Tebbett, Norman (Oral history)

British gunner served with 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1941; served with 31/58 Bty, 15th Medium Regt, RA in North Africa, 1941-1942. POW in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1943. Escaped to Switzerland and interned, 1943-1944

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Nottingham, 1920-1939: education; Boy Scouts' activities; work as shop errand boy; work as dyer and bleacher. Recruitment and training with A Troop, 107th Regt, <South Notts Hussars> Royal Artillery at Derby Road Drill Hall, Nottingham, 2/1937-9/1939: reasons; kitting out; initial posting as signaller and transfer to become gunner; 18pdr gun drill, role of gun team numbers, qualification as layer and opinion of instructors; drill; lectures; practice dropping into action on weekend exercises; relationship with ORs and officers. REEL 2 Continues: attending Bridlington Camp, 1937; question of approach of war; attending Redesdale Camp, 1938, including initial impressions, reactions to firing 18pdr for first time, training of observation post and gun position officers and inter-battery competition; reaction to lack of promotion prospects following influx of ex-Nottingham High School gunners; attending Redesdale Camp, 1939; formation of second line 150th Regt, <SNH> RA; reactions to approach of war. REEL 3 Mobilisation and initial period at Derby Road Drill Hall, 8/1939-9/1939: role with key party whilst billeted at home, 3/8/1939-1/9/1939; reaction to declaration of war; air raid warning; gas mask training; guard duty; opinion of Bombardier Jack Brown and Sergeant Danny Dowen; layers test; opinion of various officers; opinion of various NCOs including Battery Sergeant Major Greensmith. Recollections of periods at Rillington and Wragby, 11/1939-1/1940: billets; food rations supplemented by bakers. REEL 4 Continues: lack of vehicles; state of fitness and route marches; pay and recreations; billets; relationship with drafts of militia and reservists and question of relative levels of training in comparison with territorials; question of posting overseas; vaccination; relationship with civilians. Journey to Palestine, 1/1940. Recollections of periods at Sarafand, Gedera and Hadera Camps, 1/1940-6/1940: precautions against meningitis; climate; pith helmets; contact with Jewish/Arab civilians. REEL 5 Continues: training in dropping into action; Asluj Firing Camp; weeding out; rumour of spy on train journey to Mersa Matruh, Egypt. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine at Mersa Matruh, 6/1940-9/1940: bombing raid on arrival and question of personal morale under fire; improvements to dugouts and gunpits; sandstorms; food rations; water supply; latrines; desert faunae; guard duty on train station. REEL 6 Continues: training activities; accident to hand whilst digging gun positions and moving sand-dune near aerodrome; gun drill on issue of 4.5in howitzers; recreations; Italian high level air raids; treatment for infected hand. Evacuation via Casualty Clearing Station to 15th Scottish General Hospital at Cairo, ca 9/1940: classification as stretcher case; treatment; fatal burns case. Treatment and operation in Moascar hospital, ca 10/1940-12/1940. REEL 7 Posting to 31/58 Bty, 25th Field Regt, RA at Alexandria, ca 12/1940: prior period at Royal Artillery Base Depot, Almaza, ca 12/1940; reactions; reception and story of temporary posting as specialist gunner illustrating difference between regular and territorial units; reaction to informal conditions of service, discipline and comradeship amongst regulars; relationship with officers and NCOs; use of Indian expressions; posting back to gun team work and opinion of 25pdrs. Recollections of operations in North Africa, 1/1941-6/1942: evacuation with Gold Force from Benghazi, Libya ca 3/1941-4/1941. REEL 8 Continues: night driving in column and Stuka dive bomb attack during evacuation with Gold Force from Benghazi, ca 3/1941-4/1941; role as ammunition number and question of gun team efficiency in comparison with SNH; story of opening fire on German column illustrating difficulty in identifying German vehicles; food and water rations; organisation of unit; relationship with NCOs and officers in comparison with SNH; uniform; stories illustrating practice of stealing vehicles for regimental use; raiding of petrol dumps. REEL 9 Continues: raiding of petrol dumps; opinion of Major Peter Towers as adjutant and battery commander and post-war contact with him as major general; role on posting as specialist assistant to OP officer in pick-up truck; story of being captured on detached OP duty due to not recognising German vehicles in Tobruk area, 6/1942. Recollections of initial period of captivity in Tobruk area, 6/1942: German officer's failed attempt to use radio to locate unit; story of Germans accidentally opening fire on German vehicles; officer's failed attempt to escape; conditions; interrogation; RAF raid; move back to Suani Ben Adem. REEL 10 Continues: comparison of behaviour of Italian and German guards. Period at Suani Ben Adem POW Camp, 1942: food; state of morale; lectures; presence of SNH POWs; state of health and lack of effective medical treatment; attitude to Italians as result of POW experiences; question of collaboration by South African NCO. Journey via transit camp at Capua to Macerato, Italy, 1942: voyage to Naples; question of contact with GB. Recollections of conditions of service and lifestyle during period in No 3 Sector, PG 53, POW Camp, Sforza Costa near Macerato, 1942-1943: camp layout; food and question of cooking standards. REEL 11 Continues: food and question of allotting shares; Red Cross parcels and question of stealing by Italians; cigarette ration, use of various substitutes and question of bartering system; letter contact with GB; recreations including football, musical bands and magician's act; state of health; lice problem; story of POW marching out of camp with Italian guards; guard system. REEL 12 Continues: decision to accept farm work. Recollections of period on farm work party at Torre Quattara near Novara, ca 5/1943-9/1943: billet; initial inability to work due to state of health; nature of work; relationship with Italian civilians; extra food supplied and consequent improved physical condition; relationship with Italian guards; question of ability to speak Italian; news of Allied landings and question of escape, 9/1943. Recollections of escape and journey to Switzerland, 9/1943: story of non-violent disarming of Italian guards to take control of work party; period working on farm avoiding German patrols; assistance from Italian farmer; precautions in travelling by day; story of near re-capture by German patrol in village; food from Italian farmers; Italian guide across difficult mountain terrain to Swiss border. REEL 13 Continues: descent into Switzerland; reception from Swiss troops. Recollections of period as internee at Wald and Adelboden, Switzerland, ca 11/1943-11/1944: conditions; reaction to being guarded and status as 'evadees de guerre'; initial movements; relationship with Swiss civilians; reaction to arrival of British officers and their attempts to take control; lecture on golf; limited movement allowed as 'evadees de guerre'; state of health; pay; move to Adelboden, ca 5/1944; hotel accommodation; skiing activities; discipline; instructions from British Consul not to escape to France; crossing into France on opening of border. Journey back to GB, ca 11/1944; reactions; interview concerning period as POW. REEL 14 Continues: interview concerning period as POW. Recollections of period in GB, 11/1944-11/1945: development of mental problems related to nervous stress whilst on leave and helpful advice received from army doctor; background to posting to Royal Army Medical Corps and training as hospital cook; demobilisation, ca 11/1945. Post-war career with Gas Board. Rejoining 520 Bty, 307th Regt <SNH> RA, ca 1953-1968: comparison with pre-war situation; promotion to warrant officer; recruitment of experienced former regulars; reasons for rejoining.