Harris, John (Oral history)

British trooper and NCO served with 4th County of London Yeomanry in GB, 1939-1940; officer cadet served with Royal Military College, Sandhurst, GB, 1940; officer served with 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in GB, Egypt, North Africa, Palestine and North West Europe, 1940-1945

REEL 1 Background in Staffordshire and London, GB, 1914-1939: family background and homes; siblings; education and gaining of work; civilian work in Dublin and London; attitude to possible war; background of fiancée; listening to Hitler on radio and change in attitude to possible war; membership of Officers Training Corps at school; decision to join Territorial Army; attempt to join artillery unit in Kensington; joining of County of London Yeomanry. Aspects of period as trooper and NCO with 4th County of London Yeomanry in GB, 4/1939-8/1940: background of recruits; details of pay; reason for unit being based at Lord's Cricket Ground; cricket; drill; vehicles in unit; activities during 9/1939; posting to Woolacombe; accommodation; details of pay; health problems; gas instructor course taken; posting to Worksop; story of marriage, 11/5/1940. REEL 2 Continues: opening and work of gas training centre; story of arrest; course attended at Chelsea Barracks; treatment of Guards returning from Dunkirk; conversion of unit to Cruiser tanks; background to entering officer training; later loss of troops to officer training. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Royal Military College, Sandhurst, GB, 8/1940-12/1940: details of NCO instructors; organisation of training; story of trouble with staff sergeants while in command of guard; decision to join Tank Corps; interviews with adjutant and posting to Derbyshire Yeomanry; joining of 4 Troop B Squadron at Kirkby Malzeard; pattern of training; story of 4th County of London Yeomanry's armoured cars. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in GB, 12/1940-5/1942: problems from winter conditions. REEL 3 Continues: training given to troops at Headquarters; posting to Charlwood; changes to organisation of unit; posting as captain in D Squadron; activities of wife; rumours of overseas posting; duties as adjutant; visit from General Montgomery and subsequent changes; journey to Clyde. Aspects of period in transit from Scotland, GB, to Port Suez, Egypt, aboard the Straithnaver, 5/1942-7/1942: details of ship; population of ship and scenes of convoy; rest in Cape Town and knowledge of destination; arrival in Port Suez. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in Egypt, 7/1942: journey to Nile Delta; situation on arrival; accommodation and health of troops; methods of navigation in desert and subsequent chaotic nature of mobile warfare; training received in Ismailia; problems from sand including terrain of desert; situation in Egypt. Aspects of operations as officer with 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in North Africa, 7/1942-12/1942: make-up of armoured car crew; water ration; cooking of meals; rations; climate; details of Alam El Halfa; comparison of British and German tanks; situation before and during Battle of Alam El Halfa including reconnaissance role of regiment; arrival of General Montgomery; role in south of Alamein Line; deployment and dummy tanks. REEL 4 Continues: methods of deception; details of Alamein breakout; armoured car regiments in North Africa; advance across North Africa including problems with and advantages of armoured cars; handing in of armoured cars at Tobruk; activities during static period, 12/1942-3/1943. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in Egypt and Palestine, 3/1943-12/1943: return to Nile Delta; description and role of a Brick; training to become a Brick at Kabrit; opinion of Royal Air Force; posting to Palestine; further details of Brick training; return to Egypt and rumours of operations in Greece; boarding of ship at Port Said; details of voyage to Britain; story of music played by German troops in Alamein Line; proximity to opposition; role on return to Britain. REEL 5 Continues: accommodation onboard the Orion; length of voyage to Britain. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in GB, 1/1944-6/1944: periods in Aylesbury and Brampton with 153 Brigade 51st (Highland) Division; journey to Tilbury on D-Day; transfer of regiment to Normandy. Aspects of operations as officer with 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in North West Europe, 6/1944-5/1945: movement inland; meeting with brother; briefing for mission in Escoville; terrain around Escoville; action against German advance; comparison of North Africa and North West Europe campaigns; digging of slit trench; German POWs taken; casualties in 6/1944; details of activity in Escoville; relief of squadron; fate of replacement officer; brief return to Escoville; description of Bocage country; activities of 4th County of London Yeomanry in Villers Bocage; air activity; role of British attacks; description of breakthrough at Caen; start of advance toward Le Havre; events at St-Valery; clearing up of Le Havre; details of advance along coast including vehicles in unit and sleeping arrangements; communications; securing of supply line into Antwerp; advance to Nijmegen; details of Operation Market Garden; posting on The Island; opinion of airborne forces; withdrawal to Maastricht; Christmas 1944 and posting to Americans at Liege; knowledge of the Battle of the Bulge. REEL 6 Continues: briefing for advance into Ardennes; opinion of American forces; involvement in Ardennes; leave in Britain; winter conditions; return to regiment at Marche-en-Famenne; story of air raid on first night back; link-up with Americans troops; action and opposition faced in Reichswald; crossing of Rhine; story of locomotive and Mercedes car; details of advance beyond Rhine; German surrender accepted, 4/5/1945. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry in Germany, 1945: promotion to second in command of regiment; relationship with civilians; organisation of meetings at Stade racecourse; reflections on Second World War; reason for receiving Military Cross and Bar; other medals received.