to leave area; involvement with local garage; story of meeting future wife; story of first beer; medical officer and padre; story of visit to future wife's farm; story of help given to tow trucks; duties clearing snow from roads; battery working on farm in Bishop Auckland; relationships between local girls and troops; church parades; length of time at Witton-le-Wear; story of search for German air crew; story of problems with quarter master's truck; vehicles in unit; role of unit; opinion of four-wheel drives that replaced AAC Matadors; arrival of 5.5" Howitzers; camp at Redesdale and demonstration of Howitzers; rumours about posting overseas; attempts to join Royal Air Force. REEL 11 Continues: applications for Paratroopers and Commandos; extra duties given by commanding officer; relationship with Bombardier Stokes who was placed in charge of workshop; entrance of USA into war; reactions to Japanese entrance into war; morale at end of 1941; marriage in Crook; news of posting abroad; issue of tropical kit; problems getting embarkation leave; preparations for embarkation; leave; issue of tropical kit; civilian knowledge of posting; story of visit to Witton Castle and muster parade; role of rear party; last meal; march to station and send-off from civilians; train journey to Greenock including reactions to posting abroad and leaving wife; arrival in docks; march to ship; sailing of vehicles; description of SS Otranto. Aspects of journey from Greenock, GB, to Bombay, India, aboard the SS Otranto, 5/1942-c7/1942: boarding and accommodation; sleeping arrangements; first meal onboard; rations; morning procedures; physical training; period anchored in Clyde; escape of Scottish troops from ship; scenes from ship upon embarkation; conditions at sea; seasickness. REEL 12 Continues: discussions about being swept overboard; questioning about man who disappeared; conditions below decks; improvement in conditions; route taken to Freetown; morning procedures; water ration and washing facilities; boat drill and discipline; canteen; memories of Jack Pillens; legal and illegal gambling; rations; activities onboard and tea; changes to climate; clothes worn onboard; warnings about sunstroke; crew of ship; tug of war; stop in Freetown harbour and bumboats; visit of sailor from HMS Nelson; news from escort; story of near collision with HMS Nelson; guard duties; conditions below decks; sleeping on deck including story of man thrown overboard in sleep; split of convoy into three; voyage around Cape of Good Hope; reception on arrival in Durban; visit to old friends; accommodation in football ground; length of time in Durban; reception from civilians; embarkation; voyage across Indian Ocean; length of voyage; reception from kite hawks. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Medium Regt Royal Artillery in India, c7/1942-2/1944: first impressions of Bombay; first meal in India; first impressions of civilians; knowledge of India; VD lectures; duties unloading stores. REEL 13 Continues: night on ship; conditions and rations on train journey across India; change of locomotive at Poona; speed of train; stops on journey; sleeping arrangements; length of journey and arrival in Bangalore; contact with civilians; latrine on train; stories about India from old troops; tropical kit issued and inoculations received before voyage; disembarkation in Bangalore; march to camp; description of camp on arrival; first meal including problems of cooks with tinned ham and first experience with kite hawks; location of camp; setting-up of camp; guard house; warning about going out of camp; anti-British signs around Bangalore; visits into Bangalore and YMCA; other units in town; description of Bangalore; relationship with civilians; accommodation; standard of turnout; preparations for and inspection from Commander in Chief of Royal Artillery; knowledge of situation concerning Japanese; opinion that would be sent to North Africa; rations; hospitalisation with ear infection; leisure activities; arrival of vehicles and preparations for posting on Kolar Gold Fields; civilian workers in camp; camp set up at Kolar Gold Fields including latrines; methods of dealing with flies; duties including vehicle maintenance and signs made and problems fulfilling duties. REEL 14 Continues: reason for discontent in camp; organisation of visits to canteen in Kolar; promotion to Bombardier and staff assigned to help with duties; problem with water in petrols and method to improve situation; life expectancy of vehicles; problems with punctures and tyre checks; period starting engines with handle; order to slow engines; number of vehicles dealt with; retirement of vehicles; length of time in Kolar Gold Fields; landing training; manoeuvres and visits to Madras; opinion would not go east; arrival of Lord Louis Mountbatten and orders issued for training; teaching troops to drive; learning to swim; infantry training received; weapons carried and opinions of them; grenade