Gunn, James (Oral history)

British officer served with Mountain Artillery Training Centre, Royal Artillery, in GB and India, 1945-1947; served with 307 Field Regt (South Notts Hussars), RA in GB, 1951-1966

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Bristol, 1925-1943: family history and circumstances; brothers' war service; preparatory school; education at Radley College, Abingdon including OTC training and effects of war; German air raids on Bristol, ca 1941; background to volunteering to join Royal Artillery and call up, 7/1943. Attending gunnery course at Edinburgh University, 9/1943-3/1944. Period of infantry training at Gallowgate Camp, Richmond, 3/1944-4/1944. Period of training at Shoeburyness, 5/1944-7/1944: gun drill and opinion of 6pdr anti-tank gun; cricket activities; reasons for volunteering to attend Officers' Cadet Training Unit in India during pre-OCTU course at Wrootham, 7/1944. Voyage aboard troopship to Bombay, India, 9/1944: conditions; route; first impression on arrival and train journey to Mhow. REEL 2 Continues: train journey to Mhow. Recollection of pre-OCTU course at Mhow, 10/1944-12/1944: status as cadet; relationship with servants; sunburn problem. Recollections of period at OCTU at Deolali, 1/1945-8/1945: comparison of standards with GB; gun drill on 25pdr; technical gunnery; fear of being taken prisoner by Japanese; story illustrating responsibilities of officer; reactions to use of atomic bomb. Recollections of period on staff of Mountain Artillery Training Centre, Ambala, 8/1945-8/1947: initial course and appointment as PT officer; PT courses for Indian recruits; learning Urdu; officers mess; relationship with officers, Indian Viceroy commissioned officers and Indian troops; question of Indian independence and partition; screw gun races with mules; opinion of Indian officers; situation on departure due to independence and journey back to GB. Demobilisation, 9/1947. Period studying Indian history at Oxford University, 1947-1949. REEL 3 Review of career with Imperial Tobacco, Nottingham, 1949-1983. Recollections of service with 307 Regt (South Notts Hussars), Royal Artillery at Bullwell Drill Hall, Nottingham, 1951-1962: background to recruitment with 426 Bty; first impression and initial problems; opinion of Colonel Peter Birkin; absence of pre-war officers; opinion of Colonel William Barber and his role on appointment of Colonel Peter Featherby, 1966; opinion of Major Ivor Birkin and Colonel Peter Birkin; opinion of regular adjutants; opinion of Captains William Bramall, Paul Pike and Roderick Mackenzie; opinion of Quartermaster Harold Rice, opinion of Majors Arthur Warburton, Neville Turner and John Derbyshire; equipment with Ram Self Propelled 25pdrs; role as Gun Position Officer; opinion of quality of No 1s and gun teams; drill night; weekend exercises; summer camps at Lark Hill and Otterburn Ranges; support from employer; lining street for Coronation Parade, 1953; story illustrating muddy conditions at Otterburn Range. REEL 4 Continues: mobilisation of Z Reserve at Westdown Camp, 1952; story of shell landing outside range and consequent loss of shooting cup; role of Command Post Officer; question of short cuts employed in gunnery; opinion of Colonel Warburton; importance of recruitment and effects of suspension of National Servicemen Territorial Army service period; role in formation of SNH band; cancellation of summer camp, 1955; opinion of Majors Tom Foreman Hardy and Charles Westlake; reaction to replacement of Ram SP guns with 25pdr guns, 1956; question of military efficiency of unit and Gunn's insistence as Colonel on sergeants qualifying as gun No 1; opinion of Battery Sergeant Major Jack Dennis; recruitment and tactical role of battery commander; use of critical path analysis business methods to determine best method of moving battery; importance of giving clear orders; role as unit second in command; reintroduction of officers' mess kit; civil defence training at Millom Civil Defence Camp, 1960; Wives' Club; reaction to changing role of unit; links with 1st Regt, Royal Horse Artillery and role of General Martin Farndale; Exercises Rough Rider I and II; question of gunnery efficiency; background to succession as Colonel, 8/1962. REEL 5 Recollections of service as Colonel commanding 307 Regt (SNH), Royal Artillery at Bullwell Drill Hall, Nottingham, 1962-1966: background to succession as Colonel; methods of improving efficiency; story of punishment of Battery Sergeant Major Walker for leaving camp without permission; question of high standards required of officers; officers' drinking habits; practical jokes; question of drinking with ORs after drill nights; achieving second place in Queen's Cup at Sennybridge Camp, 1963; visit to steel works; importance of recruitment; role as colonel during exercises; question of all arms exercises; method of assessing commanding officers; opinion of Major Peter Featherby; Officers' Ball; relationship with local Labour politicians; social events including retired officer dinner and Armistice Dinner; relationship with SNH Regimental Assoc; relationship with Honorary Colonels Jack Chalworth Musters and William Barber; importance of Royal Horse Artillery status to unit. REEL 6 Continues: reasons for success in winning Queen's Cup, 1966, including importance of increased Observation Party training and role of Major Roland Bream; role of Bombardier Arthur Hardy; story of dispute with General Chris Mann over future of unit; reorganisation of TA, 1966-1967; background to attempt to select continued role as parachute company; role as AVRT III Class cadre employed on infantry home defence role; role in securing succession of Colonel Peter Featherby and story of arranging practical gunnery skills test between Featherby and Major Peter Pollitt; opinion of Major Roland Bream, Captains Alan Bexom and John Keayes and Major John Robinson; role of Territorial Army Association; question of adequacy of Bullwell Drill Hall; role of regular adjutants and links with 1st RHA; role of Light Aid Detachment, doctor, padre and paymaster; question of importance of survival of SNH as unit. REEL 7 question of role of TA and justification of cuts, 1966-1967; introduction of Officer Cadets scheme and influential role of BSMs in approving selection of cadets; opinion of RSM Ron Smith and his subsequent commission following subsequent application to join SNH as NCO; opinion of BSM Harry Hazard; opinion of Lieutenants Jack Gibson, John Keayes, Alan Bexon and Roland Bream; standards established by officers recruited by Colonel Peter Birkin from Nottingham Rugby Club; officers' drinking habits; story of writing letter to Lieutenant General Sir Walter Walker complaining over reduction of unit to cadre status, 1966; success of Colonel Peter Featherby in maintaining unit and importance of recruitment drive. Period as TA Colonel with Northern Command, 1967-1970: cadre units in area; advisory role to General Gordon Finlayson; question of role of TA; advising regular officer on limited nature of opportunities in civilian business on retirement; review of TA units in district; awareness of SNH attending unpaid camp, 1968. Period as County Commandant of Army Cadet Force, Nottingham, 1970-1975: background of unit. REEL 8 Continues: question recruitment of TA from ACF; premises; nature of training; role securing supply of officers for unit; question of moral welfare of boys; question of continuing personal links with SNH; subsequent work on catering committee. Recollections of period as Honorary Colonel of 307 Bty, <SNH>, RA, 1983-1986: prior role as President of SNH Association and success in securing Armistice Service at St Mary's, Nottingham; role; opinion of Major Tim Richmond and his success in providing OP teams for Operation Lionheart; opinion of OP role including question of lack of promotion opportunities for officers and question of reforming as gunner regiment; opinion of Major Peter Stone and reaction to delegation of officers threatening to resign; question of succession and appointment of Major Robert Watson; reaction to reorganisation as 307 Bty, <SNH>, 100 Regt, RA; relationship with SNH Assoc and story of dispute over control of regimental silver; question of future of SNH; enjoyment of SNH service and question of effect on business and personal life; question of active service; opinion of Nottinghamshire soldiers.