training; terrain trained on; living on the land exercise at Ootacamund; story of visit to house for tea; leisure activities at Ootacamund and cautions taken by civilians against black panthers; visit at Krishna Raja Sagara; story of injury sustained escaping from "crocodiles"; towns in Kolar Gold Fields; relationship with British and Indian civilians. REEL 15 Continues: leave in Madras; details of pay; mail; story of falling ill before Christmas 1943; events of Christmas 1942 celebrations including story of Sergeant Kinden; hospitalisation with denghi fever; story of deaths at Christmas 1943; treatment in hospital; orders for move to combined operations camp at Kumbergan; organisation of jourey; work on Brigadier Stephens' car; final preparations on vehicles before journey east; anti-malaria precautions; talk with sanitary orderly about destination; plan for organisation of journey; method of dealing with punctred petrol tanks; length of journey; vehicle driven and position in column; truck with daily punctures; order of regiment in column; night stops; visit to Agra; sleeping arrangements; story of Military Police search for Corporal Atkinson; passing of American convoy and memories of colonel; giving up of personal items; changeover of pick-up trucks in Barrackpore; transport of vehicles and guns to Burma; voyage to Chittagong; arrival in Chittagong and unloading of vehicles; recovery of tools stolen in southern India. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Medium Regt Royal Artillery in Burma and India, 1944: arrival at and role of B Echelon in Arakan. REEL 16 Continues: posting at B Echelon and request to go forward; reactions during night before going into action; thought about being taken prisoner; opinion of Japanese troops; crossing of a wooden bridge; position in advance headquarters; destination and concern about attack; arrival in Admin Box; location of advance headquarters; enlargement of gun pits and activities during night; description from attack from Japanese fighting patrol and casualties; orders given to protect jetty; damage to guns; replacement of colonel by Colonel Soames; opinion of Colonel Soames; fading out of battle sound; actions of 130 Field Regiment; casualties; morale following first action; move of headquarters; story of shelling faced during visit to 522 Battery; reactions to first experience of shellfire; help given to 522 Battery; Japanese positions at 1301; position allocated at headquarters; common problem with Dodge trucks; use of camouflage; description of position occupied; location of cookhouse and story of shot fired on way to it; orders given about taking orders to 522 Battery; story of Japanese soldier on return to position; description of artillery barrage fired and effect on morale; condition of roads. REEL 17 Continues: correction to earlier statements concerning Major Soames taking command of regiment; orders to not attack Japanese troops approaching position; view from position; troops located with him; Stand To; breakfast; evacuation with dysentery including symptoms; fear at advance dressing station; evacuation in DUKW; description of hospital and plans for large attack; arrival of casualties; Japanese POWs; collection of stool samples; staff in hospital including theft of soap and toothpaste; rations and memories of Quarter Master Sergeant Bills; discipline in hospital; treatment received; return to regiment; concern over Japanese positions at 1301; movement of guns to shoot at 1301; destruction of Japanese positions; carrying out of maintenance duties; common problems with vehicles; ordering of parts; ease of movement around positions; attitude towards situation; church services; story of cobra between legs; inspection of boots for scorpions; problems with rats and dog used to catch rats; problems from mosquitoes. REEL 18 Continues: effects of climate; troops rejection of cocoa; problems sleeping and help it gave when had children; Japanese activity; visit from and opinion of Lord Louis Mountbatten; places captured by regiment; description of positions by fortress; approach of black cloud and orders to open fire; description of rainstorm; cleaning up of trench; story of a Welsh soldier laughing at a magazine; defence of positions; washing for evening meal and use of handkerchief; story of driving adjutant to vacated position for meeting with colonel of 6th Medium Regiment and later return with message; small arms fire greeted with on return; return to original position; story of package dropped by light aircraft; journey to Chittagong; new vehicles received; journey to Dimapur via Shillong; arrival and quick departure; smell at Milestone 18; arrival at Milestone 26 and positioning of guns; rainfall; date of arrival; metal roads laid by Royal Engineers; location of headquarters and tracks created; winch for moving vehicles. REEL 19 Continues: sighting of guns; problems from rainfall at night; blood poisoning in arm and treatment given; health of regiment; order for issues of Wellingtons; reinforcements; orders to fire barrage on elephants; explosion of gun and casualties; previous premature explosions; opinions of reason for premature explosions; checking of shell size to avoid problem; later order for safe firing of gun; Corps and Division attached to; knowledge of situation in Kohima; accuracy of shellfire; forward observation officer; story of visit to Commander in Chief of Royal Artillery; news of events at Kohima; arrival of ambulances; visit to Kohima churchyard and infantry attack watched; description of scene; story of letter found on dead Japanese soldier; opinion of infantry; feelings toward campaign; scenes on arrival in Kohima; details of 522 Battery; proximity to battle; previous casualties in regiment; evacuation of wounded; hot bath following Kohima; insulation from wet battle dress; description of monsoon cape; sleeping arrangements at Milestone 26 and in Kohima; health of unit; details of mail; help given to troops who received bad news and results of situations. REEL 20 Continues: opinion and memories of two padres who served with regiment; movement towards Imphal and news of D Day; story of Japanese suicide in front of BBC sound recorder; condition of roads and booby traps; night at Milestone 60 and soldiers shot in morning; orders to receive rear battery; position chosen to wait for them and dead Japanese soldiers found nearby; arrival of rear battery and continuation towards Imphal; meeting with British forces at Milestone 109; collection of marooned motorcycle; arrival in Imphal and work with reconnaissance party in Ukruhl Road; position taken in Imphal; shot fired from and description of a basha; inspection of the basha; split of regiment; advance to Palel; position taken beyond Palel airfield; treatment given to injured Japanese soldier found on Brigade Hill; positioning of guns in a battery; signs of previous fighting; contact with civilians; halt at advance at Tamu; collection and transport of anti-aircraft guns; fall of gun tractor over cliff; maintenance of vehicles and help from drivers; terrain between Kohima and Tamu; relief from and opinion of East Africans; problems with line of communication vehicles; opinion of Chevrolet truck. REEL 21 Continues: relief from East African Division; return to and activities at Imphal; story of refusing leave and decision to go to Darjeeling. Aspects of period on leave in India, 1944: time in rest camp; truck journey to Dimapur; stay in transit camp; train journey to Calcutta including contents of K Rations; American repair of railway; length of leave; reaction to ten day wait for train; bribery to gain place on train and journey to foothills; smell on arrival; information given about trains; train journey to Darjeeling including help given after derailing of carriages; dinner as guest of Bengal Himalaya Railway Company; collection by Military Police; accommodation; clothing issued; view from accommodation; activities in Darjeeling; details of pay; description of Darjeeling; climate; relationship with Indian troops; troops on leave in Darjeeling; viewing Mount Everest from Tiger Hill; evening activities; rations. REEL 22 Continues: civilian workers employed in rest camp; daily routine; story of Simple Simon the pony; relationship with civilians; preparations for return to unit; derailing of carriage on journey down mountain; beauty and poverty in India; anti-British feeling in India; hospitalisation with denghi fever during train journey; stay in Santaha Hospital; evacuation to Calcutta including bomb happy troops at station; hospitalisation and treatment received; problems with back; details of hospital and staff; discipline; treatment for back; reason for discharge; journey to transit camp; story of pay parade; visit into town; journey back to unit; wait for transport in Imphal; help given to burial party; visit to mule hospital; sleeping arrangements; daily routine; reason for being refused as volunteer on air-drops; attitude toward rear line troops; news of return to regiment; events on journey to Tamu and concern about return; hitchhike to Tamu and interview with commanding officer; activities of unit in his absence. REEL 23 Continues: flight in Dakota towards Kalemyo and Kalewa; story of near crash on landing; confusion at airstrip and story of glider; journey to unit. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Medium Regt Royal Artillery in Burma, 1944-1945: description of position held by unit; story of American Ambulance crew and Metrological RAF Crew; fire lanes cut in trees and positions of guns; washing facilities; Indian Artillery sound ranging unit; well in position; story of Japanese sniper beheaded by East African soldier; unit knowledge of his return; health of unit; work of sound ranging unit; Japanese infiltration into positions; proximity to infantry; move of sound ranging unit following Japanese attack; story of sentries scaring one another; use of tins in position; story of mistaken Stand To; air activity; supply and ration of ammunition; description of slit trenches; sleeping arrangements; problems with wildlife; keeping clean. REEL 24 Continues: support of 11th East Africans; return of broken gun tractors; East African deadline for arrival in Kalemyo and advance; contact with friend John Bassant; arrival in Kalemyo and unrest among East African troops; wait for bridge to be built over Chindwin River; death of Regimental Quarter Master Bills; changing of Ford V8 piston rings and Japanese bombing; details of Light Aid Detachment; rank and title; crossing of Chindwin River and advance beyond it; stories from collection of supplies for Christmas including creation of vehicle pool and story of solving the problem of a troublesome Ford V8; Christmas celebrations 1944 and story of attack. REEL 25 Continues: reason of apprehension before advance; vehicle driven during advance; memories of commanding officer's driver and story of first night's drive on advance; condition of roads; opinion of carrier; position taken up and items left by Japanese; opinion of Japanese troops; role of unit; speed of advance; dental treatment received at Shwebo; rations and work of cooks; news of war; air support; route taken towards Mandalay; method of subterfuge; burial of medical officer; Japanese tactics during withdrawal; contact with civilians; story of walking under a gun as it fired; morale of unit; situation on arrival in Mandalay and description of Fort Dufferin; employment of point blank artillery fire and surrender of Fort Dufferin; position taken within Mandalay; visit into Mandalay; opportunities for and attitude to looting; restrictions on time; date of arrival in Mandalay and effect on morale; difficulties of repairing vehicles during advance. REEL 26 Continues: details of mail; help given to troops receiving bad news; breakdown and near loss of carrier on advance to Mandalay; crossing of dry river bed and rescue of vehicles from it; use of skidding carried by gun tractors; problems with carrier's clutch; surrounding by Japanese at Kyaukse; replacement of carrier's clutch and watching of Now, Voyager; visit from ENSA; troops opinion of General Slim; problem with bogey wheel; warnings about and passing of Japanese sniper; speed of advance with tanks to Prome; Japanese anti-tank guns en route; location of regimental headquarters in Prome; story of help given to water tank driver and passing of Indian National Army troops; departure of batteries; meeting with invasion force; role in Prome; position taken on a chaung; mortaring of Japanese on Irrawaddy; attitude towards Japanese troops; move to and Rangoon; Lord Louis Mountbatten's remark about the tanks; positions taken up and role; news of war's end and reactions to news; story of negotiating a ration exchange with Chinese civilians. REEL 27 Continues: story of Japanese treatment of civilians; treatment of Karen civilians; military work in Rangoon including camp set up for British POWs; state of returning POWs; promotion and reinforcements arriving; story of party in Gunner's Mess; cancellation of journey home; arrival of personal items left in Calcutta; departure from unit; offer of post after war from Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; conditions in transit camp; issue of European battle dress; problems with dust; preparations for boarding ship; swim in mosquito-infested water; voyage on landing craft; boarding of barge and ship. Aspects of journey from Rangoon, Burma, to Liverpool, GB, aboard the Duchess of Richmond, 10/1945-11/1945: accommodation; arrival in Colombo; passengers boarding at Colombo; date of arrival in Liverpool and reason for slow journey to Colombo; treatment received for malaria. REEL 28 Continues: reason for stopping to take mepacrine; burial at sea; details of Duchess of Richmond; leisure activities; enjoyment of journey; rations; journey through Suez Canal and Straits of Gibraltar; passing of HMS Nelson; arrival in Liverpool; reception on quayside; wait for disembarkation. Aspect of period as NCO in GB, 11/1945: collection of kit; reception on train; problems with cold; arrival at Clacton-on-Sea; march to Butlins; reception at camp and meal; night in chalet and following morning; news about departure; news of leave and train home; time at station and telegram sent home; treatment received for jungle sores suffered from on ship; journey to Darlington and reception on arrival home; leave including relationship with wife. Aspects of period as NCO with Royal Artillery Depot in GB, 1945: reported to Woolwich; work with London District Workshops in Croydon; story of falling ill with malaria including accommodation; journey to hospital; hospitalisation and treatment received. REEL 29 Continues: discipline; reason for refusing convalescence leave; process of demobilisation in York; leave and search for civilian work; story of return trip to Burma; best and worst moments in army.